Buying or selling a home in Woodside

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

Transfer tax

Woodside code What Woodside's code adds
City transfer tax	The town charges a tax on each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the town. § 35.27 · code text There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument, or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the Town shall be granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed
Rate	27½ cents for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 35.27 · code text a tax at the rate of 27½¢ for each $500.00, or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value (27½ cents for each $500 or part of $500). § 35.27 · code text a tax at the rate of 27½¢ for each $500.00, or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100. Applies: The value does not include any liens or encumbrances that remain on the property at the time of sale. § 35.27 · code text when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed (exclusive of the value of any liens or encumbrances remaining thereon at the time of sale) exceeds $100.00
Rate depends on price	No. One rate applies at every price. § 35.27 · code text a tax at the rate of 27½¢ for each $500.00, or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 35.27 · code text The tax imposed by the provisions of division (A) above 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 such document or instrument 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 Woodside?

City law taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain at the time of sale.

General information, not legal advice.