Colfax · Buying & selling
Buying or selling a home in Colfax
Colfax levies its own transfer tax at the amounts state law sets. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law, which sets the disclosure statement and caps the general tax rate.
Key points
- Transfer tax: Colfax levies a city transfer tax at the amounts in Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911(b), paid by the persons § 11912 names.
- Seller disclosures: State law requires sellers of single-family homes to give buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement, with some exemptions such as foreclosure sales.
- Property tax: State law limits general property tax to 1% of full cash value plus voter-approved debt; base year value rises at most 2% a year.
Each rule below is marked Colfax code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Transfer tax
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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
Colfax code A video inspection is valid for 6 months from the date of the video. Repairs or replacement must be done before the final building inspection.
All 17 Colfax rules on sewer lateral inspection, with the code text →
Sidewalk repairs
Colfax code The city may repair the sidewalk and bill the owner for the work plus administrative and inspection costs. An owner facing severe financial hardship may pay in installments or add the cost to the property tax roll.
All 8 Colfax rules on sidewalk repairs, with the code text →
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the transfer tax when you sell a home in Colfax?
Colfax levies a city transfer tax at the amounts in Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911(b), paid by the persons § 11912 names.
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Colfax property
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