Plymouth · Buying & selling
Buying or selling a home in Plymouth
Plymouth charges its own documentary transfer tax when property changes hands. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.
Key points
- Transfer tax: Plymouth has its own transfer tax; whoever makes, signs or issues the taxed deed or document, or benefits from it, 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 Plymouth code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Transfer tax
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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
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| Owner's responsibility |
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Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the transfer tax when you sell a home in Plymouth?
Plymouth has its own transfer tax; whoever makes, signs or issues the taxed deed or document, or benefits from it, pays.
Does Plymouth require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?
Plymouth's code: Deposit the City's estimated cost before the City starts work; extra cost is billed and any surplus refunded. (Applies when the City does the lateral sewer repair or maintenance.) (§ 13.08.050); The owner or occupant pays for City lateral repair or maintenance, including any cost above the deposit. (Applies when lateral sewer work is required. Instead, the owner may hire a licensed contractor and pay inspection fees.) (§ 13.08.050).
General information, not legal advice.
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