Stockton · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Stockton

Stockton charges its own transfer tax on property sales, at one flat rate, and sets its own duties for private sewer laterals. Seller disclosures and property tax limits come from state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: City rule: the tax is $0.275 per $500 of value ($0.55 per $1,000), only when the value, not counting remaining liens, exceeds $100.
Sewer lateral: City rule: the city maintains the lower lateral; the owner must keep the upper lateral free of roots, grease and solids.
Root repairs: City rule: within 45 days after a city notice about roots, the owner must repair the upper lateral or enter an approved schedule.
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.
Homeowner exemption: State law: $7,000 of assessed value is exempt when the home is the owner's principal residence.

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

Transfer tax

Stockton code What Stockton's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes, the city levies a documentary transfer tax. § 3.20.020 · code text There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the City shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his or her or their direction
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 3.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value. § 3.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the value is over $100.00, not counting remaining liens or encumbrances. § 3.20.020 · code text when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining thereon at the time of sale) exceeds $100.00
Rate depends on price	No. One flat rate applies to every taxed sale. § 3.20.020 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Anyone who makes, signs or issues the taxable document, or for whose benefit it is made. § 3.20.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to 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.

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

Stockton code What Stockton's code adds
Deadline to comply	Within the time the Director approves. Applies: Applies to installing a missing cleanout or backwater valve, or disconnecting non-sewer connections found on the upper lateral. § 13.50.060 · code text If either cleanout does not exist, the property owner will be required to install the cleanout(s) within the time requirements approved by the Director. Immediately test, inspect, maintain, repair or replace the defect. Applies: Applies after any sewer overflow caused by an upper lateral defect. § 13.50.060 · code text Following any sanitary sewer overflow caused by an upper lateral defect, the property owner shall immediately test, inspect, maintain, repair and/or replace the defect as follows: Within 45 days of notice, remove the roots and repair the upper lateral, or agree to an approved schedule. Applies: Applies when the city finds roots growing from the upper lateral into the lower lateral and notifies the owner. § 13.50.060 · code text Should the City, at any time, determine that roots are growing into lower laterals from upper laterals, upon notification the property owner shall, within 45 days, either remove the roots from the upper lateral and make all necessary repairs to the upper lateral to prevent a reoccurrence of root intrusion that reaches the lower lateral, or enter into a compliance time schedule according to Section 13.50.110.
Fee or permit	All required plumbing and sewer permits. Applies: Applies before repairing an upper lateral. § 13.50.060 · code text Owners shall obtain all required plumbing and sewer permits prior to making any repairs of upper laterals, and shall retain the inspection card(s), signed and approved by City inspector(s), as proof of completion of work. A sewer lateral certificate from the Director, after proof of compliance and payment of any required fee. Applies: Applies after required inspection, repair or replacement of the lateral. § 13.50.070 · code text Sewer lateral certificates, as required by this chapter, shall be issued by the Director upon sufficient proof that a property owner has complied with this chapter, and upon payment of any required fee.
When an inspection is required	After any sewer overflow caused by an upper lateral defect. § 13.50.060 · code text Following any sanitary sewer overflow caused by an upper lateral defect, the property owner shall immediately test, inspect, maintain, repair and/or replace the defect as follows:
Owner's responsibility	The city maintains the lower lateral; owners keep the upper lateral free of roots, grease and solids, with sound pipes. Applies: Applies to existing upper laterals, or when any work is done on the upper lateral; joints must also be tight. § 13.50.040 · code text A. Lower laterals are maintained by the City of Stockton. The owner pays the city's costs to clear or repair an upper private lateral. Applies: Applies when the city acts to abate a public nuisance. § 13.50.060 · code text Any cost, expense, liability, fine, penalty or other payment made or incurred by the City to clear or repair any upper private lateral shall be borne by the property owner and shall constitute a debt to the City, due and payable upon demand and collectable in any manner provided by law.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

City rule: the tax is $0.275 per $500 of value ($0.55 per $1,000), only when the value, not counting remaining liens, exceeds $100.

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

City rule: the city maintains the lower lateral; the owner must keep the upper lateral free of roots, grease and solids. City rule: within 45 days after a city notice about roots, the owner must repair the upper lateral or enter an approved schedule.

General information, not legal advice.

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