Waterford · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Waterford

Waterford 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 $0.275 per $500 ($0.55 per $1,000), not counting encumbrances that remain at the time of sale.
Seller disclosures: State law: a buyer who gets the Transfer Disclosure Statement after signing the offer may cancel within 3 days of in-person delivery.
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 Waterford code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Transfer tax

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
City transfer tax	Yes. The city taxes each document that transfers real property sold in the city. § 3.16.010 · code text There is imposed on each instrument or writing by which land, tenement or other realty sold within the city is transferred or conveyed to the purchaser or other grantee
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 3.16.010 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each five hundred dollars or fractional part of five hundred dollars.
Rate per $1,000	$0.55 per $1,000 of value. § 3.16.010 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each five hundred dollars or fractional part of five hundred dollars.
Price threshold	The tax applies only when the value conveyed is more than $100. Applies: Encumbrances that remain on the property at the time of sale are not counted in the value. § 3.16.010 · code text when the consideration or value of the interest conveyed (exclusive of the value of an encumbrance remaining at the time of sale) exceeds one hundred dollars
Rate depends on price	No. The rate does not change with the sale price. § 3.16.010 · code text a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each five hundred dollars or fractional part of five hundred dollars.
Who pays	The person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 3.16.020 · code text The tax imposed under Section 3.16.010 shall be paid by the person who makes, signs or issues the instrument subject to the tax, or for whose use or benefit the instrument 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

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
If the owner does not repair	Costs include city inspection and administration on repair contracts, plus collection and lien-handling costs if the owner pays late. Applies: When the city awards a sidewalk repair contract, or an assessment or lien is involved. § 12.30.020 · code text including a charge for the city of Waterford's costs of inspection and administration whenever the city awards a contract for such maintenance and repair and including the costs of collection of assessments for the costs of maintenance and repair under subsection A of this section or handling of any lien placed on the property due to failure of the property owner to promptly pay such assessment.
Liability for injuries	The owner is liable for injury or damage caused by failing to keep the sidewalk area non-dangerous. § 12.30.030 · code text If, as a result of the failure of any property owner to maintain the sidewalk area in a non-dangerous condition as required by Section 12.30.010, any person suffers injury or damage to person or property, the property owner shall be liable to such person for the resulting damages or injury.
Deadline to repair	The city manager may extend the start of required repairs by up to 74 days. Applies: At the city manager's discretion, for sufficient cause. § 12.30.020 · code text extend the period within which required maintenance and repair of sidewalk areas must commence by a period of not to exceed seventy-four days
Who must repair it	Owners and permit holders of fronting lots must repair and maintain the sidewalk area and pay the costs. § 12.30.020 · code text The owners of lots or portions of lots adjacent to or fronting on any portion of a sidewalk area between the property line of the lots and the street line, including parking strips, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and persons in possession of such lots by virtue of any permit or right shall repair and maintain such sidewalk areas and pay the costs expenses therefor

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

City law taxes transfers over $100 at $0.275 per $500 ($0.55 per $1,000), not counting encumbrances that remain at the time of sale.

What are the sidewalk repair rules for homeowners in Waterford?

Waterford's code: Owners and permit holders of fronting lots must repair and maintain the sidewalk area and pay the costs. (§ 12.30.020); Costs include city inspection and administration on repair contracts, plus collection and lien-handling costs if the owner pays late. (When the city awards a sidewalk repair contract, or an assessment or lien is involved.) (§ 12.30.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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