MILLS ACT GUIDE · 2026
Mills Act in North Park.
The property tax program that can save you 50-70% on your tax bill — and what the catch really is.
The Mills Act is California’s most powerful historic preservation incentive. For owners of historically designated homes, it can cut annual property taxes by 50-70%. North Park has hundreds of eligible properties, and Mills Act sales are some of the most sought-after in 92104.
How Mills Act actually works
Property taxes on a Mills Act home are recalculated using a special “income approach” formula instead of the standard market value. The result: for a North Park home assessed at $1.3M, annual property taxes drop from roughly $13,800 to around $4,500. That’s $9,000+ a year, every year, for as long as you own.
The catch
A Mills Act contract is a 10-year rolling agreement between the homeowner and the City of San Diego. You commit to:
- Maintaining the historic character-defining features (windows, siding, roof style, porch, etc.)
- Getting city approval for major exterior changes
- Allowing periodic inspections
- Continuing the contract upon sale (it transfers to the new owner)
What qualifies in North Park
To be eligible, a home must be listed on the City of San Diego’s historic register. Most pre-1940 Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Revival homes in North Park qualify, particularly those in Burlingame’s historic district and the Original Tract, in the Morley Field area. The application process for new designations can take 6-12 months.
What Mills Act does to resale
Mills Act homes typically carry a premium, and the tax savings transfer to the next owner. We see Mills Act listings trade faster and at higher values than comparable non-Mills Act homes in the same pocket.
Want help finding a Mills Act home in North Park?
Take the Match Score quiz to see which pockets have active Mills Act inventory in your price range.