Truckee · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Truckee

Truckee charges a city documentary transfer tax on property sales, paid by whoever signs or benefits from the transfer document. Seller disclosures and property tax after a purchase follow state law.

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Key points

Transfer tax: City law taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain at the time of sale.
Seller disclosures: State law requires a Transfer Disclosure Statement on single-family home sales; it is not a warranty by the seller and does not replace inspections.
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 Truckee code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Transfer tax

Truckee code What Truckee's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The town taxes each deed or document that transfers real property sold in the town. § 3.22.020 · code text There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the Town shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed
Rate	27.5 cents for each $500 of price or value, or part of $500. § 3.22.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($.27 1/2) each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) of consideration or value or fractional part thereof.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value. § 3.22.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($.27 1/2) each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) of consideration or value or fractional part thereof.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100. Applies: Value of the interest or property conveyed, not counting liens or debts remaining at the time of sale. § 3.22.020 · 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 ($100.00)
Rate depends on price	No. The same rate applies at every sale price. § 3.22.020 · code text a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($.27 1/2) each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) of consideration or value or fractional part thereof.
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 3.22.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.22.020 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 →

Sidewalk repairs

Truckee code What Truckee's code adds
Liability for injuries	The owner or tenant who fails to keep the sidewalk safe is liable for injury or property damage it causes. Applies: The injured person used ordinary care to avoid the danger. § 13.05.010 · code text If, as the result of the failure of the landowner and/or tenant to keep the sidewalk maintained in a safe condition, any person while exercising ordinary care to avoid the danger and who suffers damage to his person or property though any unsafe conditions on the adjoining improved sidewalk, shall have recourse for damages thus suffered against the landowner and/or tenant failing to maintain the sidewalk in a safe condition.
Who must repair it	Owners and tenants bordering an improved sidewalk must keep it safe and clear of dirt, rubbish, ice and snow. § 13.05.010 · code text It shall be the duty of all owners, and their tenants, of real property within the Town whose property borders any improved sidewalk to maintain the sidewalk in a safe condition for its use by pedestrians and other members of the public.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

City law taxes transfers over $100 at $0.55 per $1,000 of value, not counting liens or encumbrances that remain at the time of sale.

What are the sidewalk repair rules for homeowners in Truckee?

Truckee's code: Owners and tenants bordering an improved sidewalk must keep it safe and clear of dirt, rubbish, ice and snow. (§ 13.05.010); The owner or tenant who fails to keep the sidewalk safe is liable for injury or property damage it causes. (The injured person used ordinary care to avoid the danger.) (§ 13.05.010).

General information, not legal advice.

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