Grand Terrace · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Grand Terrace

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

Transfer tax

Grand Terrace code What Grand Terrace's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city. § 3.04.020 · code text There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements or other realty sold within the City is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 3.04.020 · 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. § 3.04.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100. Applies: Liens or encumbrances that remain on the property at the time of sale are not counted in the value. § 3.04.020 · 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
Rate depends on price	No. The rate does not change with the sale price. § 3.04.020 · 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. § 3.04.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.04.020 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

Grand Terrace code What Grand Terrace's code adds
Owner's responsibility	The property owner pays to install, maintain and replace it. Applies: The upper (property owner) part of the sewer lateral. § 13.04.160 · code text The costs for installation, maintenance, and replacement, of the property owner sewer service lateral (upper portion) as defined in Section 13.04.010, shall be the responsibility of the property owner. The city pays to install, maintain and replace it. Applies: The lower (city) part of the sewer lateral. § 13.04.160 · code text The costs for installation, maintenance, and replacement of the City sewer service lateral (lower portion) as defined in Section 13.04.010, shall be the responsibility of the City.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

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

Does Grand Terrace require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?

Grand Terrace's code: The property owner pays to install, maintain and replace it. (The upper (property owner) part of the sewer lateral.) (§ 13.04.160); The city pays to install, maintain and replace it. (The lower (city) part of the sewer lateral.) (§ 13.04.160).

General information, not legal advice.

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