Historic Home Owners Eligible for Tax Break
Residents who own historically designated homes are now eligible for property tax reductions from 40% to 70% under a preservation program approved last week by the City Council.
In approving the plan, San Clemente became one of 30 cities in California now participating in the Mills Act, a state law which allows cities to offer property tax reductions to owners who preserve their historic homes.
Under the program, residents may enter into a 10-year contract with the city for the tax reductions in exchange for preserving their home.
The new program will affect 202 homes that were identified in a 18-month study conducted by historic preservation consultant Leslie Heumann. Most of those are stucco, Spanish-style houses built between 1926 and 1936.
City officials estimate that the city would only lose as much as $25,000 in property taxes if all 202 homeowners participated.
“The benefit we get from the historic structures is for everybody in the community,” said Councilman Scott Diehl.
The council also directed staff to study additional incentives to encourage residents to preserve their historic homes, including fee waivers.
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