Tax Exemptions
Owner-Occupied Residences in New Historic Districts
All residential properties occupied by the property owner in newly designated local historic districts at the time of designation receive a 20% exemption on their City property taxes for 10 years. The exemption can be extended for an additional five years for a total of 15 years for owners who remain in the same house for the entire period of the exemption.
Owners of historic properties in San Antonio may be eligible for certain incentives for rehabilitation either through local or federal programs.
Substantial Rehabilitation
A tax exemption is available for designated local landmarks and properties within local historic districts that undergo a substantial rehabilitation. Substantial rehabilitation includes improvements that extend the life of a building, such as:
- roof work
- foundation work
- siding work
- electrical
- plumbing
- HVAC system work
- other structural work
- interior work
Benefits After Certification & Verification
- Residential properties
- City property taxes are frozen at the assessed value prior to rehabilitation for up to 10 years.
- Commercial properties
- Eligible for the 5 Zero/5 Fifty tax exemption:
- No City property taxes are owed for the first five years.
- For the next five years, City property taxes are assessed at 50% of a post-rehabilitation appraisal after the fifth year.
The tax exemption for substantial rehabilitation remains with the property regardless of change of ownership or sale of the property.
NOTE: City property taxes refer to the City of San Antonio line on your tax bill (Entity 21). Additional taxing agencies, such as SAISD, Bexar County, and the River Authority, are not affected by this City incentive.
Requirements
Certain restrictions apply, and the tax exemption for substantial rehabilitation requires certification by the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) prior to project implementation or permit acquisition.
Verification by the HDRC is also required upon completion of the work. After verification, the tax exemption will go into effect on January 1 of the following year.
Copies of the tax certification and verification forms are available on the Submit an Application page.
Contact Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) staff for further details.
Resources
San Antonio Conservation Society Grants Program
Using the proceeds from its annual presentation of "A Night In Old San Antonio®" (NIOSA®) and in keeping with its mission, the San Antonio Conservation Society accepts applications for grants to individuals and organizations for restoration or rehabilitation of residential or commercial structures in the San Antonio area that are at least 50 years old.
Examples of grant projects funded in past years include restoration or rehabilitation of:
- roofs
- foundations
- windows
- plaster
- facades
- chimneys
- front doors
- porches
- stonework
Visit the San Antonio Conservation Society website for more information about their program.