Hesperia · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Hesperia

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

Transfer tax

Hesperia code What Hesperia'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 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 fraction of $500. § 3.12.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value. § 3.12.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	$100 Applies: The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain. § 3.12.020 · 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 one hundred dollars ($100.00), a tax at the rate of
Rate depends on price	No. The rate does not change with the sale price. § 3.12.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($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. § 3.12.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.12.020 shall be paid by any person who makes, signs or issues any document or instrument subject to the tax, or 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

Hesperia code What Hesperia's code adds
Fee or permit	An encroachment permit is required. Applies: Applies when maintenance requires digging up or replacing existing sewer facilities. § 14.08.030 · code text Where such maintenance requires excavation or replacement of existing sewer facilities, the owner shall apply for and receive an encroachment permit as per Title 12, Chapter 12.12. Section 12.12.060.
Owner's responsibility	Owners must maintain the lateral from their building to the sewer main connection, at their own expense. Applies: Applies to new commercial, industrial, multi-family and single-family properties connecting to the local sewer system. § 14.08.030 · code text The owner(s) of any new commercial, industrial, multi-family and single-family residential property connecting to the local wastewater collection system shall be required to maintain the wastewater laterals from their building or structure to the connection point of the sewer main at their own expense. The district maintains the private lateral from the property line to the sewer main. Applies: Applies to existing properties connected before the ordinance took effect. § 14.08.030 · code text The district will retain responsibility for the maintenance of the private sewer laterals from the property line to the sewer main for existing single-family residential, commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties that were connected prior to the effective date of this ordinance. Each owner must inspect, maintain, repair, and replace the private sewer lateral as needed, at their own expense. § 14.08.030 · code text Each property owner shall, at the property owner's expense, inspect, maintain in good working order, repair, and replace, as necessary, the PSL

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

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

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

Hesperia's code: An encroachment permit is required. (Applies when maintenance requires digging up or replacing existing sewer facilities.) (§ 14.08.030); Owners must maintain the lateral from their building to the sewer main connection, at their own expense. (Applies to new commercial, industrial, multi-family and single-family properties connecting to the local sewer system.) (§ 14.08.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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