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Artesia · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Artesia

Artesia charges its own documentary transfer tax when property changes hands. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.

Key points

  • Transfer tax: Artesia taxes property transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500; whoever signs or issues the deed, or benefits from it, pays.
  • Seller disclosures: State law: single-family sellers must give a Transfer Disclosure Statement unless exempt, and written smoke alarm and water heater bracing statements.
  • Property tax: State law caps general property tax at 1% of value; property is reassessed on sale, and its base value rises at most 2% yearly.

Each rule below is marked Artesia code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Transfer tax

Artesia code What Artesia's code adds
City transfer tax
  • Yes. The city taxes deeds and other documents that transfer real property sold in the city.
    § 3-5.103 · code text
    There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument, or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the City shall be granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or any other person, by his or her direction,
Rate
  • $0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500.
    § 3-5.103 · code text
    a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half ($0.275) cents for each $500, or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000
  • $0.55 for each thousand dollars of value.
    § 3-5.103 · code text
    a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half ($0.275) cents for each $500, or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold
  • $100.
    Applies: The tax applies only when the value is more than $100, not counting liens or debts that stay on the property at sale.
    § 3-5.103 · code text
    when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed (exclusive of the value of any liens or encumbrances remaining thereon at the time of sale) exceeds $100, a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half ($0.275) cents for each $500, or fractional part thereof.
Rate depends on price
  • No. One rate applies to every sale: $0.275 for each $500.
    § 3-5.103 · code text
    a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half ($0.275) cents for each $500, or fractional part thereof.
Who pays
  • Anyone who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or the person it is made for or benefits.
    § 3-5.104 · code text
    The tax imposed by the provisions of Section 3-5.203 of this article 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 such document or instrument is made, signed, or issued.

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. County documentary transfer tax: A county may tax a sale over $100 at $0.55 for each $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000), not counting liens that remain on the property (Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911(a)). City share of the tax: A city may impose half the county rate ($0.55 per $1,000); the county then credits the city tax against its own, so the combined standard rate stays $1.10 per $1,000 (Rev. & Tax. Code § 11931). California rules for buying and selling — the full state rule →

Seller disclosures

CA state law California law sets this statewide. Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) — who must give it: Sellers of single-family residential property must give the buyer a Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (sale, exchange, installment contract, lease-option or ground lease with improvements) (Civ. Code §§ 1102(a), 1102.2). Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement (NHD): Sellers must disclose if the property is in a special flood hazard area, dam inundation area, very high fire hazard severity zone, earthquake fault zone, seismic hazard zone, or wildland fire area (Civ. Code § 1103(c)). California seller disclosure rules — the full state rule →

Property tax after you buy

CA state law California law sets this statewide. 1% property tax limit (Prop 13): The general property tax on real property may not exceed 1% of its full cash value; voter-approved bond debt is levied on top (Cal. Const. art. XIII A, § 1(a), (b)). 2% annual cap on assessed value: The base year value rises each year by the California CPI change, but never more than 2% (Rev. & Tax. Code § 51(a)(1)(D)). California property tax rules — the full state rule →

Who this affects

BuyersSellersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

What is the transfer tax when you sell a home in Artesia?

Artesia taxes property transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500; whoever signs or issues the deed, or benefits from it, pays.

General information, not legal advice.

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