Emeryville · Buying & selling
Buying or selling a home in Emeryville
Emeryville charges two transfer taxes: a flat city documentary transfer tax and a real property transfer tax whose rate rises with the price. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.
Key points
- Transfer taxes: Real property transfer tax: $12 per $1,000 under $1,000,000, $15 from $1,000,000 to under $2,000,000, $25 at $2,000,000 or more.
- 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 Emeryville code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Transfer tax
Emeryville code Real property transfer tax: $12 per $1,000 under $1,000,000, $15 from $1,000,000 to under $2,000,000, $25 at $2,000,000 or more.
All 12 Emeryville 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 →
Sewer lateral inspection
Emeryville code 7 years. 20 years.
All 18 Emeryville rules on sewer lateral inspection, with the code text →
Utility users tax
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Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Does Emeryville charge a utility users tax?
Emeryville's code: 5.5% of electricity charges. (§ 3-3.506); 5.5% of gas charges. (§ 3-3.507).
General information, not legal advice.
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