California Property Tax Rates by County (2025 Guide)

One of the most common questions California homeowners ask is: “What is the property tax rate in my county?” The answer is a little more complicated than many people expect.

California does not have a different base property tax system in each county. Proposition 13 established a statewide property tax structure that applies everywhere in California.

However, each county also has its own voter-approved local taxes and bond assessments, which means the total property tax rate varies slightly from one county to another.

Our California Property Tax Estimator uses estimated county composite tax rates – the same rates shown in the table below – to provide realistic annual property tax estimates based on where your property is located.

How California Property Tax Rates Work

Every California property tax bill begins with the same statewide foundation:

• 1% statewide property tax rate established by Proposition 13
• Applied to your property’s assessed value, not necessarily its market value

Most property owners also pay additional voter-approved taxes that fund:

• School construction bonds
• City infrastructure
• County improvements
• Water districts
• Community college districts
• Flood control projects

These local taxes are why your total property tax rate may be 1.06%, 1.11%, or 1.18% instead of exactly 1%.

Typical California Property Tax Rates by County

The table below shows the approximate composite property tax rates used in our estimator – generated from the same underlying rate data, so it stays in sync as rates are updated. Actual rates vary slightly depending on your exact tax rate area, local bond measures, and special assessments.

These rates are intended for estimating purposes. Your actual tax rate depends on your property’s specific tax rate area, voter-approved bond measures, and any special assessments that apply to your parcel.

Why Do Property Tax Rates Differ by County?

Although Proposition 13 created a statewide 1% property tax rate, local governments may ask voters to approve additional taxes for public projects.

Some counties have:

• More school bonds
• More transportation projects
• Additional water district obligations
• Higher infrastructure funding needs

As a result, neighboring counties may have slightly different overall property tax rates even though the statewide system is identical.

Do Two Homes in the Same County Pay the Same Tax Rate?

Not always.

Two homes on the same street may have:

• Different assessed values under Proposition 13
• Different Mello-Roos taxes
• Different Community Facilities District (CFD) assessments
• Different parcel taxes

This is why the total tax bill for one homeowner can be thousands of dollars higher than a neighbor’s, even when the homes appear nearly identical.

Which Counties Have the Highest Property Tax Rates?

Many urban counties with significant voter-approved bond measures tend to have somewhat higher composite rates, including:

• San Francisco
• Contra Costa
• Santa Clara
• Los Angeles
• Alameda

Even so, the differences are generally modest. The much larger factor affecting most homeowners’ tax bills is the property’s assessed value under Proposition 13.

Which Counties Have Lower Property Tax Rates?

Several rural counties typically have fewer local bond measures, resulting in slightly lower composite tax rates.

Again, the differences are usually measured in only a few hundredths of a percent.

Browse California Counties

Select your county below to launch the California Property Tax Estimator with your county already selected.

Use Our County Property Tax Calculator

Instead of estimating your property tax manually, use our calculator to account for:

• Your county
• Purchase year
• Purchase price
• Current market value (optional)
• Homeowners’ Exemption
• Proposition 13 assessment limits
• Proposition 8 temporary reductions

Estimate Your California Property Taxes →