Buying or selling a home in Hayward

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

Transfer tax

Hayward code What Hayward's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property in the city. § 8-6.05 · code text A tax is hereby imposed on each transfer, by deed, instrument, or writing, by which any lands, tenements, or other real property located in the City are sold, granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed
Rate	$8.50 for each $1,000 of the price, or part of $1,000. § 8-6.05 · code text said tax to be at the rate of eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) for each one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or fractional part of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of the value of the consideration.
Rate per $1,000	$8.50 for each $1,000 of the price. § 8-6.05 · code text said tax to be at the rate of eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50) for each one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or fractional part of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of the value of the consideration.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price is more than $100. § 8-6.05 · code text when the value of the consideration exceeds one hundred dollars ($100.00)
Who pays	Anyone who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or benefits from it; each is jointly and severally liable. § 8-6.10 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to section 8-6.05 hereof 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 Hayward?

Hayward taxes property transfers over $100 at $8.50 per $1,000; whoever signs or issues the deed, or benefits from it, pays.

General information, not legal advice.