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Hawaiian Gardens · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Hawaiian Gardens

Hawaiian Gardens charges its own documentary transfer tax when property changes hands. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.

Key points

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

Transfer tax

Hawaiian Gardens code What Hawaiian Gardens's code adds
City transfer tax
  • Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city.
    § 3.24.020 · code text
    There is imposed 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
Rate
  • $0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500.
    § 3.24.020 · code text
    a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000
  • $0.55 per $1,000 of value.
    § 3.24.020 · 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 value conveyed is more than $100.
    Applies: Liens or encumbrances that remain on the property at the time of sale are not counted in the value.
    § 3.24.020 · 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 rate does not change with the sale price.
    § 3.24.020 · 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 benefit it is made.
    § 3.24.030 · code text
    Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.24.020 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 →

Who this affects

BuyersSellersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

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

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

General information, not legal advice.

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