California property tax calculator
In California, homeowners pay each year a median of $5,124, which equals 0.70% of $734,700, the median home value.
This gives an estimate, not a bill amount. Your value is set by your county assessor (or an appraisal district in some states), while your local taxing units set the rates. Check with your county before paying or filing a protest.
Typical California property tax bill and rate
California has a lower rate than the US figure of 0.94%. The rate ranges from 0.58% in Trinity County to 0.88% in Kern County across the state's counties. Based on owner-occupied homes, the figures are medians from the Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates covering 2020 to 2024.
California yearly bills for common home values
| Home value | State median rate, 0.70% | Trinity County, 0.58% | Kern County, 0.88% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $1,400 | $1,160 | $1,760 |
| $300,000 | $2,100 | $1,740 | $2,640 |
| $400,000 | $2,800 | $2,320 | $3,520 |
| $500,000 | $3,500 | $2,900 | $4,400 |
The effective rate is multiplied by the home value. In California, the lowest county rate belongs to Trinity County and the highest to Kern County; the calculator uses the rate for your county.
Property tax rates for California counties
- under 0.65%
- 0.65% to 0.69%
- 0.69% to 0.70%
- 0.70% to 0.75%
- 0.75% and up
California's highest rates
| County | Effective rate | Median yearly tax |
|---|---|---|
| Kern County | 0.88% | $2,984 |
| Placer County | 0.84% | $5,812 |
| Contra Costa County | 0.83% | $7,156 |
| San Benito County | 0.81% | $6,441 |
| Riverside County | 0.78% | $4,348 |
California's lowest rates
| County | Effective rate | Median yearly tax |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity County | 0.58% | $1,888 |
| San Mateo County | 0.61% | $9,519 |
| Mariposa County | 0.61% | $2,377 |
| Del Norte County | 0.61% | $2,099 |
| Colusa County | 0.62% | $2,426 |
The list covers all 58 California counties in A-to-Z order.
| County | Effective rate | Median yearly tax | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | 0.78% | $8,474 | $1,090,100 |
| Alpine County | 0.77% | $4,530 | $590,200 |
| Amador County | 0.70% | $3,172 | $449,800 |
| Butte County | 0.69% | $2,951 | $424,700 |
| Calaveras County | 0.73% | $3,319 | $457,200 |
| Colusa County | 0.62% | $2,426 | $393,400 |
| Contra Costa County | 0.83% | $7,156 | $866,800 |
| Del Norte County | 0.61% | $2,099 | $342,000 |
| El Dorado County | 0.70% | $4,753 | $679,900 |
| Fresno County | 0.74% | $2,861 | $388,800 |
| Glenn County | 0.64% | $2,263 | $352,400 |
| Humboldt County | 0.64% | $2,858 | $446,900 |
| Imperial County | 0.77% | $2,394 | $309,600 |
| Inyo County | 0.74% | $2,576 | $348,700 |
| Kern County | 0.88% | $2,984 | $338,300 |
| Kings County | 0.75% | $2,425 | $324,300 |
| Lake County | 0.73% | $2,369 | $324,300 |
| Lassen County | 0.72% | $1,923 | $265,300 |
| Los Angeles County | 0.68% | $5,675 | $834,200 |
| Madera County | 0.70% | $2,756 | $393,200 |
| Marin County | at least 0.66% | over $10,000 | $1,507,300 |
| Mariposa County | 0.61% | $2,377 | $387,900 |
| Mendocino County | 0.69% | $3,545 | $512,200 |
| Merced County | 0.67% | $2,634 | $391,800 |
| Modoc County | 0.69% | $1,561 | $224,700 |
| Mono County | 0.65% | $4,177 | $639,400 |
| Monterey County | 0.63% | $4,910 | $781,000 |
| Napa County | 0.69% | $5,995 | $869,500 |
| Nevada County | 0.76% | $4,694 | $621,800 |
| Orange County | 0.66% | $6,330 | $962,600 |
| Placer County | 0.84% | $5,812 | $688,100 |
| Plumas County | 0.70% | $2,537 | $360,200 |
| Riverside County | 0.78% | $4,348 | $557,300 |
| Sacramento County | 0.73% | $3,921 | $534,200 |
| San Benito County | 0.81% | $6,441 | $793,400 |
| San Bernardino County | 0.70% | $3,538 | $505,000 |
| San Diego County | 0.68% | $5,774 | $854,700 |
| San Francisco County | 0.71% | $9,862 | $1,394,500 |
| San Joaquin County | 0.75% | $3,960 | $530,700 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 0.68% | $5,636 | $824,700 |
| San Mateo County | 0.61% | $9,519 | $1,559,600 |
| Santa Barbara County | 0.65% | $5,103 | $790,700 |
| Santa Clara County | at least 0.67% | over $10,000 | $1,490,600 |
| Santa Cruz County | 0.64% | $6,538 | $1,027,500 |
| Shasta County | 0.69% | $2,542 | $366,400 |
| Sierra County | 0.69% | $2,279 | $331,900 |
| Siskiyou County | 0.64% | $1,973 | $309,500 |
| Solano County | 0.75% | $4,621 | $617,700 |
| Sonoma County | 0.70% | $5,695 | $815,500 |
| Stanislaus County | 0.71% | $3,216 | $450,100 |
| Sutter County | 0.75% | $3,268 | $433,500 |
| Tehama County | 0.62% | $2,118 | $339,600 |
| Trinity County | 0.58% | $1,888 | $325,800 |
| Tulare County | 0.70% | $2,318 | $330,100 |
| Tuolumne County | 0.66% | $2,864 | $433,200 |
| Ventura County | 0.68% | $5,574 | $822,700 |
| Yolo County | 0.77% | $4,749 | $620,700 |
| Yuba County | 0.74% | $3,071 | $412,300 |
For owner-occupied homes, median real estate taxes paid come from table B25103 and median values from table B25077, based on Census American Community Survey 2020 to 2024. To get the effective rate, take the median tax and divide by the median value. Download all counties as CSV.
Homestead exemption in California
Homeowners' Exemption. Eligible owner-occupied homes receive a $7,000 reduction in taxable value. As of the January 1 lien date, the property has to be the owner's principal residence. That saves roughly $70 each year in Los Angeles County.
File form BOE-266, Claim for Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption, once with the county assessor covering the area where the property sits. Online filing is also available in Los Angeles County.
Filing deadline: February 15 to receive that year's full exemption.
Source: the California State Board of Equalization
The steps to appeal a property tax assessment in California
APPEAL BYSeptember 15, or November 30 in counties where notices are not mailed by the assessor by August 1
Submit an Assessment Appeal Application to the county clerk of the board. You can file during the regular period of July 2 through September 15. Where the assessor has not mailed value notices to every secured-roll owner by August 1, filing stays open until November 30.
Your first hearing may be before the County assessment appeals board or the supervisors acting as the county board of equalization. Certain counties have hearing officers handle some appeals.
Source: the California State Board of Equalization
Due dates for California property taxes
Payments for secured property tax bills are made in two equal installments. The first installment is due November 1. After December 10, it is delinquent. The second installment is due on February 1 and is delinquent after April 10.
Source: the California State Board of Equalization
California assistance for older homeowners
Homeowners age 62 and older may use the State Controller's Property Tax Postponement Program to defer current-year property taxes. Eligibility includes at least 40 percent equity and an income limit of $49,017 for fiscal year 2022-23.
Information from the California State Board of Equalization
The disabled veteran exemption in California
California offers two levels of the Disabled Veterans' Exemption, basic and low-income. Each level increases with inflation every year. According to the State Board of Equalization, eligible veterans should claim the Disabled Veterans' Exemption rather than the $7,000 Homeowners' Exemption because its value is higher.
Source: the California State Board of Equalization
How your home's value is set in California
Under Proposition 13, property values are set by the county assessor. Reassessment to current market value happens only when ownership changes or new construction is completed. In all other cases, the base year value increases by no more than 2 percent each year. January 1 is the lien date.
Source: the California State Board of Equalization
Additional California property tax rules to know
- The Disabled Veterans' Exemption at its low-income level must be claimed again each year, between January 1 and February 15. Filing after February 15 but no later than December 10 provides 90% of the exemption; filing later provides 85%.
- If you stop qualifying, you must tell the assessor yourself. Notice of ineligibility has to reach the assessor by December 10 so the exemption ends without penalty.
- If the previous owner did not claim it, a new owner in Los Angeles County may receive the Homeowners' Exemption through a supplemental assessment. Every new owner receives the claim form by mail automatically.
- In Los Angeles County, supplemental assessments follow a different appeal window. File the application within 60 days after the mailing date shown in the supplemental notice or tax bill. If the postmark date is later, use that date instead.
Sources for these rules: California State Board of Equalization; California State Board of Equalization; assessor.lacounty.gov (a local office); lacaab.lacounty.gov (a local office).
Comparing California with other states
Find California’s ranking against all states in the property tax rate by state table. You can also check homestead exemption eligibility elsewhere or look up the appeal deadline for each state.