2024 historic tax exemption updates
The City Council approved an ordinance for the 2024 historic property tax exemptions on June 27, 2024 and dispensed with a second reading. All 51 applicants will receive the exemption in accordance with the Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation. The remaining steps will close out the 2024 exemptions:
- Notification letters with the 2024 inspection reports will be mailed to applicants at the beginning of July. The inspection reports list maintenance items on the first page that are expected to be addressed before the 2025 inspections. Note: inspection photos are not mailed to applicants with the inspection reports but will be emailed to the applicant on request.
- Applicants have until August 30 to challenge any maintenance items listed on the 2024 inspection reports for completion by the 2025 inspections.
- The ordinance approving the 2024 exemptions will be sent to the Williamson County Appraisal District by July 15.
Applications for the 2025 exemptions will be accepted at the Williamson County Appraisal District between January 1 and April 30, 2025. City stall will contact applicants to schedule an inspection after the application is received from the appraisal district.
About the program
The partial tax exemption program for historically significant properties was created in 1982. The program is administered jointly by the City of Round Rock Planning Department and the Williamson Central Appraisal District (WCAD). Under this program, property owners receive a 75% exemption of municipal property taxes.
The program encourages owners of historic properties to use money saved on taxes to provide regular maintenance and/or repair to their historic structures. The overall benefit to Round Rock is the long-term preservation of the City’s historic resources. The full text of the program ordinance can be found in Zoning and Development Code Section 10-57.
Eligibility
Properties with historic zoning, and even some that don’t have historic zoning but have historical significance may apply for a partial exemption of City property taxes.
- The property must be deemed “historically significant.” Please refer to Zoning and Development Code Section 10-57 (f) for criteria to determine historic significance
- The property must include at least one man-made structure (no vacant lots)
- The property must be properly maintained according to the criteria in the inspection checklist. The Historic Preservation Commission inspects properties each year.
- The exemption applies only to the current tax year; a new application must be filed each year the exemption is requested.
Application Process
- If you participated in the program last year, please ensure that any issues noted from last year’s inspection report (per letter sent the previous July) have been addressed before submitting an application this year.
- Submission of application: The application is available on the WCAD website (“Historic or Archaeological Site Property Tax Exemption Application”). If you are unsure about some of the form fields, refer to our Form 50-122 instructions.
Complete the application and submit before April 30 to:
Williamson Central Appraisal District
625 FM 1460
Georgetown, Texas 78626-8050
- Inspection: When your application is received from WCAD a staff member will call to schedule an inspection. The staff member will visit your property to complete the initial inspection (inspection criteria given below). A member of the Historic Preservation Commission may make a follow-up visit to clarify items on the initial inspection.
- Application processing: In May the HPC will vote on which properties meet the maintenance criteria and make its recommendation to the City Council. Applicants may address the HPC if their application is to be discussed at the meeting. The Council will review the HPC’s recommendation and render a decision by July 15th of the application year.
- A notification letter will be sent to you at the end of July letting you know whether your application has been approved, and enclosing a copy of this year’s inspection report. Any maintenance issues noted in this year’s report must be addressed by April 30 in order to be eligible for the program next year.
Inspection Report
After an application is received, properties will be inspected to ensure that it meets requirements for receiving a tax abatement (below). Properties that fail to meet all the given criteria have one year to fix the problem(s); the same maintenance item noted on two consecutive inspections disqualifies the applicant form receiving an abatement.
Zoning and Development Code Section 10-57 (g) Preservation and maintenance. The following items shall be used in determining whether a historic site has been maintained in accordance with minimum property, structural and health standards:
- Any well, cesspool or cistern shall be securely covered or closed;
- Dead trees and tree limbs that are reasonably capable of causing injury to a person shall be removed;
- Any structure or portion of a structure which is vacant shall be securely closed so as to prevent unauthorized entry;
- Paint or other coatings shall be applied at reasonable intervals so as to protect the exterior surfaces of a structure which are subject to decay;
- The exterior grounds shall be maintained free of excessive rubbish, garbage, junk or refuse;
- Screens and shutters existing at the time of historic designation or added subsequent thereto shall be maintained in good repair;
- Broken windows shall be replaced or reglazed;
- Exterior doors and doorways shall be maintained in good repair and operable condition;
- Skirting around the structure, if any, shall be maintained in good repair;
- Porch flooring and supports shall be maintained in a sound condition, capable of bearing an imposed load safely;
- Railings and handrails of exterior stairs, steps, balconies, porches and other exterior features shall be maintained in a sound condition so as to afford safety;
- Rotted exterior wood shall be replaced and repainted;
- Broken or partially missing gutters or downspouts shall be replaced or repaired;
- Loose bricks or stones in the exterior of a structure shall be re-established or replaced and all joints weatherproofed by proper maintenance of appropriate materials;
- Fences and the exteriors of accessory buildings shall be maintained in reasonable repair, including painting if applicable; and
- The property shall be kept in conformance with all city codes.
Note: “Conformance with all city codes” includes the requirement under Zoning and Development Code Section 10-56 that alterations made to a property with historic zoning first receive a Certificate of Appropriateness for these alterations.
For more information on the program, contact Planner Kerstin Harding at 512-218-5421 or Principal Planner Joelle Jordan at 512-218-5422. Contact the Williamson County Appraisal District (www.wcad.org) at 512-930-3787.
