Buying or selling a home in Monrovia

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

Transfer tax

Monrovia code What Monrovia's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes deeds and documents that transfer real property sold in the city, including foundation-mounted mobile homes. § 3.36.020 · code text There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, any mobile home installed on a foundation system, pursuant to Cal. Health and Safety Code § 18551, and subject to local property tax, or other realty sold within the city shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed
Rate	27.5 cents for each $500 of value, or fraction of $500. Applies: Applies when the value conveyed, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain at the sale, is more than $100. § 3.36.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $.27.5 for each $500 or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per thousand dollars of value (27.5 cents for each $500 or fraction of $500). Applies: Applies when the value conveyed, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain at the sale, is more than $100. § 3.36.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $.27.5 for each $500 or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the value is more than $100. Applies: The value counted does not include liens or encumbrances that remain on the property at the sale. § 3.36.020 · 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. One rate applies to every sale: 27.5 cents for each $500 or fraction of $500. § 3.36.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $.27.5 for each $500 or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or the person it is made for. § 3.36.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to § 3.36.020 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

Monrovia code What Monrovia's code adds
Owner's responsibility	The owner must keep all sewer laterals safe and sanitary, up to and including the junction with the sewer main. § 13.12.040 · code text All sewer laterals shall be maintained by the owner of the property served by such lateral in a safe and sanitary operating condition so that there is no seepage of waste at any point up to and including the junction of the sewer lateral and the sewer main and so that passage of waste through the lateral to the sewer main is free from stoppage and obstruction.

Who this affects

BuyersSellersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

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

Monrovia transfer tax: 27.5 cents per $500 ($0.55 per $1,000), only on transfers over $100, not counting liens that remain.

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

Monrovia's code: The owner must keep all sewer laterals safe and sanitary, up to and including the junction with the sewer main. (§ 13.12.040).

General information, not legal advice.