Williams · Buying & selling

Buying or selling a home in Williams

Williams 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 Williams code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Transfer tax

Williams code What Williams's code adds
City transfer tax	The city charges a tax on each deed or document that transfers 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 is granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed
Rate	$0.275 for each $500 of value, or part of $500. § 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. § 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	The tax applies only when the price or value is more than $100. Applies: The value does not count liens or encumbrances that remain on the property 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
Rate depends on price	No. One rate applies at every price. § 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.
Who pays	Any person who makes, signs or issues the taxed document, or for whose use or benefit it is made. § 3.12.030 · code text Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.12.020 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

Williams code What Williams's code adds
If the owner does not repair	The city may finish the work, give notice of costs, hold a council hearing, and assess the owner. Applies: After the city completes the repairs or construction. § 12.08.060 · code text Upon the completion of the repairs or construction, the superintendent of streets shall cause notice of the cost of the repairs or construction to be given in the manner specified in Chapter 22 (Repair) of Division 7, Part 3, of the California Streets and Highways Code The owner also pays assessment collection costs and lien-handling costs when assessments go unpaid. Applies: When the city awards a repair contract, or assessments or liens are involved. § 12.08.010 · code text including a charge for the city of William'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 assessments.
Liability for injuries	The owner is liable for injury or damage caused by failing to keep the sidewalk area nondangerous. § 12.08.020 · code text If, as a result of the failure of any property owner to maintain the sidewalk area in a nondangerous condition, as required by Section 12.08.010 of this chapter, 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 superintendent of streets may extend the start of repairs by up to 90 days from the notice. Applies: At the superintendent's discretion, for sufficient cause. § 12.08.010 · code text the superintendent of streets, as identified and defined herein, may in his or her discretion, and for sufficient cause, extend the period within which required maintenance and repair of sidewalk areas must commence by a period of not to exceed ninety days from the time the notice referred to in California Streets and Highways Code Section 5614 is given.
Who must repair it	Owners and permit holders of fronting lots must repair and maintain the sidewalk areas and pay the costs. § 12.08.010 · 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 and expenses therefor

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

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

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 Williams?

Williams's code: Owners and permit holders of fronting lots must repair and maintain the sidewalk areas and pay the costs. (§ 12.08.010); The city may finish the work, give notice of costs, hold a council hearing, and assess the owner. (After the city completes the repairs or construction.) (§ 12.08.060).

General information, not legal advice.

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