Pinole · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Pinole

Pinole has its own transfer tax on property sales; seller disclosures and property tax follow state law. Under state law, sellers of single-family homes give buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement, and a purchase resets the assessed value.

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Key points

Transfer tax: The city tax is $0.55 per $1,000 on sales over $100; both the person making the transfer and the person receiving it are liable.
Seller disclosures: State law: sellers of single-family homes owe buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement, with listed exemptions such as foreclosure and court-ordered sales.
Property tax: State law: the general tax is at most 1% of value plus voter-approved debt; value resets on purchase, then rises at most 2% yearly.

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

Transfer tax

Pinole code What Pinole's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city. Applies: Only when the price or value of the property transferred is more than $100. § 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 to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his, her or their direction, when the consideration for, or value of the interest of property conveyed exceeds one hundred dollars, a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Rate	27.5 cents for each $500 of value, or fraction 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 shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his, her or their direction, when the consideration for, or value of the interest of property conveyed exceeds one hundred dollars, 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. § 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 to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his, her or their direction, when the consideration for, or value of the interest of property conveyed exceeds one hundred dollars, a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	$100 Applies: The tax applies only when the price or value of the property transferred is more than $100. § 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 to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his, her or their direction, when the consideration for, or value of the interest of property conveyed exceeds one hundred dollars, a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Rate depends on price	No. One rate applies to every 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 shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his, her or their direction, when the consideration for, or value of the interest of property conveyed exceeds one hundred dollars, a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	The person who makes the transfer and the person who receives it are jointly and severally liable. § 3.16.030 · code text Any person who makes a transfer which is subject to the tax imposed under Section 3.16.020 of this chapter, and any person or persons to whom such transfer is made, shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of the tax imposed under Section 3.16.020.

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

Pinole code What Pinole's code adds
How long a certificate lasts	An inspection is valid for 6 months; after that the city may require a new one before certifying compliance. § 13.20.070 · code text An inspection shall be valid for a period of six (6) months from the date of the Inspection.
Deadline to comply	Repair may be put off up to 180 days. Applies: Hardship status granted for repair before close of escrow in a non-probate sale. § 13.20.120 · code text If hardship status is granted, the property owner who is selling the property, or the purchaser of such property may request the city to defer the building sewer lateral repair up to one hundred and eighty (180) days.
Fee or permit	An inspection fee is required. Applies: When the video inspection is submitted to Public Works. § 13.20.070 · code text The property owner shall submit a video recording of the building sewer lateral inspection to the Department of Public Works for review along with the designated Inspection fee.
When an inspection is required	Cleaning and inspection are required when applying for a new building's certificate of occupancy. Applies: New buildings. § 13.20.050 · code text The application for a certificate of occupancy for a new building. Cleaning and inspection are required when added plumbing causes a major increase in sewage flow. Applies: Added plumbing that, in the city's sole judgment, causes a major increase in sewage flow. § 13.20.050 · code text The installation of additional plumbing facilities that produce a major increase (in the sole judgment of the city) in sewage flow from the house, building, property or other structure served. Cleaning and inspection are required when a building changes from residential to business, commercial or other non-residential use. § 13.20.050 · code text A change of use of the house, building, property or other structure served from residential to business, commercial, or other non-residential use; or from non-residential, non-restaurant, non-commercial, non-industrial to restaurant, commercial or industrial uses. Cleaning and inspection are required when any part of the lateral is repaired or replaced. Applies: Repair or replacement of any part of the lateral. § 13.20.050 · code text Upon repair or replacement of any portion of a building sewer lateral. Cleaning and inspection are required when the city finds it necessary for public health, safety and welfare. Applies: City finds cleaning, testing, repair or replacement is needed to protect public health, safety and welfare. § 13.20.050 · code text Upon determination by the city that the cleaning, testing, repair or replacement is required for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare. Cleaning and inspection are required before close of escrow, or before the transfer deed is recorded if no escrow. Applies: Sale or other transfer, except qualifying family or living trust transfers. § 13.20.050 · code text Prior to the close of escrow upon a sale or other transfer of the house, building, property or other structure served or, if there is no escrow, prior to recording a deed or other document transferring title to the house, building, property or other structure served. No test is needed for a qualifying transfer. Applies: Transfers between family members or into a living trust when the county assessor requires no reassessment. § 13.20.050 · code text A transfer of ownership between family members or into a revocable or irrevocable living trust does not require testing if reassessment of property value is not required by the Contra Costa County Tax Assessor. Cleaning and inspection are required within 180 days after the transfer. Applies: Probate, or transfer on ending a joint tenancy, tenancy in common or similar arrangement. § 13.20.050 · code text In a probate or other testamentary proceeding or in the event of a transfer pursuant to the terms of a joint tenancy termination, tenants in common termination, or other similar instrument, within one hundred eighty (180) days after the sale, transfer or conveyance of the house, building, property or other structure served. The cleaning and inspection requirement for the listed triggering events does not apply. Applies: Buildings built within 10 years of when the rule was enacted. § 13.20.050 · code text Those buildings that were built within ten (10) years or less of the enactment of this chapter; or The cleaning and inspection requirement for the listed triggering events does not apply. Applies: Laterals replaced within 10 years of the triggering event. § 13.20.050 · code text Buildings that have a building sewer lateral that was replaced within ten (10) years of the triggering event provided in subsection A of this section.
Owner's responsibility	The property owner pays for cleaning and inspection. Applies: When a triggering event occurs. § 13.20.050 · code text shall be cleaned and inspected as required in this chapter and at the property owner's expense when any of the following events occur:

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

The city tax is $0.55 per $1,000 on sales over $100; both the person making the transfer and the person receiving it are liable.

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

Pinole's code: An inspection is valid for 6 months; after that the city may require a new one before certifying compliance. (§ 13.20.070); Repair may be put off up to 180 days. (Hardship status granted for repair before close of escrow in a non-probate sale.) (§ 13.20.120).

General information, not legal advice.

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