Brentwood · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Brentwood

Brentwood has its own documentary transfer tax on property sales. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: City rule: the transfer tax is $0.55 per $1,000 of value on sales over $100, paid by whoever signs or benefits from the document.
Seller disclosures: State law: sellers of single-family homes must give a Transfer Disclosure Statement, with exemptions such as foreclosure and court-ordered sales.
Property tax: State law: a sale resets assessed value to market value; the general tax is at most 1% of it, plus voter-approved debt.

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

Transfer tax

Brentwood code What Brentwood's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in Brentwood. § 3.12.020 · code text There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements or other realty sold within the city of Brentwood are granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed
Rate	Twenty-seven and one-half cents for each $500 of value, or part of $500. Applies: Applies when the price or value conveyed is more than $100. § 3.12.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 for each thousand dollars of value. Applies: Applies when the price or value conveyed is more than $100. § 3.12.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100. Applies: Value of the interest or property conveyed, not counting liens or debts remaining at the time of sale. § 3.12.020 · 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 one hundred dollars
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 3.12.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.12.020 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

Brentwood code What Brentwood's code adds
Deadline to comply	24 hours. Applies: After city notice to fix a condition causing a private sewer lateral overflow. § 13.04.845 · code text Upon receiving notice from the city, a premises owner(s) will have twenty-four hours to abate any condition that is causing a private sewer lateral overflow.
Owner's responsibility	The owner must maintain, operate, repair and replace the private sewer lateral at the owner's cost, not the city's. § 13.04.845 · code text It is the responsibility of the premises owner to maintain the private sewer lateral. The operation and condition of private sewer laterals, their cleanouts and any other wastewater facilities required to serve a connector's building, shall be the responsibility of the premises owner, who shall keep them in good operating condition at all times and shall undertake all necessary repairs, including replacement of dilapidated and worn out components, at the premises owner's expense and at no cost to the city.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

City rule: the transfer tax is $0.55 per $1,000 of value on sales over $100, paid by whoever signs or benefits from the document.

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

Brentwood's code: 24 hours. (After city notice to fix a condition causing a private sewer lateral overflow.) (§ 13.04.845); The owner must maintain, operate, repair and replace the private sewer lateral at the owner's cost, not the city's. (§ 13.04.845).

General information, not legal advice.

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