Division 1 — Government›Article 2 — Documentary Transfer Tax
6.7 (commencing with Section 11901) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
VenturaCounty Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · VenturaCounty
1552 - Amount of tax.
There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the County of Ventura shall be granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed to or vested in the purchaser or purchasers or any other person or persons by his or their direction when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrances remaining thereon at the time of sale) exceeds $100.00, a tax the rate of $0.55 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
1553 - Payor.
The tax imposed by Section 1552 shall be paid by any person who makes, signs, or issues any document or instrument subject to the tax, or for whose use or benefit the same is made, signed or issued.
1554 - Exemptions. 1554-1 - Debt.
The tax imposed pursuant to this ordinance shall not apply to any instrument in writing given to secure a debt.
1554-2 - Government agency.
Any deed, instrument or writing to which the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, any state or territory, or political subdivision thereof, is a party shall be exempt from any tax imposed by this ordinance when the exempt agency is acquiring title.
1554-3 - Reorganization or adjustment.
The tax imposed pursuant to this ordinance shall not apply to the making, delivering or filing of conveyances to make effective any plan of reorganization or adjustment—
(a)
Confirmed under the Federal Bankruptcy Act, as amended;
(b)
Approved in an equity receivership proceeding in a court involving a railroad corporation, as defined in subdivision (m) of Section 205 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended;
(c)
Approved in an equity receivership proceeding in a court involving a corporation, as defined in subdivision (3) of Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended; or
(d)
Whereby a mere change in identity, form or place of organization is effected.
Subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of this Section shall only apply if the making, delivering or filing of instruments of transfer or conveyances occurs within five (5) years from the date of such confirmation, approval or change.
1554-4 - Securities and Exchange Commission.
The tax imposed pursuant to this ordinance shall not apply to the making or delivery of conveyance to make effective any order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1083 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; but only if —
(a)
The order of the Securities and Exchange Commission in obedience to which such conveyance is made recites that such conveyance is necessary or appropriate to effectuate the provisions of Section 79k of Title 15 of the United States Code, relating to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935;
(b)
Such order specifies the property which is ordered to be conveyed;
(c)
Such conveyance is made in obedience to such order.
1554-5 - Partnership. 1554-5.1 - Realty.
In the case of any realty held by a partnership, no tax shall be imposed pursuant to this ordinance by reason of any transfer of an interest in the partnership or otherwise, if—
(a)
Such partnership (or other Partnership) is considered a continuing partnership within the meaning of Section 708 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; and
(b)
Such continuing partnership continues to hold the realty concerned.
1554-5.2 - Termination.
If there is a termination of any partnership within the meaning of Section 708 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, for the purposes of this ordinance, such partnership shall be treated as having executed an instrument whereby there was conveyed, for fair market
value (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining thereon), all realty held by such partnership at the time of such termination.
1554-5.3 - Duplicate tax.
Not more than one (1) tax shall be imposed pursuant to this ordinance by reason of a termination described in Section 1554-5.2, and any transfer pursuant thereto, with respect to the realty held by such partnership at the time of such termination.
1555 - City tax.
If the legislative body of any city in the County of Ventura imposes a tax pursuant to Part 6.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code equal to one-half of the amount specified in Section 1552 of this ordinance, a credit shall be granted against the taxes due under this ordinance in the amount of the city's tax if the city's tax conforms to the requirements of said Part 6.7.
1556 - Administration.
The county recorder shall administer this ordinance and shall also administer any ordinance adopted by any city in the County pursuant to Part 6.7 (commencing with Section 11901) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code imposing a tax for which a credit is allowed by this ordinance.
On or before the 15th day of the month the recorder shall report to the county auditor the amounts of taxes collected during the preceding month pursuant to this ordinance and each such city ordinance. The auditor shall allocate and distribute monthly said taxes as follows:
(a)
All monies which relate to transfers of real property located in the unincorporated territory of the county shall be allocated to the county.
(b)
All monies which relate to transfers of real property located in a city in the county which has imposed a tax pursuant to said Part 6.7 shall be allocated one-half to such city and one-half to the county.
(c)
All monies which relate to transfers of real property located in a city in the county which imposes a tax on transfers of real property not in conformity with said Part 6.7 shall be allocated to the county.
(d)
All monies which relate to transfers of real property in a city in the county which does not impose a tax on transfers of real property shall be allocated to the county.
1557 - Recordation. 1557-1 - Payment.
The recorder shall not record any deed, instrument or writing subject to the tax imposed by this ordinance unless the tax is paid at the time of recording.
1557-2 - Tax on face of document.
Every document subject to tax hereunder which is submitted for recordation shall show on the fact of the document the amount of taxes due under this ordinance unless the party submitting the document for recordation requests that the amount of tax due shall be shown on a separate paper which shall be affixed to the document by the recorder after the permanent record is made and before the original is returned as specified in Section 27321 of the Government Code.
1557-3 - Declaration.
A declaration of the amount of tax due, signed by the party determining the tax or his agent, shall appear on the face of the document or on the separate paper, if the party submitting the document for recordation so requests, and the recorder may rely thereon; provided he has no reason to believe that the full amount of the tax due has not been paid. The declaration shall include a statement
that the consideration or value on which the tax due was computed was, or that it was not, exclusive of the value of a lien or encumbrance remaining on the interest or property conveyed at the time of the sale.
1558 - Location in county.
Every document subject to tax hereunder which is submitted for recordation shall show on the face of the document the incorporated or unincorporated location of the lands, tenements or other realty described in the document. If said lands, tenements or other realty are located within a city in the County of Ventura, the name of the city shall be set forth. If said lands, tenements or other realty are located in the unincorporated area of the County of Ventura, that fact shall be set forth.
1559 - Tax roll parcel number.
Each deed, instrument or writing by which lands, tenements, or other realty is sold, granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed, shall have noted upon it the tax roll parcel number. The number will be used only for the administrative and procedural purposes and will not be proof of title and in the event of any conflicts, the stated legal description noted upon the document shall govern. The validity of such a document shall not be affected by the fact that such parcel number is erroneous or omitted, and there shall be no liability attaching to any person for an error in such number or for omission of such number. The recorder shall not record any such deed, instrument, or writing unless the tax roll parcel number has been noted upon it. A parcel which has been created by the division of an existing parcel and which at the time of recording has no separate parcel number shall have noted upon it the words "portion of" and the parcel number of the parcel from which it was created.
1560 - Refunds.
Claims for refunds of taxes imposed pursuant to this ordinance shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 5096) of Part 9 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
1561 - Interpretations.
In the administration of this ordinance the recorder shall interpret its provisions consistently with those Documentary Stamp Tax Regulations adopted by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Treasury Department which relate to the Tax on Conveyances and identified as Sections 47.4361-1, 47.4361-2 and 47.4362-1 of Part 47 of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as the same existed on November 8, 1967, except that for the purposes of this ordinance, the determination of what constitutes "realty" shall be determined by the definition or scope of that term under state law.
1562 - Request for information.
Whenever the county recorder has reason to believe that the full amount of tax due under this ordinance has not been paid, he may, by notice served upon any person liable therefor, require him to furnish a true copy of his records relevant to the amount of the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed.
1563 - Penalty.
Any person or persons who makes, signs, issues or accepts or causes to be made, signed, issued or accepted and who submits or causes to be submitted for recordation any deed, instrument or writing subject to the tax imposed by this ordinance and makes any material misrepresentation of fact for the purpose of avoiding all or any part of the tax imposed by this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
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Ask AI about this code▸Contents — VenturaCounty Municipal Code
- 2.04 of Title 2.
▸Division 1 — Government
Overview- Chapter 2 — Officials and Employees
- Chapter 3 — Commissions and Boards
- Article 1 — Libraries
- Article 2 — Planning
- Article 3 — Board of Supervisors
- Article 4 — Civil Service System
- Article 5 — Cultural Heritage
- Article 6 — County Organized Health System
- Article 1 — Claims Against County
- Article 1 — Assessment Rolls
▸Article 2 — Documentary Transfer Tax
- Article 1 — Business Hours
- Chapter 1 — Business Taxes and Certificates
- Article 1 — General Provisions
- Article 2 — Definitions
- Article 3 — Imposition of Tax and Exemptions from Taxation
- Article 4 — Payment of Business Taxes
- Article 5 — Application and Renewal—Business Tax Certificate
- Article 6 — Penalties and Interest
- Article 7 — Refund of Overpayment
- Article 8 — Hearings and Appeals
- Article 9 — Enforcement and Violations
- Article 10 — Additional Tax Collector Powers
- Article 11 — Miscellaneous Provisions
- Chapter 2 — Licenses
- Article 2 — License Applications— Procedures and Appeals
- Article 1 — Temporary Shows
- Article 2 — Dance Halls
- Article 2.5 — Teen-Age Dances
- Article 3 — Billiard Rooms
- Article 4 — Motor Vehicle Races
- Article 5 — Card Rooms
- Article 1 — Auctioneer
- Article 2 — Collectors, Dealers and Brokers
- Article 3 — Peddlers, Solicitors, and Telephone Solicitors
- Article 1 — Rubbish Collection
- Article 2 — Ambulances
- Article 3 — Private Patrolmen
- Article 4 — Taxicabs
- Article 5 — Massage Businesses and Massage Technicians
- Article 5.5 — Solemnization of Marriages
- Article 6 — Kennels
- Article 1 — Licensing of Cannabis Operations
- Article 2 — Tax on Cannabis Operations
- Chapter 6 — Sidewalk Vending
- Chapter 1 — Standards and Permits
- Chapter 2 — Facilities Fees
- Article 1 — Sheriff's Facilities
- Article 2 — Fire Protection Facilities
- Article 1 — Nuisance
- Article 3 — Power of Arrest
- Article 1 — Tents and Lean-tos
- Article 2 — Enforcement
- Article 3 — Tents and House Courts
- Article 4 — Violation
- Article 1 — Camps
- Article 2 — Camp Fires
- Article 3 — Bathing, Surfing, Surfboards
- Chapter 4 — Animals
- Article 1 — License Tag
- Article 2 — Animal Shelter
- Article 3 — Dogs Used by Peace Officers
- Article 4 — Rabies Control
- Article 5 — Animal Control
- Article 6 — General
- Article 7 — Wild Animal Control
- Article 8 — Administrative Enforcement Alternative
- Article 9 — Roosters
- Chapter 5 — Hazardous Substances
- Article 1 — Unified Program Generally
- Article 1.1 — Unified Program— Hazardous Waste Producers
- Article 1.2 — Unified Program—Underground Storage of Hazardous…
- Article 1.3 — Unified Program—Aboveground Storage of Hazardous…
- Article 1.4 — Unified Program—Business Plan/Risk Management Plan
- Article 1.5 — Unified Program—Inspection of State Authorized F…
- Article 1.6 — Participating Agency Fees
- Article 1.7 — Unified Program Hearing Procedure
- Article 2 — Liability for Violation of Hazardous Waste and Sub…
- Article 3 — Medical Waste Management and Safe Body Art
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- Article 1 — General
- Chapter 7 — Regulation of Solid Waste Storage, Collection, Dis…
- Article 1 — Regulation of the Disposal and Handling of Solid W…
- Article 3 — Solid Waste Programs for Unincorporated Areas
- Article 4 — County Integrated Waste Management Plan Fee
- Article 1 — Groundwater Conservation
- Article 2 — Private and State Small Water Systems
- Article 3 — Administrative Enforcement of Private and State Sm…
- Chapter 9 — Alcoholic Beverage Warning Signs
- Chapter 10 — Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry
- Chapter 1 — Fire Protection
- Article 1 — Discharge
- Chapter 3 — Public Emergency
- Article 1 — General
- Article 2 — Emergency Planning Council
- Chapter 4 — Prices of Emergency Items and Services
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- Article 1 — Preliminary Matters
- Article 3 — General Provisions
- Article 4 — Administration and Permitting
- Article 5 — Provisions for Flood Hazard Reduction
- Article 6 — Variance Procedure
- Chapter 7 — Protection of Watercourses and Related Critical Pu…
- Article 1 — Alcoholic Beverages
- Article 1.1 — Social Hosts Liability
- Article 2 — Nudism
- Article 3 — Prostitution & Lewd Acts
- Article 4 — Unlawful Exposure of Private Parts and Female Brea…
- Article 5 — Harmful Substances
- Article 6 — Sale and Display of Drug Paraphernalia to Minors
- Article 7 — Place of Business Where Drug Paraphernalia is Kept…
- Article 1 — Imprisonment
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- Article 3 — Registration of Hotel and Motel Guests
- Article 4 — Miscellaneous
- Article 4.5 — Bingo Game Licenses
- Article 5 — Enclosing Swimming Pools and Other Bodies of Water
- Article 6 — Bicycle Registration and Licensing
- Article 7 — Abandoned or Inoperative Motor Vehicles
- Article 7.1 — Abandoned Vehicles
- Article 8 — Alarm Systems
- Article 9 — Commercial Weighing and Measuring Instruments
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- Chapter 3 — Ventura County Parks
- Article 1 — Applicability and Authority
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- Article 4 — Permits
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- Article 3 — Applicability and Authority
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- Article 19 — Miscellaneous Provisions
- Chapter 6 — Regulation of Parking Facilities
- Chapter 6.5 — Regulation of Skateboarding and Similar Activiti…
- Chapter 7 — Ventura County Comprehensive Smoke-Free Regulations
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- Article 8 — Recreational Vehicle Parking Meter Zone
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- Chapter 1 — Traffic Ordinance
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- Article 1 — Authority, Purpose, and Application of Chapter
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- Article 5 — Uses and Structures by Zone
- Article 6 — Lot Area and Coverage, Setbacks, Height and Relate…
- Article 7 — Standards for Specific Uses
- Article 8 — Parking and Loading Requirements
- Article 9 — Standards for Specific Zones and Zone Types
- Article 10 — Sign Requirements
- Article 11 — Entitlements—Process and Procedures
- Article 12 — Limitations on Issuance of Building Permits in th…
- Article 13 — Nonconformities and Substandard Lots
- Article 14 — Enforcement and Penalties
- Article 15 — Amendments to This Chapter
- Article 16 — Density Bonus and Affordable Housing Incentives P…
- Article 17 — Mobilehome Park Closure Permit Requirements
- Article 18 — Official Zoning Data
- Article 19 — Specific Standards for Area Plans
- Article 1 — Authority, Purpose, and Application of Chapter
- Article 3 — Purposes of Zones
- Article 4 — Permitted Uses
- Article 5 — Development Standards/Conditions—Uses
- Article 6 — Parking and Loading Requirements
- Article 7 — Standards For Specific Zones
- Article 8 — General Development Standards/Conditions—Resource …
- Article 9 — Zoning Maps
- Article 11 — Entitlements—Process and Procedures
- Article 12 — Nonconformities and Substandard Lots
- Article 13 — Enforcement and Penalties
- Article 14 — Amendment to the local coastal program
- Chapter 2 — Subdivisions
- Article 1 — Authority, Purpose, and Application of Chapter
- Article 3 — Fees and Charges
- Article 4 — Parcel Map Waivers
- Article 5 — Tentative Maps
- Article 6 — Final and Parcel Map Requirements
- Article 7 — Amendment of Recorded Final and Parcel Maps
- Article 8 — Improvements, Dedications, Reservations and Fees
- Article 9 — Lot Line Adjustments
- Article 10 — Voluntary Mergers
- Article 11 — Conservation Subdivision
- Article 12 — Reversions to Acreage
- Article 13 — Mobilehome Park Conversions to Resident Ownership…
- Article 14 — Certificates of Compliance and Conditional Certif…
- Article 15 — Notice, Hearings, and Decisions
- Article 16 — Appeals
- Article 17 — Enforcement
- Article 18 — Amendments to this Chapter
- Chapter 3 — Places
- Article 1 — House Numbering
- Chapter 4 — Urban Area Development
- Chapter 6 — Traffic Impact Mitigation Fees for Maintenance and…
- Chapter 7 — Protection of Flood Control Facilities
- Chapter 8 — SE (Miscellaneous) Projects
- Chapter 9 — School Facilities Fee/Dedication Ordinance
- Chapter 10 — Mobile Home Park Rent Control
- Chapter 11 — Augmented Piru Transportation Impact Mitigation Fee
- Article 1 — Fees
- Article 2 — Right-To-Farm
- Article 3 — Mediation Services
- Article 1 — Regulations
- Article 1 — Identification of Agricultural Commodities Being T…
- Article 1 — Certification
- Chapter 5 — Apple Maggot Infestation Control
- Chapter 6 — Cultivation of Industrial Hemp
- Division 10 — Domestic Partnership Registration
- Chapter 1 — General
- Chapter 2 — Specific Provisions
- Article 1 — Imposition of Tax
- Article 2 — Registration
- Article 3 — Reporting and Remitting
- Article 4 — Penalties and Interest
- Article 5 — Failure to Collect and Report Tax
- Article 6 — Appeal
- Article 7 — Refunds
- Chapter 3 — Enforcement
- Article 1 — Civil Action
- Article 2 — Violations
- Division 12 — Highway Encroachments
- Chapter 1 — Definitions and Construction of Division
- Chapter 2 — General Provisions
- Chapter 3 — Encroachment Work Standards
- Chapter 4 — Application Requirements
- Chapter 5 — Permit Issuance
- Chapter 6 — Permit Fees and Deposits
- Chapter 7 — Maintenance and Repair of Sidewalks
- Chapter 8 — Wireless Telecommunication Facilities-Public Right…
- Chapter 9 — Transportation Permits
- Chapter 10 — Appeal and Violation
- Division 13 — Abatement of Public Nuisances