El Cerrito · Buying & selling
Buying or selling a home in El Cerrito
El Cerrito has its own transfer tax, and the transferor and transferee (seller and buyer) are jointly and severally liable for it and may apportion it between them. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.
Key points
- Transfer tax: El Cerrito transfer tax: $12 per $1,000 of the consideration, only when the consideration exceeds $100.
- Seller disclosures: State law: sellers of single-family homes must give buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement, with exemptions such as foreclosure and court-ordered sales.
- Property tax: State law: general property tax is at most 1% of full cash value plus voter-approved debt; the base value rises at most 2% a year.
Each rule below is marked El Cerrito code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Transfer tax
El Cerrito code El Cerrito transfer tax: $12 per $1,000 of the consideration, only when the consideration exceeds $100.
All 5 El Cerrito rules on transfer tax, with the code text and the state law underneath →
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
El Cerrito code The city may proceed under state law and make the upkeep or replacement cost a lien on the owner's property. The owner is liable for injury or property damage caused by failing to keep the sidewalk safe.
All 3 El Cerrito rules on sidewalk repairs, with the code text →
Who this affects
General information, not legal advice.
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