Santa Barbara · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara 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: Santa Barbara taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500 ($0.55 per $1,000) of value.
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 Santa Barbara code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Transfer tax

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in Santa Barbara. § 4.20.020 · code text There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument, or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the City of Santa Barbara shall be granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed
Rate	$0.275 (27 1/2 cents) for each $500 of value, or fraction of $500. § 4.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of 27-1/2 cents ($0.275) for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value ($0.275 for each $500 or fraction of $500). § 4.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of 27-1/2 cents ($0.275) for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only above $100. Applies: The tax applies only when the value conveyed, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain at the sale, is more than $100. § 4.20.020 · 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 $100.00, a tax at the rate of 27-1/2 cents ($0.275) for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate depends on price	No. One rate applies to every sale: $0.275 for each $500 or fraction of $500. § 4.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of 27-1/2 cents ($0.275) for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or the person it is made for. § 4.20.030 · code text The tax imposed by Section 4.20.020 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

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
Deadline to comply	By the deadline set in the Notice to Repair/Replace. Applies: After the Public Works Director finds the inspection report shows deficiencies. § 14.46.060 · code text The Notice to Repair/Replace shall specifically identify the deficiencies to be corrected and shall establish a deadline within which the Owner shall complete the required corrective actions.
Fee or permit	A building permit, with final inspection and approval by the City Building Official, when the repair needs a permit. Applies: Lateral repairs after a Notice to Repair or Replace. § 14.46.060 · code text if a building permit is required for the repairs, the Owner shall obtain a final permit inspection and approval of the City Building Official.
When an inspection is required	After an overflow or malfunction, a failed, failing or poorly maintained lateral, or another public health or safety threat. Applies: Any property, when the Public Works Director orders it. § 14.46.040 · code text An Owner shall have the Building Sewer Lateral of his or her real property inspected in accordance with the requirements of this chapter (as directed and within the time period indicated by the Public Works Director) upon the occurrence of any of the following events: Before a building permit for a home addition or new work over 400 square feet of habitable space. Applies: Residential properties; home additions. § 14.46.040 · code text Prior to the issuance of a City building permit for a residential building addition or new improvements on the real property in excess of 400 square feet of habitable space as that phrase is defined in the California Building Code as adopted and amended by the City; Before a building permit for 2 or more new plumbing fixtures connected to the sewer lateral. Applies: Residential properties; new plumbing fixtures. § 14.46.040 · code text Prior to the issuance of a City building permit for two or more new plumbing fixtures attached to the Building Sewer Lateral upon the residential Property. Once every 15 years, on a Public Works Director schedule starting January 1, 2007. Applies: Commercial properties, common interest developments and multi-unit rental developments. § 14.46.040 · code text the owner of commercial property, a common interest development, or a multi-unit rental development shall have the building sewer lateral or laterals serving the owner's property inspected in accordance with the requirements of this chapter once every 15 years according to a schedule established by the Public Works Director commencing as of January 1, 2007. No inspection is needed for an addition or new fixtures if the lateral was installed or replaced within 20 years. Applies: Residential property; the 20 years count back from the building permit application. § 14.46.040 · code text An inspection is not required under subsection B if the building sewer lateral serving the premises has been originally installed or replaced within 20 years of the date of the application for building permit. No inspection for an addition or new fixtures if a remedial inspection found it in good repair within 3 years. Applies: Residential property. § 14.46.040 · code text An inspection is not required under subsection B of this section if a remedial inspection showing the building sewer lateral to be in good repair was conducted in accordance with this chapter within the three years prior to the date the inspection would otherwise be required.
Owner's responsibility	Owner repairs the lateral to the Public Works Director's satisfaction; if a building permit is needed, final inspection and approval. Applies: After the owner receives a Notice to Repair or Replace. § 14.46.060 · code text The Owner shall repair his or her Building Sewer Lateral to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director, and, if a building permit is required for the repairs, the Owner shall obtain a final permit inspection and approval of the City Building Official.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Santa Barbara taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500 ($0.55 per $1,000) of value.

Does Santa Barbara require a sewer lateral inspection when you sell a home?

Santa Barbara's code: By the deadline set in the Notice to Repair/Replace. (After the Public Works Director finds the inspection report shows deficiencies.) (§ 14.46.060); A building permit, with final inspection and approval by the City Building Official, when the repair needs a permit. (Lateral repairs after a Notice to Repair or Replace.) (§ 14.46.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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