Section 17-21-5 - Exemption from municipal ad valorem tax for certain structures in central business districts, historic preservation districts, business improvement districts, urban renewal districts, redevelopment districts, or on historic landmarks; application for exemption(1) The governing authorities of any municipality of this state may, in their discretion, exempt from any or all municipal ad valorem taxes, excluding ad valorem taxes for school district purposes, for a period of not more than seven (7) years, any privately owned new structures and any new renovations of and improvements to existing structures lying within a designated central business district or historic preservation district or on a historic landmark site, as determined by the municipality, but only in the event such structures shall have been constructed, renovated or improved pursuant to the requirements of an approved project of the municipality for the development of the central business district and/or the preservation and revitalization of historic landmark sites or historic preservation districts. The tax exemption authorized herein may be granted only after written application has been made to the governing authorities of the municipality by any person, firm or corporation claiming the exemption, and an order passed by the governing authorities of such municipality finding that the construction, renovation or improvement of said property is for the promotion of business, commerce or industry in the designated central business district or for the promotion of historic preservation.(2) The governing authorities of any municipality of this state with a population of twenty thousand (20,000) or more according to the latest federal decennial census, may, in their discretion, exempt from any or all municipal ad valorem taxes, excluding ad valorem taxes for school district purposes, for a period of not more than seven (7) years, any privately owned new structures and any new renovations of and improvements to existing structures lying within a designated business improvement district, urban renewal district or redevelopment district, as determined by the municipality, but only in the event such structures shall have been constructed, renovated or improved pursuant to the requirements of an approved project of the municipality for the development of the business improvement district, urban renewal district or redevelopment district. The tax exemption authorized herein may be granted only after written application has been made to the governing authorities of the municipality by any person, firm or corporation claiming the exemption, and an order passed by the governing authorities of such municipality finding that the construction, renovation or improvement of said property is for the promotion of business, commerce or industry in the designated business improvement district, urban renewal district or redevelopment district.Laws, 1981, ch. 512, § 1; Laws, 1988, ch. 454; Laws, 1989, ch. 461, § 1; Laws, 1996, ch. 522, § 1, eff. 7/1/1996.Amended by Laws, 2018, ch. 436, HB 1217,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2018.