Placerville · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Placerville

Placerville charges its own documentary transfer tax when property changes hands. Seller disclosures and property tax follow state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: Placerville taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500; the signer of the deed, or whoever benefits, pays.
Seller disclosures: State law: single-family sellers must give a Transfer Disclosure Statement unless exempt, and written smoke alarm and water heater bracing statements.
Property tax: State law caps general property tax at 1% of value; property is reassessed on sale, and its base value rises at most 2% yearly.

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

Transfer tax

Placerville code What Placerville's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the city. § 5-17-2 · code text There is hereby 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 fraction of $500. Applies: Only when the price or value of the property transferred is more than $100. § 5-17-2 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value. Applies: Only when the price or value of the property transferred is more than $100. § 5-17-2 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	$100 Applies: The tax applies only when the price or value of the property transferred is more than $100. § 5-17-2 · 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 ($100.00)
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 5-17-3 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to section 5-17-2 of this chapter shall be paid by any person who makes, signs or issues any document or instrument subject to the tax, or for whose use or benefit the same is made, signed or issued.

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 →

Sewer lateral inspection

Placerville code A certificate of lateral compliance is valid for no more than 20 years. Valid for no more than 20 years from issue; renew every 20 years.

All 13 Placerville rules on sewer lateral inspection, with the code text →

Sidewalk repairs

Placerville code What Placerville's code adds
Who must repair it	The owner or person in charge must keep the sidewalk in repair and safe for people and property. Applies: Buildings, lots or premises fronting an improved street or a laid sidewalk. § 8-1-2 · code text It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having charge or control of any building, lot or premises in the city fronting on any portion of an improved street or where a sidewalk is laid, to allow any portion of the sidewalk in front of the building, lot or premises to be out of repair, and the person must at all times keep the sidewalk in such condition that it will not endanger persons or property passing thereon, and will not interfere with public convenience in the use thereof.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

Placerville taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500; the signer of the deed, or whoever benefits, pays.

What are the sidewalk repair rules for homeowners in Placerville?

Placerville's code: The owner or person in charge must keep the sidewalk in repair and safe for people and property. (Buildings, lots or premises fronting an improved street or a laid sidewalk.) (§ 8-1-2).

General information, not legal advice.

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