Buying or selling a home in El Cerrito

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

Transfer tax

El Cerrito code What El Cerrito's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each transfer of real property in El Cerrito. § 4.64.040 · code text A tax is hereby imposed on each transfer of real property located in the city of El Cerrito, when the value of the consideration exceeds one hundred dollars.
Rate	$12 for each $1,000 of the price paid, or fraction of $1,000. § 4.64.050 · code text The rate of the tax imposed pursuant this chapter shall be twelve dollars for each one thousand dollars of the value of consideration paid for a transfer of real property, or fractional part of each one thousand dollars of the value of consideration.
Rate per $1,000	$12 per $1,000 of the price paid, or fraction of $1,000. § 4.64.050 · code text The rate of the tax imposed pursuant this chapter shall be twelve dollars for each one thousand dollars of the value of consideration paid for a transfer of real property, or fractional part of each one thousand dollars of the value of consideration.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price paid is more than $100. § 4.64.040 · code text A tax is hereby imposed on each transfer of real property located in the city of El Cerrito, when the value of the consideration exceeds one hundred dollars.
Who pays	Seller and buyer are both fully liable for the tax. They may split it between themselves. § 4.64.060 · code text Any person who makes a transfer of real property subject to the tax imposed by this chapter and any person to whom such a transfer is made shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of the tax. The transferor and transferee may apportion the tax among themselves.

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 →

Who this affects

BuyersSellersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

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

El Cerrito transfer tax: $12 per $1,000 of the consideration, only when the consideration exceeds $100.

General information, not legal advice.