Laguna Beach · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach adds its own documentary transfer tax on property transfers. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: City rule: transfers over $100 are taxed at $0.55 per $1,000, not counting remaining liens; whoever signs or benefits from the document pays.
Seller disclosures: State law: sellers of single-family homes must give a Transfer Disclosure Statement, except in court-ordered and some other sales, and disclose mapped natural hazards.
Property tax: State law: general property tax is at most 1% of full cash value, plus voter-approved bonds; assessed value rises at most 2% a year.

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

Transfer tax

Laguna Beach code What Laguna Beach's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes deeds and other documents that transfer real property sold in the city. § 5.06.020 · code text There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the city of Laguna Beach shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 5.06.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value. § 5.06.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	Over $100. Applies: The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100, not counting liens or debts that stay on the property at sale. § 5.06.020 · 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
Rate depends on price	No. One flat rate applies to every sale. § 5.06.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Anyone who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or the person it is made for or benefits. § 5.06.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 5.06.020 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 →

Sewer lateral inspection

Laguna Beach code What Laguna Beach's code adds
Fee or permit	A city plumbing permit is required for the work on private property. Applies: Applies to repair and replacement of a private sewer lateral on private property. § 17.50.054 · code text Repair and replacement of a private sewer lateral requires a city plumbing permit for the work on private property A public works permit is required for work in a public right-of-way, including the connection to the public sewer. Applies: Applies to repair and replacement work in a public right-of-way. § 17.50.054 · code text and a public works permit for work within a public right-of-way which includes the connection to the public sewer. A final inspection by the city's authorized inspector is required. Applies: Applies to work done under the city permit process. § 17.50.054 · code text A final inspection of the work by the city's authorized inspector is required as part of city permitting process.
When an inspection is required	Required at the first of: a sewer spill, qualifying remodel, specified change of use, or lateral repair or replacement. Also: significant repair or replacement of the attached main sewer line, or city inspection finding the lateral insufficiently functional, with written notice. § 17.50.052 · code text All private sewer laterals connected to a city public sewer, including those serving residential, multiple residential, multi-unit complexes, common interest developments, and commercial properties, shall be cleaned, video inspected, and provided a private sewer lateral inspection report, per Section 17.50.053, at the property owner's expense, upon the occurrence of one of the following events, whichever is first:
Owner's responsibility	The property owner pays to repair or replace the private sewer lateral. § 17.50.054 · code text The cost to repair or replace the private sewer lateral shall be the responsibility of the property owner. The owner must make the repairs or replace the line to bring the lateral into compliance. Applies: Applies when the owner's inspection shows the lateral cannot prevent unauthorized discharges or is in danger of continuing spills. § 17.50.054 · code text the property owner shall cause the necessary repairs or line replacement to be made to bring the private sewer lateral into compliance with the requirements of the city.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

City rule: transfers over $100 are taxed at $0.55 per $1,000, not counting remaining liens; whoever signs or benefits from the document pays.

Does Laguna Beach require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?

Laguna Beach's code: A city plumbing permit is required for the work on private property. (Applies to repair and replacement of a private sewer lateral on private property.) (§ 17.50.054); A public works permit is required for work in a public right-of-way, including the connection to the public sewer. (Applies to repair and replacement work in a public right-of-way.) (§ 17.50.054).

General information, not legal advice.

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