Resources for Older and Historic Properties

Resources by Category

Resources for All Existing Buildings

Energy Efficiency Incentives

Austin Energy offers rebates and incentives to increase the energy efficiency of existing buildings. Get help with heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting, pools, and water heaters. Multifamily properties are eligible for incentives for ENERGY STAR® appliances, high-efficiency lighting, ceiling insulation, cool roofs, and solar shading.

Low- and moderate-income homeowners can get free weatherization improvements such as attic insulation, weather stripping, solar screens, and water-efficient fixtures.

Resources for Historic Landmarks

Partial Tax Exemption

• Historic landmark owners may receive an annual partial tax exemption to support maintenance. To receive the exemption, file an Application for Historic or Archeological Site Property Tax Exemption with the Travis Central Appraisal District between January 1 and April 30 of the year for which you are requesting an exemption. You must also maintain your property to certain standards.
• If your property is a homestead that was designated as a landmark after 2004 and/or has changed ownership since 2004, the exemption is capped at $8,500 annually.

Grants

• Preservation Austin offers grants up to $10,000 for education, brick-and-mortar work, planning, historic resource surveys, and local historic designation. These grants are awarded twice a year and require a match. Grants of up to $1,500 are awarded on a rolling basis and do not require a match.
• For historic properties that attract tourists: the City offers Heritage Preservation Grants up to $250,000 for capital improvements or up to $150,000 for heritage events occurring at historic properties. Residential properties are not eligible.
• Downtown Austin Alliance’s Façade Improvement Grant Program provides an economic incentive to improve the appearance of building façades along downtown’s commercial corridors and to encourage quality renovations that enhance and are consistent with the historical design, materials, and architectural character reflected in the original buildings. For detailed information regarding eligibility, approved activities, and the reimbursement process, visit the program website here.

Resources for Local Historic Districts

Rehabilitation Tax Abatement

Work on contributing properties in a local historic district is eligible for a City of Austin tax abatement. The program abates 100% of the City property taxes assessed on the added value of a property that results from the rehabilitation for 7-10 years. Improvements must comply with applicable design standards. Download the tax abatement application to view eligible work.

Property Type and Location**	Ownership	Required Minimum Expenditure*	Duration of Abatement^	How Frequently Abatement May Be Granted
Residential	Owner- occupied	Equal to 25% of pre-rehabilitation value of structure	7 years	Once every 10 years
Residential located within Revitalization Area	Owner- occupied	Equal to 10% of pre-rehabilitation value of structure	10 years	Once every 15 years
Commercial	Income- producing property	Equal to 40% of pre–rehabilitation value of structure	10 years	Once every 15 years
Commercial located within Revitalization Area	Income- producing property	Equal to 30% of pre-rehabilitation value of structure	10 years	Once every 15 years

* Pre-rehabilitation value means the most recent property appraisal by the Travis Central Appraisal District before the Part 1 abatement application is submitted.
** The Revitalization Area is bounded by Interstate 35 on the west, Riverside Drive and Highway 71 on the south, Highway 183 on the east, and Manor Road on the north.
^ The tax abatement goes into effect the first day of the first tax year after verification is approved.

Grants

• Preservation Austin offers grants up to $10,000 for education, brick-and-mortar work, planning, historic resource surveys, and local historic designation. These grants are awarded twice a year and require a match. Grants of up to $1,500 are awarded on a rolling basis and do not require a match.
• For historic properties that attract tourists: the City offers Heritage Preservation Grants up to $250,000 for capital improvements or up to $150,000 for heritage events occurring at historic properties. Residential properties are not eligible.

Resources for Major Rehabilitation Projects

Historic Tax Credits

• If you own an income-producing or nonprofit historic property designated at the federal or state level, you may qualify for the 25% Texas Historic Preservation Tax Credit. State and federal tax credits may be combined.
• If you own an income-producing historic property designated at the federal level, you may qualify for the 20% federal historic rehabilitation tax credit. This credit must be claimed on federal income taxes over the first five years after certification of substantial completion of work. Alternatively, it can be syndicated for equity. State and federal tax credits may be combined.

Rehabilitation Tax Abatement

Work on contributing properties in a local historic district is eligible for a City of Austin tax abatement. The program abates 100% of the City property taxes assessed on the added value of a property that results from the rehabilitation for 7-10 years. Improvements must comply with applicable design standards. Download the tax abatement application to view eligible work.

Property Type and Location**	Ownership	Required Minimum Expenditure*	Duration of Abatement^	How Frequently Abatement May Be Granted
Residential	Owner- occupied	Equal to 25% of pre-rehabilitation value of structure	7 years	Once every 10 years
Residential located within Revitalization Area	Owner- occupied	Equal to 10% of pre-rehabilitation value of structure	10 years	Once every 15 years
Commercial	Income- producing property	Equal to 40% of pre–rehabilitation value of structure	10 years	Once every 15 years
Commercial located within Revitalization Area	Income- producing property	Equal to 30% of pre-rehabilitation value of structure	10 years	Once every 15 years

* Pre-rehabilitation value means the most recent property appraisal by the Travis Central Appraisal District before the Part 1 abatement application is submitted.
** The Revitalization Area is bounded by Interstate 35 on the west, Riverside Drive and Highway 71 on the south, Highway 183 on the east, and Manor Road on the north.
^ The tax abatement goes into effect the first day of the first tax year after verification is approved.

Grants

• For historic properties that attract tourists: the City offers Heritage Preservation Grants up to $250,000 for capital improvements or up to $150,000 for heritage events occurring at historic properties. Residential properties are not eligible.
• Downtown Austin Alliance’s Façade Improvement Grant Program provides an economic incentive to improve the appearance of building façades along downtown’s commercial corridors and to encourage quality renovations that enhance and are consistent with the historical design, materials, and architectural character reflected in the original buildings. For detailed information regarding eligibility, approved activities, and the reimbursement process, visit the program website here.

Resources for Older Buildings Housing Low- and Moderate-Income Families

Grants and Programs

People living in older and historic properties can receive grants and loans from Austin Housing. Households must meet income qualifications for all programs, which include:

• Architectural Barrier Removal helps make homes accessible for people with disabilities and senior Austinites. Available to both homeowners and renters.
• GO REPAIR! Grant Program helps to fix serious structural issues for Austinite homeowners and to make homes more accessible for homeowners with disabilities.
• Home Rehabilitation Loan Program offers 0% interest loans on repairs to help make owner-occupied homes safe.
• Minor Home Repair Grants help homeowners make repairs that pose an immediate threat to health and/or safety.
• Plumbing Program helps homeowners with plumbing repairs and water savings.

Resources for Cemeteries

Grants

• For historic properties that attract tourists: the City offers Heritage Preservation Grants up to $250,000 for capital improvements or up to $150,000 for heritage events occurring at historic properties. Residential properties are not eligible.
• Preservation Austin offers grants up to $10,000 for education, brick-and-mortar work, planning, historic resource surveys, and local historic designation. These grants are awarded twice a year and require a match. Grants of up to $1,500 are awarded on a rolling basis and do not require a match.

Organizations Supporting Cemetery Preservation

• Save Austin’s Cemeteries
• Texas Historical Commission Cemetery Preservation Program

Research Resources

• City of Austin Cemeteries
• Austin History Center
• Travis County Historical Commission 

Resources for Legacy Businesses

Tax Reimbursement

• The Place-Based Enhancement Program (PBEP) is a City-run real estate development program aimed at providing commercial affordability relief focused on our local small businesses, legacy businesses, non-profits, cooperatives, and those in the creative sector. The PBEP is a pay-for-performance program that pays out annually to approved projects that meet annual compliance. For full details about program categories, awards offered, and guidelines, visit the program website here.

  PBEP Category	Property and Sales Tax Reimbursement
  Category 1: Affordable Space Category 2: Community Impact Category 4: Transformative Infrastructure	Up to 100% reimbursement of eligible property and/or sales taxes on new real property improvements
  Category 3: Cultural Preservation	Up to 100% reimbursement of eligible property and/or sales taxes of the project site

Grants

• Downtown Austin Alliance’s Façade Improvement Grant Program provides an economic incentive to improve the appearance of building façades along downtown’s commercial corridors and to encourage quality renovations that enhance and are consistent with the historical design, materials, and architectural character reflected in the original buildings. For detailed information regarding eligibility, approved activities, and the reimbursement process, visit the program website here.

Promotion

• Legacy Business Month features selected legacy businesses in Austin every October. This program is run by Preservation Austin.