Placerville · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Placerville

Placerville charges its own documentary transfer tax when property changes hands. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: Placerville taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500; the signer of the deed, or whoever benefits, pays.
Seller disclosures: State law: single-family sellers must give a Transfer Disclosure Statement unless exempt, and written smoke alarm and water heater bracing statements.
Property tax: State law caps general property tax at 1% of value; property is reassessed on sale, and its base value rises at most 2% yearly.

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

Transfer tax

Placerville code What Placerville's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city. § 5-17-2 · code text There is hereby 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: Only when the price or value of the property transferred is more than $100. § 5-17-2 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value. Applies: Only when the price or value of the property transferred is more than $100. § 5-17-2 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) 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. § 5-17-2 · 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 ($100.00)
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 5-17-3 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to section 5-17-2 of this chapter 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

Placerville code What Placerville's code adds
How long a certificate lasts	A certificate of lateral compliance is valid for no more than 20 years. § 7-17-7 · code text A COLC shall be valid for a period not to exceed twenty (20) years and shall be valid only for the PSL at the address specified in the COLC. Valid for no more than 20 years from issue; renew every 20 years. Applies: The private sewer lateral was fully replaced. § 7-17-9 · code text Where the PSL is totally replaced, the COLC shall be valid for a period not to exceed twenty (20) years from the date of issuance and is required to be renewed every twenty years. Valid for a period the Building Official sets under the California Plumbing Code. Applies: The city approves a partly replaced or repaired lateral. § 7-17-9 · code text Where the City approves a partial replacement or repaired PSL, the COLC shall be valid for a period to be determined by the Building Official in accordance with the California Plumbing Code.
Fee or permit	The owner gets any needed permits and brings the lateral up to the California Plumbing Code at own cost. Applies: The lateral fails compliance when a certificate of lateral compliance is required. § 7-17-7 · code text If the PSLs are not in compliance, for one or more of the reasons described in Section 7-17-6, the Property Owner shall obtain any required permits and perform all work needed to bring the PSLs into compliance with the California Plumbing Code. An encroachment permit from the City Engineer; a licensed contractor must do the work. Applies: Lateral repair that needs work in the public right-of-way. § 7-17-8 · code text In the instance where encroachment in the public right-of-way is needed for the repair of a PSL, an encroachment permit must first be obtained from the City Engineer and the work shall be performed by a licensed contractor.
When an inspection is required	A certificate of lateral compliance is required before a sale closes. Applies: Parcels with a structure that has no valid certificate. § 7-17-6 · code text Before completing a title transfer through sale associated with a parcel containing any structure not already having a valid COLC. A Verification Inspection is required. Applies: When property with one or more structures is subdivided. § 7-17-6 · code text Whenever property containing one or more structures is subdivided, the PSLs serving the property shall have a Verification Inspection. A Verification Inspection is required. Applies: Property on the city sewer altered to add 2 or more new plumbing fixtures that drain to the sewer. § 7-17-6 · code text Whenever property that is served by the City’s sewer system is altered to include the addition of two or more new plumbing fixtures that discharge into a sanitary sewer system, the PSL(s) to the property shall have a Verification Inspection performed. A Verification Inspection is required. Applies: Building work costing at least 25% of the structure's market value before the work. § 7-17-6 · code text Whenever an application is submitted for the construction, alteration, relocation, enlargement, replacement, repair, use and occupancy, or maintenance, of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds twenty five percent (25%) of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement. An inspection is required. Applies: Repair or replacement of part of the building sewer, common building sewer or private lateral. § 7-17-6 · code text Upon the repair or replacement of a portion of the Building Sewer, Common Building Sewer, or Private Sewer Lateral. Cleaning, testing, repair or replacement of the lateral is required. Applies: The Building Official finds a violation that affects public health, safety and welfare. § 7-17-6 · code text Upon a determination of a violation by the Building Official, the cleaning, testing, repair, or replacement of the PSL is required for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare.
Owner's responsibility	The owner must repair or replace the whole lateral, from the structure to the main. Applies: Residential structures whose lateral does not meet code standards. § 7-17-7 · code text For all single and multi-family dwellings, and other residential structures, if it is determined that the PSL does not meet the standards as set forth in the California Plumbing Code, all applicable provisions of the Municipal Code, including this chapter, the Property Owner shall repair or replace the PSL in its entirety from the structure to the main in accordance with those same standards. All properties served by a shared lateral are jointly responsible for repair, replacement, fees, costs and fines. Applies: Part of a shared lateral lies on property not served by it. § 7-17-6 · code text To the extent that a portion of a common sewer lateral is on property that is not being directly served by the common sewer lateral, all benefited private properties on the common sewer lateral shall be jointly and severally responsible for repair, replacement, and associated fees, costs, and fines.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Placerville taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500; the signer of the deed, or whoever benefits, pays.

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

Placerville's code: A certificate of lateral compliance is valid for no more than 20 years. (§ 7-17-7); Valid for no more than 20 years from issue; renew every 20 years. (The private sewer lateral was fully replaced.) (§ 7-17-9).

General information, not legal advice.

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