Skip to content

San Leandro · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in San Leandro

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

Key points

  • Transfer tax: San Leandro taxes transfers over $100 at $11 per $1,000 of the consideration; 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 San Leandro code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Transfer tax

San Leandro code What San Leandro's code adds
City transfer tax
  • Yes. The city taxes each transfer of real property located in the city.
    § 2-3-105 · code text
    A tax is hereby imposed on each transfer by deed, instrument or writing, by which any lands, tenements or other real property located in the City, are sold or granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, a purchaser or purchasers thereof,
Rate
  • $11 for each $1,000 of value, or fraction of $1,000.
    § 2-3-105 · code text
    said tax is to be at the rate of Eleven dollars for each One thousand dollars or fractional part of One thousand dollars or the value of the consideration.
Rate per $1,000
  • $11 per $1,000 of value, or fraction of $1,000.
    § 2-3-105 · code text
    said tax is to be at the rate of Eleven dollars for each One thousand dollars or fractional part of One thousand dollars or the value of the consideration.
Price threshold
  • The tax applies only when the value of the consideration is more than $100.
    § 2-3-105 · code text
    when the value of the consideration exceeds One hundred dollars
Rate depends on price
  • No. One rate applies: $11 for each $1,000 or fraction of $1,000.
    § 2-3-105 · code text
    said tax is to be at the rate of Eleven dollars for each One thousand dollars or fractional part of One thousand dollars or the value of the consideration.
Who pays
  • Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made.
    § 2-3-110 · code text
    Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 2-3-105 hereof 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 →

Who this affects

BuyersSellersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

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

San Leandro taxes transfers over $100 at $11 per $1,000 of the consideration; the signer of the deed, or whoever benefits, pays.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific San Leandro property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on San Leandro