Local to Ventura & Santa Barbara County
We work for you, not the property owner
No cost to you in most deals
We work for congregations only, never landlords. Whether you need space for worship, outreach, classes, or offices, we negotiate the use permit timing, parking and hours, money toward your build-out, the property tax exemption, and your right to stay as you grow.
We read your offer and lease and flag anything that could limit services, programs, or growth.
We get the property owner to pay toward the sanctuary, classrooms, and sound your congregation needs.
The Church Exemption can apply to leased space used for worship, and the benefit is supposed to reach the congregation. If the lease is silent, state law provides for a rent reduction or refund. Silence is not a reason to leave it alone. It is a reason to raise it.
The claim is filed annually. Filing late reduces the benefit, and the forgiveness provisions that apply to owned property do not extend to leased property the same way. Put the date on the calendar the day you sign.
The exemption requires worship to be the primary use, with other activities incidental to it. A building used mostly for a school, a gym, or a community program may not qualify. Understand which category you are in before you plan around it.
Most cities require a use permit for assembly, and the hearing schedule is not yours. Rent should not commence before the city says yes. That contingency belongs in the lease.
Services, rehearsals, and midweek programs run at hours retail centers do not expect. Get the hours and the use written into the permitted use clause, not left to a landlord's consent you have to go ask for later.
A faith organization found a property that seemed promising. There was enough room for worship, meetings, community programs, and future growth, and the location made sense for the people they served.
At first, the biggest question appeared to be whether the rent fit the budget.
It wasn’t.
Before committing, we looked at the permitted use, occupancy, parking, signage, hours, building responsibilities, and the improvements the organization would need to make. We also looked at which costs and repair obligations the lease could shift onto the tenant.
Those details changed the conversation with the landlord.
The organization could still pursue the space, but now the deal had to reflect how the property would actually be used and what the organization could reasonably take on. The important terms were addressed while there was still room to negotiate.
Because finding a building for a faith organization is not just about finding enough space. It is about finding a place where the building, the lease, and the organization’s mission can work together.
How many buildings would you have toured before somebody thought to ask whether the lease would actually let you use the space the way your organization needs?
| Line item | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Base rent | Quoted per square foot per month. |
| Property tax through NNN | Your proportionate share. This is the line the Church Exemption speaks to. Ask about it before you sign. |
| Insurance and common area maintenance | The other two legs of triple net. |
| Use permit and assembly requirements | Most cities require a conditional use permit for assembly. Timeline and cost both belong in the budget. |
| Build out | Sanctuary, classrooms, sound, and seating. The tenant improvement allowance is negotiable. |
You Tell Us What You Need
We Find Your Space and Negotiate Your Deal
You’re Open for Business
The property owner pays our fee in most commercial lease deals. You pay nothing out of your pocket in most cases
California’s Church Exemption is a use exemption and can be claimed on property that is owned, leased, or rented by a religious organization and used exclusively for religious worship. Property leased from a private for profit landlord can qualify, as long as worship is the primary use and other uses are incidental to it. Confirm your specific situation with your CPA and the county assessor.
Then stay with them. Once you are represented, or another agent has introduced you to a space, that is their deal. Come to us at the start of your next search, or when your renewal comes up.
Or call (805) 203-6365 · 472 E Santa Clara Street, Ventura
