Property taxes in Redwood City

Redwood City property tax: the 2 Mello-Roos districts the city formed, the levies and the Prop 13 rules, with each source. The county sets and collects the tax.

Each block below is marked county or state data, Redwood City code or CA state law, and links to its source (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Mello-Roos districts

State data Redwood City has formed 2 Mello-Roos community facilities districts. A home inside one pays a special tax on its property tax bill, in addition to the rate above.

Redwood City CFD No 2010-1 (bonds run to 2041)
Redwood City CFD No 99-1 (Redwood Shores) (bonds run to 2033)

The state data gives no tax amounts. Your tax bill shows them; the address lookup lists the districts named for the city. School, water and other districts may have formed districts here too. Source: California State Treasurer, DebtWatch (reporting year 2025).

The state rules underneath

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 →

Utility users tax

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
Tax on electricity	The tax is 5% of electricity charges. § 32.503 · code text The tax imposed by this Section shall be at the rate of five percent (5%) of the charges made for such electricity
Tax on gas	The tax is 5% of gas charges, including storage, transportation and delivery. § 32.504 · code text The tax imposed by this Section shall be at the rate of five percent (5%) of the charges made for such gas
Exemptions	Exempt from the tax. Applies: Gas and electricity users taxes; people accepted into the state CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) Program. § 32.504 · code text Notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax shall not apply to any individual who qualifies, and has been accepted, for the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program pursuant to California Public Utilities Code Sections 327 and 739.1 et seq.
Tax on water, phone or cable	The tax is at most 4% of communication service charges. Applies: Communication services, including telecommunication and video; the code states only the maximum. § 32.604 · code text The maximum tax imposed by this Section shall be at the rate of four percent (4%) of the charges made for such services

Who this affects

HomeownersBuyersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

Does Redwood City have Mello-Roos districts?

Yes. Redwood City has formed 2 Mello-Roos community facilities districts (State Treasurer data). Only homes inside a district pay its special tax.

Does Redwood City charge a utility users tax?

Redwood City's code: The tax is 5% of electricity charges. (§ 32.503); The tax is 5% of gas charges, including storage, transportation and delivery. (§ 32.504).

General information, not legal advice.