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Orange Cove · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Orange Cove

Orange Cove has its own transfer tax on property sales. Seller disclosures and property tax after a purchase follow state law.

Key points

  • Transfer tax: Orange Cove taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value, not counting liens that remain at the time of sale.
  • Seller disclosures: State law requires sellers of single-family homes to give buyers a Transfer Disclosure Statement; court-ordered, foreclosure and some other sales are exempt.
  • Property tax: State law caps the general property tax at 1% of full cash value, plus voter-approved debt; base year value rises at most 2% yearly.

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

Transfer tax

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
City transfer tax
  • The city charges a transfer tax on deeds that transfer real property sold in the city.
    § 3.12.020 · 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
  • $0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500.
    Applies: When the value of the property conveyed is over $100.
    § 3.12.020 · code text
    a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000
  • $0.55 per $1,000 of value.
    Applies: When the value of the property conveyed is over $100.
    § 3.12.020 · code text
    a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold
  • Applies only when the value is over $100.
    Applies: Value of the property conveyed, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain at the time of sale.
    § 3.12.020 · 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 one hundred dollars

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 →

Utility users tax

Orange Cove code What Orange Cove's code adds
Tax on electricity
  • The electricity tax is 7% of the charges.
    § 3.20.060 · code text
    The tax imposed by this section shall be at the rate of seven percent of the charges made for such energy and shall be paid by the person paying for such energy.
Tax on gas
  • The gas tax is 7% of the charges.
    § 3.20.070 · code text
    The tax imposed by this section shall be at the rate of seven percent of the charges made for such gas and shall be paid by the person paying for such gas.
Tax on water, phone or cable
  • The telephone tax is 7% of the charges.
    Applies: Intrastate telephone services.
    § 3.20.050 · code text
    The tax imposed by this section shall be at the rate of seven percent of the charge made for such services and shall be paid by the person paying for such services.

Who this affects

BuyersSellersReal estate agents

Frequently asked questions

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

Orange Cove taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value, not counting liens that remain at the time of sale.

Does Orange Cove charge a utility users tax?

Orange Cove's code: The electricity tax is 7% of the charges. (§ 3.20.060); The gas tax is 7% of the charges. (§ 3.20.070).

General information, not legal advice.

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