Buying or selling a home in Palmdale

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

Transfer tax

Palmdale code What Palmdale's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city. Applies: Applies only when the value conveyed is more than $100, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain at the time of sale. § 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 is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his or their direction, 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 $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 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 is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his or their direction, 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 $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value. § 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 is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his or their direction, 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 $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the value conveyed is more than $100. Applies: Liens or encumbrances that remain on the property at the time of sale are not counted in the value. § 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 is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his or their direction, 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 $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate depends on price	No. The rate does not change with the sale price. § 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 is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his or their direction, 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 $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose benefit it is made. § 3.16.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to PMC § 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 it 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

Palmdale code What Palmdale's code adds
Owner's responsibility	Clean laterals in ways that keep grease, oils, debris and cut roots out of the main sewer. Applies: Applies to anyone who discharges to the public sewer. § 13.14.030 · code text Dischargers to the public sewer system shall use house lateral maintenance procedures that maximize the recovery of deleterious materials and minimize the passage of fats, oils and grease (FOG), debris, cut roots and similar materials to the mainline sewers.

Who this affects

BuyersSellersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

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

The city tax is $0.55 per $1,000 on sales over $100, owed by whoever signs the transfer document or benefits from it.

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

Palmdale's code: Clean laterals in ways that keep grease, oils, debris and cut roots out of the main sewer. (Applies to anyone who discharges to the public sewer.) (§ 13.14.030).

General information, not legal advice.