Palm Desert · Property taxes
Property taxes in Palm Desert
Property tax in Palm Desert: 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
Palm Desert property tax: total rates 1.2102% to 1.2245% across 163 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, Palm Desert 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 163 tax rate areas inside Palm Desert for fiscal year 2025-26. Their total rate runs from 1.2102% to 1.2245% of assessed value. 89% of the 23,768 parcels in these areas pay 1.2245%; the middle 80% pay from 1.2102% to 1.2245%.
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 |
| CV WATER DISTRICT STATE WTR PROJ | 0.11% | all |
| DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL | 0.075% | 88% |
| DESERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE | 0.0395% | all |
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 Palm Desert has formed 2 Mello-Roos community facilities districts. A home inside one pays a special tax on its property tax bill, in addition to the rate above.
- Palm Desert CFD No 2005-1 (bonds run to 2036)
- Palm Desert CFD No 2021-1 (bonds run to 2053)
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 →
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Palm Desert?
The county lists 163 tax rate areas inside Palm Desert for fiscal year 2025-26. Their total rate runs from 1.2102% to 1.2245% of assessed value. 89% of the 23,768 parcels in these areas pay 1.2245%; the middle 80% pay from 1.2102% to 1.2245%. The exact rate depends on the address.
Does Palm Desert have Mello-Roos districts?
Yes. Palm Desert has formed 2 Mello-Roos community facilities districts (State Treasurer data). Only homes inside a district pay its special tax.
General information, not legal advice.
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