Belmont · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Belmont

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

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Key points

Transfer tax: Belmont 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 Belmont code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Transfer tax

Belmont code What Belmont's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes deeds and other documents that transfer real property sold in the city. § 23-43 · 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
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 23-43 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 for each thousand dollars of value. § 23-43 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100. Applies: The value counted does not include any lien or debt that stays on the property at the time of sale. § 23-43 · code text 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 one hundred dollars ($100.00)
Rate depends on price	No. One rate applies to every sale: $0.275 for each $500. § 23-43 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Anyone who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or the person it is made for or benefits. § 23-44 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to section 23-43 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.

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 →

Sewer lateral inspection

Belmont code What Belmont's code adds
How long a certificate lasts	15 years minus the lateral's age in years, unless the director sets a shorter period. Applies: Applies to a certificate for a lateral lawfully built within the past 15 years. § 21-213 · code text A sewer lateral certificate issued under subsection (a)(1) may be issued at no cost and shall be effective for a period equal to the difference of fifteen (15) years minus the number of years since construction of the lateral unless the director establishes a shorter period. 4 years, unless the director decides otherwise based on the circumstances. Applies: Applies to a certificate issued after testing and inspection show the lateral is in good repair. § 21-213 · code text A sewer lateral certificate issued under subsection (a)(2) may be issued upon payment of a sewer lateral certificate application review fee and shall be effective for the period of four (4) years unless determined by the director based on the circumstances including the age of the lateral and other factors affecting the integrity and reliability of the lateral.
Fee or permit	A certificate application review fee is required. Applies: Applies to a certificate issued through testing and inspection. § 21-213 · code text A sewer lateral certificate issued under subsection (a)(2) may be issued upon payment of a sewer lateral certificate application review fee Free, without testing, if the whole lateral was lawfully built in the past 15 years and no repair is suspected. § 21-213 · code text The entire sewer lateral was lawfully constructed within the past fifteen (15) years and the director does not suspect that the lateral may be in need of repair;
When an inspection is required	A valid sewer lateral certificate is needed before final building permit for work of $200,000 or more or water-service changes. Applies: Applies to property required to have a sewer lateral. § 21-212 · code text A real property owner must possess a valid sewer lateral certificate issued under section 21-213 before receiving a final building permit for: (1) Improvements valued by the building official at two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) or more; The director may require an inspection, even with a valid certificate. Applies: Applies when the director has a reasonable basis to believe the lateral may not be in good repair. § 21-215 · code text Notwithstanding that a valid sewer lateral certificate exists for a property, the director may require a property owner to inspect a sewer lateral if the director has a reasonable basis to believe the lateral may not be in good repair or condition.
Owner's responsibility	The owner pays for code-required testing and inspection of the sewer lateral. Applies: Applies to testing and inspection required by the code. § 21-215 · code text The property owner is responsible for the costs of testing and inspection of sewer laterals required by this Code. The city is not responsible for repairing or replacing lateral damage caused by emergency maintenance. Applies: Applies to damage from emergency maintenance. § 21-211 · code text Neither the city nor the city manager shall not be responsible for the repair or replacement of any portion of the sewer lateral damaged as a result of emergency maintenance,

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

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

Does Belmont require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?

Belmont's code: 15 years minus the lateral's age in years, unless the director sets a shorter period. (Applies to a certificate for a lateral lawfully built within the past 15 years.) (§ 21-213); 4 years, unless the director decides otherwise based on the circumstances. (Applies to a certificate issued after testing and inspection show the lateral is in good repair.) (§ 21-213).

General information, not legal advice.

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