Atascadero · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Atascadero

Atascadero charges its own documentary transfer tax when property changes hands. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: Atascadero taxes property transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000; whoever signs or issues the deed, or benefits from it, pays.
Seller disclosures: State law: single-family sellers must give a Transfer Disclosure Statement unless exempt, and written smoke alarm and water heater bracing statements.
Property tax: State law caps general property tax at 1% of value; property is reassessed on sale, and its base value rises at most 2% yearly.

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

Transfer tax

Atascadero code What Atascadero's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city. § 3-2.02 · code text There is 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
Rate	Twenty-seven and one-half cents for each $500 of value, or fraction of $500. § 3-2.02 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($.275) for each $500, or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 for each thousand dollars of value. § 3-2.02 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($.275) for each $500, or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	$100 Applies: The tax applies only when the value conveyed, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain, is more than $100. § 3-2.02 · 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, a tax at the rate
Rate depends on price	No. One rate applies: twenty-seven and one-half cents for each $500 or fraction of $500. § 3-2.02 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($.275) for each $500, 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. § 3-2.03 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3-2.02 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 →

Sidewalk repairs

Atascadero code What Atascadero's code adds
If the owner does not repair	Public Works may repair the sidewalk itself; the cost then goes through notice, a hearing, and assessment and collection. Applies: The repair is not started and finished with due diligence as the notice requires. § 4-6.06 · code text If the repair is not commenced and prosecuted to completion with due diligence, as required by the notice, the Public Works Department may forthwith repair the sidewalk.
Who must repair it	Owners of lots fronting a public street must maintain trees, sidewalks, parkways, curbs, gutters, driveways and other listed items there. Applies: When the street or place is improved. § 4-6.04 · code text The owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place, when the street or place is improved, shall maintain all items including, but not limited to, trees, sidewalks, parkways, curbs and gutters and driveways located in public rights-of-way

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Atascadero taxes property transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000; whoever signs or issues the deed, or benefits from it, pays.

What are the sidewalk repair rules for homeowners in Atascadero?

Atascadero's code: Owners of lots fronting a public street must maintain trees, sidewalks, parkways, curbs, gutters, driveways and other listed items there. (When the street or place is improved.) (§ 4-6.04); Public Works may repair the sidewalk itself; the cost then goes through notice, a hearing, and assessment and collection. (The repair is not started and finished with due diligence as the notice requires.) (§ 4-6.06).

General information, not legal advice.

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