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

Buying or selling a home in Santa Rosa

Key points

Transfer tax: Santa Rosa taxes transfers over $100 at $2 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.

Transfer tax

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed that transfers real property in the city when the value is over $100. § 3-20.020 · code text There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other real property within the City are sold, granted, assigned, conveyed or otherwise transferred to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed exceeds $100.00, a tax at the rate of two dollars for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof of the consideration or value.
Rate	$2 for each $1,000 of price or value, or fraction of $1,000. § 3-20.020 · code text There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other real property within the City are sold, granted, assigned, conveyed or otherwise transferred to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed exceeds $100.00, a tax at the rate of two dollars for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof of the consideration or value.
Rate per $1,000	$2 per $1,000 of price or value, or fraction of $1,000. § 3-20.020 · code text There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other real property within the City are sold, granted, assigned, conveyed or otherwise transferred to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed exceeds $100.00, a tax at the rate of two dollars for each $1,000.00 or fractional part thereof of the consideration or value.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100. § 3-20.020 · code text when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed exceeds $100.00
Who pays	Anyone who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or benefits from it. Each is fully liable for the tax. § 3-20.060 · code text The tax imposed by Section 3-20.020 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, and such persons shall be jointly and severally liable for payment thereof;

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 →

Buying or selling a home in Santa Rosa

Key points

Transfer tax

Seller disclosures

Property tax after you buy

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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