What is the property tax rate in California?

California has an effective property tax rate of 0.70%, ranking it #34 out of 50 states. The median homeowner pays $5,124 per year.

How are property taxes calculated in California?

Property taxes in California are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of your property by the local tax rate (millage rate). The effective rate shown here (0.70%) represents the median taxes paid as a percentage of median home value across the state.

Which county in California has the lowest property taxes?

Among California's 58 counties, Yuba County has one of the lowest effective property tax rates.

Does California have a homestead exemption?

Yes, California offers several property tax exemptions including: General Homestead, Disabled Veteran, Veteran, Proposition 19 (Senior Transfer). See the exemptions section above for details.

California Property Tax Rate

58 Counties

0.70%effective rate

California has an effective property tax rate of 0.70%, ranking it #34 among all 50 states. The median homeowner in California pays $5,124 per year in property taxes on a home valued at $734,700. This rate is 24% lower than the national average of 0.92%.

Effective Tax Rate📊

0.70%

#34 of 50 states

Median Tax Paid🏠

$5,124

Per year

Median Home Value💰

$734,700

2024 estimate

Total Counties📍

Population: 39,287,377

Property Tax Rates by County in California

Rank ▲	County	Effective Rate	Median Tax	Median Value
#1	Kern County	0.88%	$2,984	$338,300
#2	Placer County	0.84%	$5,812	$688,100
#3	Contra Costa County	0.83%	$7,156	$866,800
#4	San Benito County	0.81%	$6,441	$793,400
#5	Alameda County	0.78%	$8,474	$1,090,100
#6	Riverside County	0.78%	$4,348	$557,300
#7	Alpine County	0.77%	$4,530	$590,200
#8	Imperial County	0.77%	$2,394	$309,600
#9	Yolo County	0.77%	$4,749	$620,700
#10	Kings County	0.75%	$2,425	$324,300
#11	Nevada County	0.75%	$4,694	$621,800
#12	San Joaquin County	0.75%	$3,960	$530,700
#13	Solano County	0.75%	$4,621	$617,700
#14	Sutter County	0.75%	$3,268	$433,500
#15	Fresno County	0.74%	$2,861	$388,800
#16	Inyo County	0.74%	$2,576	$348,700
#17	Yuba County	0.74%	$3,071	$412,300
#18	Calaveras County	0.73%	$3,319	$457,200
#19	Lake County	0.73%	$2,369	$324,300
#20	Sacramento County	0.73%	$3,921	$534,200

How California Compares

California

0.70%

National Average

0.92%

Neighboring States

Calculate Your Property Tax in California

Or open the full California Property Tax Calculator to estimate your bill by county.

Property Tax Calculator

Estimate your annual property tax based on your location and home value

State

County

Home Value

$50k$2M

Apply homestead exemption ($100,000 reduction)

Estimated Annual Property Tax

$2,100

$175/month · Rate: 0.70%

Home Value

$300,000

Taxable Value

$300,000

Effective Rate

0.70%

California Property Tax Exemptions

✓

General Homestead

$7,000 reduction in assessed value

Owner-occupied primary residence as of January 1

✓

Disabled Veteran

Basic exemption of $161,083 or $241,627 for low-income (adjusted annually for inflation)

Veterans with 100% service-connected disability or unemployable due to disability

✓

Veteran

$4,000 reduction in assessed value

Veterans who served during wartime; cannot be combined with homestead exemption

✓

Proposition 19 (Senior Transfer)

Carry over Proposition 13 assessed value to new home

Homeowners age 55+, severely disabled, or wildfire/disaster victims

Not sure which exemption applies to you? See our full homestead exemption guide for all 50 states, including amounts and application deadlines.

When Are Property Taxes Due in California?

California secured property tax bills are mailed in the fall and are paid in two installments statewide. The first installment is due November 1 and delinquent after 5 p.m. December 10; the second installment is due February 1 and delinquent after 5 p.m. April 10.

First installment

November 1

Delinquent December 10

Second installment

February 1

Delinquent April 10

If you pay late: Each late installment incurs a 10% penalty; the delinquent second installment also adds a cost (up to $55 under state law), and parcels unpaid after June 30 begin accruing additional redemption penalties of 1.5% per month.

See how California compares in our full guide to property tax due dates for all 50 states.

Nearby States

Arizona

0.48%

Nevada

0.47%

Oregon

0.81%

Frequently Asked Questions

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (the latest available). Effective tax rates are calculated by dividing median real estate taxes paid by median home value. Actual property tax rates may vary based on local taxing jurisdictions, exemptions, and assessment practices. This information is for general reference only and should not be used as a substitute for professional tax advice.