Updates to the City of San Mateo’s Mills Act Program for Establishing and Administering Historic Preservation Agreements
Summary
SCH Number
2026050349
Public Agency
City of San Mateo
Document Title
Updates to the City of San Mateo’s Mills Act Program for Establishing and Administering Historic Preservation Agreements
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/8/2026
Document Description
As part of a comprehensive historic policy update effort, the City has updated its Mills Act Program, which was originally adopted by City Council on October 28, 1993, to align with General Plan 2040, the proposed updated Historic Preservation Ordinance, and current State statutory requirements. Updates and revisions to the City’s Mills Act Program include:
• Updated eligibility requirements to require local designation.
• Sets a limit of no more than two agreements to be approved per year, with priority given to properties located within an Equity Priority neighborhood, properties with lower appraised valuations and/or property owners with documented financial hardship, when more than two applications are submitted.
• Require reports outlining work completed to be submitted annually and property inspections by the City every five years during the term of the agreement.
• Require a form of public access to be provided, such as visibility from the public right-of-way, in-person tours, or virtual tours and photos of the property posted online.
• Require the review of each contract by City Council after the initial 10-year term and every five years thereafter for the life of the contract.
Contact Information
Name
Sung Kwon
Agency Name
City of San Mateo
Job Title
Deputy Director, Community Development Department
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
San Mateo
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
Citywide, San Francisco Bay Area
Other Location Info
Individual properties and contributors to historic districts listed in the Historic Resources Inventory.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 8 - Section 15308. Actions by Regulatory Agencies for the Protection of the Environment
Reasons for Exemption
The updates to the City’s Mills Act Program are exempt under Section 15308 (Class 8 – Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) because the Mills Act Program regulates how properties can be modified, thereby protecting historic resources through maintaining the existing built environment. Therefore, the project meets the intent of CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 and, pursuant to this exemption, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from CEQA review.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 15061(b)(3).
Reasons for Exemption
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies only to activities that may cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The updates to the City’s Mills Act Program modernize and clarify the City’s policies and processes surrounding historic preservation, but do not materially change or expand their applicability. Therefore, the proposed project meets the criteria of CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and, pursuant to this exemption, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from CEQA.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15378(b)(5)
Reasons for Exemption
The updates the City’s Mills Act Program are exempt pursuant to Section 15378(b)(5), as these actions are administrative activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment and as such, do not meet the definition of a project.
County Clerk
San Mateo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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