Malibu · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Malibu

Malibu has its own transfer tax on property sales, owed by anyone who signs or issues the transfer document or benefits from it. Seller disclosures and property tax after a purchase follow state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: Malibu taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500 ($0.55 per $1,000) of value, not counting liens that remain.
Seller disclosures: State law requires sellers of single-family homes to give buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement; court-ordered, foreclosure and some other sales are exempt.
Property tax: State law caps the general property tax at 1% of full cash value, plus voter-approved debt; base year value rises at most 2% yearly.

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

Transfer tax

Malibu code What Malibu's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city. § 3.16.020 · 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. Applies: When the value transferred, not counting liens or debts that stay on the property at sale, is more than $100. § 3.16.020 · 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, a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each $500 or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per thousand dollars of value ($0.275 for each $500 or fraction of $500). Applies: When the value transferred, not counting liens or debts that stay on the property at sale, is more than $100. § 3.16.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each $500 or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100. Applies: Value of the property transferred, not counting liens or debts that stay on the property at sale. § 3.16.020 · 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
Rate depends on price	No. The rate does not change with the price: $0.275 for each $500 or fraction of $500. § 3.16.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each $500 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. § 3.16.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.16.020 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

Malibu code What Malibu's code adds
Fee or permit	Get all construction permits, pass a leak test, file a compliance certificate and get final city inspection approval. Applies: Applies to properties on the Civic Center wastewater sewer system after a trigger, such as a sale or permit for work over $100,000. § 13.30.080 · code text obtain all required construction permits
When an inspection is required	Before a parcel or its fee interest is sold or transferred. Applies: Applies to title transfers; partial interests, leaseholds and certain trust, family, co-owner and marital transfers are excluded. § 13.30.080 · code text Prior to the sale or transfer of a parcel or the fee interest in that real property estate and does not include the sale or transfer of partial interest, including a leasehold. When the owner applies for a building permit for construction costing over $100,000. Applies: Applies to properties on the Civic Center wastewater sewer system. § 13.30.080 · code text Whenever a property owner or authorized agent applies for a building permit for any type of construction on the subject property that exceeds $100,000 in construction cost. When the owner applies to the Water District to change the water meter size. Applies: Applies to a change in water service size. § 13.30.080 · code text Whenever a property owner or authorized agent applies to the Water District to increase or decrease the size of the property's water meter. When the owner gets a written city violation notice about the lateral, based on city testing. Applies: Applies after a city notice of violation. § 13.30.080 · code text Whenever a property owner or authorized agent has received a written notice of violation from the city with respect to the condition of the building sewer lateral based on testing conducted by the city or its authorized representative. When the owner gets a written city notice that inspection suggests likely damage or non-compliance of the lateral. Applies: Applies after a city communication showing likely damage or non-compliance. § 13.30.080 · code text Whenever the property owner or authorized agent has received a written communication from the city with respect to the condition of the building sanitary sewer lateral based on observations from the city or its authorized representative evidencing damage or non-compliance with this chapter is likely to have occurred.
Owner's responsibility	The owner does all required maintenance, repairs and inspections to keep the sewer lateral compliant. § 13.30.080 · code text It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to perform all required maintenance, repairs and inspections to keep the building sanitary sewer lateral in the condition as specified by subsection B.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Malibu taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500 ($0.55 per $1,000) of value, not counting liens that remain.

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

Malibu's code: Get all construction permits, pass a leak test, file a compliance certificate and get final city inspection approval. (Applies to properties on the Civic Center wastewater sewer system after a trigger, such as a sale or permit for work over $100,000.) (§ 13.30.080); Before a parcel or its fee interest is sold or transferred. (Applies to title transfers; partial interests, leaseholds and certain trust, family, co-owner and marital transfers are excluded.) (§ 13.30.080).

General information, not legal advice.

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