Colfax · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Colfax

Colfax levies its own transfer tax at the amounts state law sets. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law, which sets the disclosure statement and caps the general tax rate.

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Key points

Transfer tax: Colfax levies a city transfer tax at the amounts in Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911(b), paid by the persons § 11912 names.
Seller disclosures: State law requires sellers of single-family homes to give buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement, with some exemptions such as foreclosure sales.
Property tax: State law limits general property tax to 1% of full cash value plus voter-approved debt; base year value rises at most 2% a year.

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

Transfer tax

Colfax code What Colfax's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city. § 3.12.020 · code text There is imposed a tax 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, upon the value and in the amounts specified by subsection (b) of Section 11911 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the state.
Rate	The amounts set by state law in the Revenue and Taxation Code. § 3.12.020 · code text There is imposed a tax 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, upon the value and in the amounts specified by subsection (b) of Section 11911 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the state.
Who pays	The persons named in the state Revenue and Taxation Code. § 3.12.030 · code text The tax imposed by the provisions of Section 3.12.020 of this chapter shall be paid by those persons specified in Section 11912 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the state.

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

Colfax code What Colfax's code adds
How long a certificate lasts	A video inspection is valid for 6 months from the date of the video. Applies: Applies to video inspections. § 13.08.520 · code text A video inspection shall be valid for a period of six months from the date of the video.
Deadline to comply	Repairs or replacement must be done before the final building inspection. Applies: Applies after a remodel or modification costing more than $20,000. § 13.08.520 · code text Before final building inspection, all repairs or replacements necessary to bring the building sewer lateral(s) serving the remodeled or modified premises into compliance shall be completed; Before close of escrow; if there is no escrow, before a deed or other title transfer is recorded. Applies: Applies to repairs found by the testing required for a sale or transfer, outside probate. § 13.08.520 · code text The repairs or replacement of building sewer laterals that result from the testing required as a result of the sale or transfer of property in a nonprobate transaction shall be completed prior to the close of escrow of the sale or, if there is no escrow, prior to By the time in the city engineer's notice; if not done, the city records a violation in Placer County records. Applies: Applies when the city engineer gives notice to correct a violation. § 13.08.540 · code text If the repairs are not completed within the time allowed by the city, or if the city determines that the property may be transferred before the required testing or repairs can be completed, the city shall record a notice of violation in the Official Records of Placer County
When an inspection is required	New plumbing fixtures that, in the city's judgment, cause a major increase in sewage flow. Applies: The owner must have the lateral cleaned and tested at their own expense. § 13.08.520 · code text All building sewer laterals, including but not limited to those serving residential, multiple residential, industrial, retail and commercial properties connected to the city's public sewer main shall be cleaned and tested, at the property owner's expense, when any of the following events occur: A remodel or modification costing more than $20,000, as the city determines. Applies: The owner pays to clean and test the lateral; repairs are done before final building inspection. § 13.08.520 · code text Whenever property located in the city is remodeled or modified with an estimated or actual remodel or modification cost or value in excess of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) as determined by the city. A change of use from residential to business, commercial or other nonresidential use. Applies: The owner must have the lateral cleaned and tested at their own expense. § 13.08.520 · code text A change of use of the house, building, property or other structure served from residential to business, commercial, or other nonresidential, or from nonresidential/nonrestaurant/nonindustrial to restaurant or industrial uses such as carwashes, cleaners and laundries; Repair or replacement of any part of the lateral. Applies: The owner must have the lateral cleaned and tested at their own expense. § 13.08.520 · code text Upon repair or replacement of any portion of the building sewer lateral; When the city decides it is needed to protect public health, safety and welfare. Applies: The owner must have the lateral cleaned and tested at their own expense. § 13.08.520 · code text Upon a determination by the city that the cleaning, testing, repair or replacement is required for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare; Sale or other transfer: test before close of escrow, or before the deed is recorded if there is no escrow. § 13.08.520 · code text Prior to the close of escrow upon a sale or other transfer of the house, building, property or other structure served or, if there is no escrow, prior to recording a deed or other document transferring title to the house, building, property or other structure served; Within 180 days after the sale, transfer or conveyance. Applies: Applies to probate, revocable living trust transfers, joint tenancy terminations or similar instruments. § 13.08.520 · code text In a probate or other testamentary proceeding or in the event of a transfer pursuant to the terms of a revocable living trust, joint tenancy termination or other similar instrument, within one hundred eighty (180) days after the sale, transfer or conveyance of the house, building, property or other structure connected to the city's public sewer main. Every new lateral must be tested along its full length; the city picks the test method. Applies: Applies to new building sewer laterals. § 13.08.510 · code text All new building sewers laterals shall be tested in accordance with provisions of this article and all other rules and regulations established the city as of the effective date of this article or thereafter.
Owner's responsibility	The owner must keep every sewer lateral in good condition and repair. § 13.08.520 · code text Every property owner shall keep and maintain every building sewer lateral(s) connecting the property owner's premises to the public sewer main in good condition and repair. The owner pays for cleaning and testing. Applies: Applies when cleaning and testing is required. § 13.08.520 · code text All building sewer laterals, including but not limited to those serving residential, multiple residential, industrial, retail and commercial properties connected to the city's public sewer main shall be cleaned and tested, at the property owner's expense, when any of the following events occur: The owner must make all needed repairs or replace the sewer lateral. Applies: Applies when an existing lateral does not comply. § 13.08.520 · code text When an existing building sewer lateral fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the property owner shall cause all repairs necessary to bring the building sewer lateral(s) to be made to the satisfaction of the city, or replace the building sewer lateral(s) in accordance with all city requirements. The owner pays all costs of repair or replacement, cleanouts and backflow prevention devices. Applies: Applies to repair or replacement of the sewer lateral. § 13.08.520 · code text All costs of repair or replacement of the building sewer lateral(s), cleanouts, and backflow prevention devices shall be borne by the property owner. The owner pays repair or replacement costs not covered by grants or loans. Applies: Applies to owners who join a city repair program during a public sewer main project. § 13.08.550 · code text property owners who agree to participate shall bear the cost of such building sewer lateral repairs or replacement not funded by grants or loans.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Colfax levies a city transfer tax at the amounts in Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911(b), paid by the persons § 11912 names.

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

Colfax's code: A video inspection is valid for 6 months from the date of the video. (Applies to video inspections.) (§ 13.08.520); Repairs or replacement must be done before the final building inspection. (Applies after a remodel or modification costing more than $20,000.) (§ 13.08.520).

General information, not legal advice.

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