Bailey Bill Historic Properties Tax Abatement Program
An incentive for owners of historic buildings, this City of Columbia program may allow you to keep your building’s assessed value at the same amount for 20 years. The property owner is required to make an investment of 20% in qualifying expenses to be eligible for the property tax abatement. Richland County also offers its own Bailey Bill which generally mirrors the City’s program. For more information, go to their website.
The Bailey Bill was passed by the state legislature in 1992 to give local governments the option of granting property tax abatement to encourage the rehabilitation of historic properties. Following amended state legislation in 2004, Columbia’s City Council also adopted a local amended version of the bill in July of 2007.
All projects must be reviewed by the Design/Development Review Commission and your district’s staff representative for eligibility prior to the start of work. Please contact staff for additional details.
- Bailey Bill Information
- Bailey Bill Application
- Bailey Bill Ordinance
- Preservation Newsletter: Focus on the Bailey Bill (November 2017)
- Videos on Bailey Bill Tax Abatement:
Bailey Bill Introduction & FAQs (Part 1)
Bailey Bill Application Process (Part 2)
Bailey Bill Part B & Final Certification (Part 3)
Commercial Façade Improvement Program
The Façade Improvement Program is only available to targeted corridors within the City limits of Columbia. These corridors are determined annually based upon Neighborhood Redevelopment Service Areas assigned by the City’s Department of Community Development. This highly successful OBO program offers commercial property and/or business owner (tenants) forgivable, matching loans, amortized over a set number of years, as long as the property remains in compliance with the program agreement for maintenance and ownership. Loans are an 80/20 match, with the City paying 80% and the applicant paying 20%, of the total project cost. The maximum loan funding structure is set each program year based on the priority needs of each commercial district. Historically, the program has provided maximum awards of up to $15,000/per tax map parcel for façade improvements, depending on the needs in the target area and funds available. The program has also typically offered grants to property owners in target areas when project costs are less than $2,000, and monitored these grants for a period of one year.
Eligible exterior facade improvements are generally: replacement/repair/ or new windows, doors, paint, lighting, signage, fencing, masonry, carpentry, awnings, tree plantings, security camera installation, and/or iron bar or redundant metal pole removal and disposal.
For assistance with the Facade Improvement Loan Program please contact the Office of Business Opportunities at 803.545.3950.
South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
Located in Columbia, SHPO administers the state and federal historic preservation tax credits as well as the federal historic preservation grants awarded by the National Park Service to non-profits and local governments.
Abandoned Buildings Act
In June 2013, the South Carolina State Legislature approved the Abandoned Buildings Act (ABA) in an effort to encourage the revitalization of abandoned buildings throughout the state. The ABA provides a tax credit to individuals who rehabilitate, renovate, and/or redevelop building sites.
The ABA offers two tax credit options:
- A credit against income taxes, corporate, license fees or taxes on associations; or
- A credit against real property taxes levied by local taxing entities.
The City of Columbia is only involved in the review and approval process when a taxpayer is seeking the credit against real property taxes. To qualify, a taxpayer must file a “Notice of Intent to Rehabilitate” with the City of Columbia Planning Division along with a completed application and signed affidavit. Planning staff will facilitate the review process. For more information about the Abandoned Buildings Act and how to apply for the tax credit, please contact Amy Moore at 803-545-3335 or [email protected].