Benicia · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Benicia

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

Transfer tax

Benicia code What Benicia's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each document that transfers real property sold in the city. § 3.16.020 · code text There is imposed on each instrument or writing by which land, tenement or other realty sold within the city is transferred or conveyed to the purchaser or other grantee
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or fraction of $500. § 3.16.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part of $500.00.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 for each thousand dollars of value ($0.275 for each $500 or fraction of $500). § 3.16.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part of $500.00.
Price threshold	$100 Applies: The tax applies only when the value conveyed, not counting encumbrances that remain at the time of sale, is more than $100. § 3.16.020 · code text when the consideration or value of the interest conveyed, exclusive of the value of an encumbrance remaining at the time of sale, exceeds $100.00
Rate depends on price	No. One rate applies: $0.275 for each $500 or fraction of $500. § 3.16.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part of $500.00.
Who pays	The person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 3.16.030 · code text The tax imposed under BMC § 3.16.020 shall be paid by the person who makes, signs or issues the instrument subject to the tax, or for whose use or benefit the 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 →

Sewer lateral inspection

Benicia code What Benicia's code adds
Owner's responsibility	The owner must maintain the building sewer and all other sewage facilities on the property. § 13.60.050 · code text The owner shall maintain the building sewer and all other sewage facilities located on his property. The city maintains the lateral sewer only when all of the listed conditions are met. Applies: Lateral built to city requirements, city-approved for upkeep; accessible approved cleanout within 5 feet of property line; upkeep needs no moving or damaging private property. § 13.60.050 · code text The city shall maintain lateral sewers if all of the following conditions are met: The owner of the property served by the lateral sewer must maintain it. Applies: When the conditions for city maintenance are not met. § 13.60.050 · code text Where these conditions do not exist, the owner of the property served by the lateral sewer shall maintain it.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

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

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

Benicia's code: The owner must maintain the building sewer and all other sewage facilities on the property. (§ 13.60.050); The city maintains the lateral sewer only when all of the listed conditions are met. (Lateral built to city requirements, city-approved for upkeep; accessible approved cleanout within 5 feet of property line; upkeep needs no moving or damaging private property.) (§ 13.60.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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