Biggs · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Biggs

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

Transfer tax

Biggs code What Biggs's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in Biggs. § 3.20.020 · code text There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the city of Biggs shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 3.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 for each thousand dollars of value. § 3.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	$100. Applies: The tax applies only when the price or value, not counting liens or debts remaining at the time of sale, is more than $100. § 3.20.020 · 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 $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate depends on price	No. The same rate applies at every sale price. § 3.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 3.20.030 · code text 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

Biggs code What Biggs's code adds
Deadline to comply	10 days after written notice, or less in an emergency; then the city may do the work. Applies: Owner fails to maintain the sewer lateral or connecting pipes. § 10.05.226 · code text If an owner of property served by the city's sewer system fails to maintain the sewer lateral(s) and/or other pipe(s) connecting the property to the sewer main as required in BMC § 10.05.224 after 10 days' written notice (or less, in the case of an emergency), the city, in its discretion, may undertake to perform such maintenance work
Fee or permit	The owner is charged the actual cost of the city's maintenance work. Applies: The city does the work after the owner fails to maintain the lateral or connecting pipes. § 10.05.226 · code text the city, in its discretion, may undertake to perform such maintenance work and will charge the owner the actual cost of such work.
Owner's responsibility	Owner maintains laterals and pipes from the premises to the property line; city maintains from there to the sewer main. § 10.05.224 · code text The owner of the property which such facilities serve shall maintain such laterals, similar pipes and appurtenances from the premises which such facilities serve to the property line of the property. The city shall maintain such facilities from said property line to the city's sewer main.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

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

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

Biggs's code: 10 days after written notice, or less in an emergency; then the city may do the work. (Owner fails to maintain the sewer lateral or connecting pipes.) (§ 10.05.226); The owner is charged the actual cost of the city's maintenance work. (The city does the work after the owner fails to maintain the lateral or connecting pipes.) (§ 10.05.226).

General information, not legal advice.

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