Rohnert Park · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Rohnert Park

Rohnert Park has its own transfer tax on property sales, owed by anyone who signs or issues the transfer document or benefits from it. Seller disclosures and property tax after a purchase follow state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: Rohnert Park taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value, not counting liens that remain.
Seller disclosures: State law requires sellers of single-family homes to give buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement; court-ordered, foreclosure and some other sales are exempt.
Property tax: State law caps the general property tax at 1% of full cash value, plus voter-approved debt; base year value rises at most 2% yearly.

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

Transfer tax

Rohnert Park code What Rohnert Park's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes deeds and other documents that transfer real property sold in the city. § 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
Rate	55 cents for each $1,000 of value, or part of $1,000. § 3.16.020 · code text a tax at the rate of fifty-five cents for each one thousand dollars or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 for each thousand dollars of value. § 3.16.020 · code text a tax at the rate of fifty-five cents for each one thousand dollars or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	$100. Applies: The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100, not counting liens or debts that stay on the property at sale. § 3.16.020 · 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
Rate depends on price	No. One flat rate applies to every sale. § 3.16.020 · code text a tax at the rate of fifty-five cents for each one thousand dollars or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Anyone who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or the person it is made for or benefits. § 3.16.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.16.020 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

Rohnert Park code What Rohnert Park's code adds
Deadline to comply	Repairs must be done within 30 days of the city's notice that repair or replacement is required. Applies: Applies to a defective sewer lateral, unless the city engineer sets a different deadline. § 13.26.045 · code text In the absence of a specific deadline established by the city engineer, all repair or replacement work shall be completed within 30 days of notification by the city after review of inspection materials show that such repair or replacement is required. Within 30 days of the city's notice. Applies: Applies to removing an illegal connection when the City Engineer sets no specific deadline. § 13.26.025 · code text In the absence of a specific deadline established by the City Engineer, all repair or removal work to eliminate the illegal connection shall be completed within 30 days of notification by the city that an illegal connection has been discovered. A private sewer that fails inspection or testing may stay connected for no more than 90 days. Applies: Applies to private sewers; longer only with a written extension approved by the city engineer. § 13.26.090 · code text No private sewer shall be allowed to remain connected to the city sewer for more than 90 days after failing to pass an inspection or test as specified in this section unless a written request for extension has been filed with and approved in writing by the city engineer. Repairs must be done within 90 days of the city's notice that repair or replacement is required. Applies: Applies to defective private sewers, unless the city engineer sets a different deadline. § 13.26.090 · code text In the absence of a specific deadline established by the city engineer, all repair or replacement work shall be completed within 90 days of notification by the city after review of inspection materials show that such repair or replacement is required. At least 30 days after written notice from the city engineer. Applies: A building sewer that does not meet code; the city engineer may allow a reasonable correction schedule. § 13.26.040 · code text Should the city engineer determine that a building sewer does not meet the standards of this code, the city engineer shall give a minimum of thirty days written notice to owner of the premises to correct said violation. Inspection and any required repairs must be done and accepted before a Certificate of Occupancy or temporary certificate is issued. Applies: Applies when building a new structure on a property with an existing lateral. § 13.26.045 · code text The inspection and any required repairs or replacement shall be completed and accepted by the city prior to receiving a Certificate of Occupancy or a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy; Inspection and any required repairs must be done and accepted before building permit approval and final sewer connection. Applies: Applies when connecting a previously unconnected structure to an existing lateral. § 13.26.045 · code text The inspection and any required repairs or replacement shall be completed and accepted by the city prior to approval of the building permit and final connection to the sewer system; Inspection and any required repairs must be done and accepted before the final map or parcel map is approved. Applies: Applies to a change of use to a common interest development, such as condominiums. § 13.26.045 · code text The inspection and any required repairs or replacement shall be completed and accepted by the city prior to approval of the final map or parcel map. Testing and any required repairs must be done before a certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate is issued. Applies: Applies to a new structure connecting to an existing private sewer. § 13.26.090 · code text The testing and any required repairs shall be made prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy. Inspection and any required repairs must be done and accepted before building permit approval and final sewer connection. Applies: Applies when connecting a previously unconnected structure to an existing private sewer. § 13.26.090 · code text The inspection and any required repairs or replacement shall be completed and accepted by the city prior to approval of the building permit and final connection to the sewer system.
Owner's responsibility	A state-licensed contractor must do lateral inspections and tests, with results filed with the city engineer. § 13.26.045 · code text All building sewer and sewer service lateral inspections and testing shall be performed by a state licensed contractor to the satisfaction of the city engineer in accordance with applicable city standards. The owner must repair or replace the lateral at the owner's sole expense. Applies: Applies to a defective building sewer or lateral. § 13.26.045 · code text Whenever defective building sewers are found, the property owner, at the sole expense of the property owner, shall repair or replace the lateral. The owner must repair and/or replace the building sewer. Applies: Applies to a building sewer that lets infiltration or inflow into the sewer system. § 13.26.040 · code text It shall be the responsibility of the owner of the premises to repair and/or replace any building sewer which has been found to exhibit conditions that would permit infiltration or inflow to enter the sewer system. The owner must make a repair or replacement plan and schedule for city engineer approval, at the owner's sole expense. Applies: Applies to a defective private sewer. § 13.26.090 · code text Whenever defective private sewers are found, the property owner, at the sole expense of the property owner, shall create a plan and schedule for repair or replacement of the private sewer.
When an inspection is required	When sewage from a lateral overflows onto public property or onto another owner's private property. Applies: Applies to sewer service laterals. § 13.26.045 · code text Whenever the city finds that a sewage overflow emanating from a sewer service lateral has reached public property, including but not limited to a city street or the city storm drain system, or had flowed onto private property owned by another property owner; When sewage overflowing from a lateral is a threat to public health. Applies: Applies to sewer service laterals. § 13.26.045 · code text Whenever the city finds that a sewage overflow emanating from a sewer service lateral presents a threat to public health, even if it has not flowed across a property line; City engineer finds repair, cleaning or testing is needed to stop a nuisance or protect public health, safety and welfare. Applies: Applies to sewer service laterals. § 13.26.045 · code text Upon determination of the city engineer that repair, cleaning or testing is required to abate a nuisance or for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare. When you apply to build a new structure on a property with an existing lateral. Applies: Applies to new structures. § 13.26.045 · code text On application to build a new structure on property with an existing lateral. When you apply to connect a previously unconnected structure to an existing lateral. Applies: Applies to previously unconnected structures. § 13.26.045 · code text On application proposing to connect a previously unconnected structure to an existing lateral. When you apply to change the property's use to a common interest development. Applies: Applies to common interest developments. § 13.26.045 · code text On application for a change of use on the premises served from any other land use to common interest development. When you apply to build or connect a structure to an existing private sewer. Applies: Applies to private sewers. § 13.26.090 · code text On application to build a new structure on property which will connect to the private sewer with an existing lateral, or when otherwise proposing to connect a previously unconnected structure to an existing private sewer. When the city orders it because it knows or reasonably suspects a building sewer is defective. Applies: Applies to defective building sewers found during routine sewer main work. § 13.26.045 · code text The city may order the property owner to conduct an inspection, repair or replacement of any building sewer that the city knows or reasonably suspects to be defective in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Rohnert Park taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value, not counting liens that remain.

Does Rohnert Park require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?

Rohnert Park's code: Repairs must be done within 30 days of the city's notice that repair or replacement is required. (Applies to a defective sewer lateral, unless the city engineer sets a different deadline.) (§ 13.26.045); Within 30 days of the city's notice. (Applies to removing an illegal connection when the City Engineer sets no specific deadline.) (§ 13.26.025).

General information, not legal advice.

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Rohnert Park Municipal Code — full text

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