Desert Hot Springs · Property taxes
Property taxes in Desert Hot Springs
Property tax in Desert Hot Springs: the range of tax rates from the county's table, the levies behind it, the Mello-Roos districts the city formed and the state rules, with a link to every source.
Key points
Desert Hot Springs property tax: total rates 1.1602% to 1.2702% across 116 tax rate areas (FY 2025-26), the levies behind it and the Prop 13 rules, with the county source. The county sets and collects the tax.
Each block below is marked county or state data, Desert Hot Springs code or CA state law, and links to its source (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Tax rates in this area
County rate table The county lists 116 tax rate areas inside Desert Hot Springs for fiscal year 2025-26. Their total rate runs from 1.1602% to 1.2702% of assessed value. 96% of the 13,679 parcels in these areas pay 1.1602%.
The total is the 1% general tax (Proposition 13) plus the rates voters approved for school, city and other bonds. It does not include fixed charges such as Mello-Roos special taxes, parcel taxes or assessments, which come on the same bill.
| Levy | Rate | Share of rate areas |
|---|---|---|
| General tax (Prop 13) | 1% | all |
| PALM SPRINGS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT | 0.0607% | 99% |
| DESERT WATER AG | 0.06% | 93% |
| DESERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE | 0.0395% | 99% |
Your exact rate depends on your address. Look up the rate for an address → Source: Riverside County rate table, fiscal year 2025-26.
Mello-Roos districts
State data Desert Hot Springs has formed 1 Mello-Roos community facilities district. A home inside one pays a special tax on its property tax bill, in addition to the rate above.
- Desert Hot Springs CFD No 2006-1 (bonds run to 2038)
The state data gives no tax amounts. Your tax bill shows them; the address lookup lists the districts named for the city. School, water and other districts may have formed districts here too. Source: California State Treasurer, DebtWatch (reporting year 2025).
The state rules underneath
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 →
Utility users tax
| Tax on gas |
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Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Desert Hot Springs?
The county lists 116 tax rate areas inside Desert Hot Springs for fiscal year 2025-26. Their total rate runs from 1.1602% to 1.2702% of assessed value. 96% of the 13,679 parcels in these areas pay 1.1602%. The exact rate depends on the address.
Does Desert Hot Springs have Mello-Roos districts?
Yes. Desert Hot Springs has formed 1 Mello-Roos community facilities district (State Treasurer data). Only homes inside a district pay its special tax.
Does Desert Hot Springs charge a utility users tax?
Desert Hot Springs's code: 7% of gas charges. (The City Council may temporarily lower the rate by resolution.) (§ 3.28.050).
General information, not legal advice.
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