Buying or selling a home in Albany

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

Albany code Albany taxes transfers at 150/100 of 1% of the consideration ($15 per $1,000); seller and buyer are jointly and severally liable.

All 4 Albany rules on transfer tax, with the code text and the state law underneath →

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 →

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 →

Albany code The property owner pays any fees set by the City and any fees set by EBMUD. Before a title transfer, get a Compliance Certificate from EBMUD, unless a Time Extension Certificate is obtained.

All 7 Albany rules on sewer lateral inspection, with the code text →

Albany code The City may contract the repair; the owner pays its inspection, administration, and collection or lien costs. The Director may extend the time to start repairs by no more than 74 days from the repair notice.

All 3 Albany rules on sidewalk repairs, with the code text →