Richmond · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Richmond

Richmond charges its own transfer tax, and the rate rises with the price. A sale of a parcel with a structure also needs a sewer lateral certificate first; seller disclosures and property tax limits come from state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: City rule: $7 per $1,000 below $1,000,000; $12.50 up to $3,000,000; $25 up to $10,000,000; $30 per $1,000 on the part above.
Who pays: City rule: the people making the transfer and the people receiving it are each fully responsible for the whole tax.
Sewer lateral: City rule: a certificate of lateral compliance is needed before title transfer of a parcel with a structure, unless a valid one exists.
Lateral repairs: City rule: the owner pays to bring the lateral into compliance; a certificate after a passed test lasts at most 15 years.
Disclosure statement: State law: single-family sellers must give a Transfer Disclosure Statement; a buyer getting it after the offer may cancel within 3 or 5 days.
Property tax: State law: the general property tax is at most 1% of full cash value plus voter-approved debt; base value rises at most 2% yearly.

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

Transfer tax

Richmond code What Richmond's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes deeds and other documents that transfer real property sold in the city. § 13.40.020 · code text There is hereby imposed a tax on all transfers by deeds, instruments, writings or any other document by which lands, tenements, or other interests in real property are sold, located in the City of Richmond
Rate	$30 for each $1,000 of the price, or part of $1,000. Applies: The part of the price above $10,000,000. § 13.40.020 · code text $30.00 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof of the consideration exceeding $10,000,000.00; $25 for each $1,000 of the price, or part of $1,000. Applies: The part of the price above $3,000,000 and up to $10,000,000. § 13.40.020 · code text $25.00 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof of the consideration equal to or less than $10,000,000.00 and exceeding $3,000,000.00; $12.50 for each $1,000 of the price, or part of $1,000. Applies: The part of the price from $1,000,000 up to $3,000,000. § 13.40.020 · code text $12.50 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof of the consideration equal to or less than $3,000,000.00 and equal to or exceeding $1,000,000.00; $7.00 for each $1,000 of value or fraction of $1,000. Applies: Applies when the price is over $100 and under $1,000,000. § 13.40.020 · code text (d) $7.00 for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof of the consideration less than $1,000,000.00.
Price threshold	$100. Applies: The tax applies only when the price is more than $100. § 13.40.020 · code text when the value of consideration exceeds $100.00.
Rate depends on price	Yes. The rate rises with the price. § 13.40.020 · code text The tax shall be levied at the following rates:
Who pays	The people making the transfer and the people receiving it are each fully responsible for the whole tax. § 13.40.030 · code text Any persons who make a transfer which is subject to the tax imposed under Section 13.40.020 of this chapter, and any persons to whom such a transfer is made, shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of the tax imposed under Section 13.40.020.

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

Richmond code What Richmond's code adds
How long a certificate lasts	Valid for no more than 15 years. Applies: Applies to a certificate of lateral compliance issued after the lateral passes testing. § 12.17.070 · code text A COLC shall be valid for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) years and shall be valid only for the PSL at the address specified in the COLC. Valid for no more than 15 years from the date issued. Applies: Applies when the lateral is fully replaced. § 12.17.090 · code text Where the PSL is totally replaced, the COLC shall be valid for a period not to exceed 15 years from the date of issuance. Valid for a period the City Manager decides. Applies: Applies when the City approves a partial replacement or repair of the lateral. § 12.17.090 · 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 City Manager.
Deadline to comply	By the time stated in the written notice. Applies: Applies when the City Manager gives notice of violations and the owner has not agreed in writing to repair. § 12.17.060 · code text Such notice shall specify the repair or replacement necessary to correct the condition and the time in which to make the correction, and shall advise the property owner of the enforcement provisions of the section
Fee or permit	A fee from the City's fee schedule, paid when the certificate of lateral compliance is issued. Applies: Applies after the lateral passes the test. § 12.17.070 · code text In the event the PSL associated with a particular parcel has passed the testing procedure, and upon payment of the appropriate fee as published in the City's fee and rate schedule, the City Manager shall issue a signed COLC
When an inspection is required	The lateral must be tested. Applies: Applies when a remodel adds 2 or more plumbing fixtures that drain to the sewer. § 12.17.060 · code text Whenever property located in the City of Richmond is remodeled to include the addition of two or more plumbing fixtures that discharge into a sanitary sewer system, the PSL(s) to the property shall be tested. The City Manager may require a verification test of the lateral. Applies: Applies to property with no valid certificate of lateral compliance on file. § 12.17.060 · code text The City Manager may require a property owner for any property for which there is not a valid COLC on file to conduct a verification test of the PSL in accordance with Section 12.17.070. The owner must assess, test if required, and repair or replace the lateral to get a compliance certificate. Applies: Applies to laterals installed more than 15 years ago without a certificate. § 12.17.060 · code text Where the PSL was installed more than fifteen (15) years ago and does not have a COLC, the property owner shall comply with the standards set forth in Section 12.17.070. The owner must assess, test if required, and repair or replace the lateral to get a compliance certificate. Applies: Applies to laterals installed without a permit and without a certificate. § 12.17.060 · code text Where the PSL was installed without a permit and does not have a COLC, the property owner shall comply with the standards set forth in Section 12.17.070. A certificate of lateral compliance is needed before a title transfer is completed. Applies: Parcels with a structure; not needed with a valid certificate or a qualifying sewer provider program. § 12.17.060 · code text Before completing a title transfer associated with a parcel containing any structure, either the transferor or the transferee, as negotiated between them, shall obtain a COLC in accordance with Section 12.17.070. The laterals must be tested. Applies: Applies when property with 1 or more structures is subdivided. § 12.17.060 · code text Whenever property located in the City of Richmond and containing one or more structures is subdivided, the PSLs serving the property shall be tested.
Owner's responsibility	The owner must replace the whole lateral, from the house to the main. Applies: Applies to single and multi-family homes whose lateral does not meet the standards. § 12.17.070 · code text For all single and multi-family dwellings, if it is determined that the lateral does not meet the standards as set forth in this chapter, it shall be the policy of the City Manager to require the property owner to replace the lateral in its entirety from the house to the main. Owners must maintain, repair or replace their laterals, including the connection to the sewer main. § 12.17.050 · code text Property Owners shall maintain all PSLs associated with their parcels to the extent necessary to ensure the PSLs meet the standards of this section and comply with all other requirements of this chapter. Property owners shall perform any repair or replacement necessary to ensure the PSL meets those standards and requirements. The property owner is also responsible for the connection of the PSL to the sewer main. The owner gets required permits and does all work to bring the laterals into compliance, at the owner's expense. Applies: Applies when a certificate is required and the laterals do not comply. § 12.17.070 · code text (a) Whenever a COLC is required under this chapter, a property owner who does not hold a valid COLC shall do the following at the property owner's expense: (1) If the PSLs are not in compliance, the property owner shall obtain any required permits and perform all work needed to bring the PSLs into compliance

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

City rule: $7 per $1,000 below $1,000,000; $12.50 up to $3,000,000; $25 up to $10,000,000; $30 per $1,000 on the part above. City rule: the people making the transfer and the people receiving it are each fully responsible for the whole tax.

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

City rule: a certificate of lateral compliance is needed before title transfer of a parcel with a structure, unless a valid one exists. City rule: the owner pays to bring the lateral into compliance; a certificate after a passed test lasts at most 15 years.

General information, not legal advice.

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