All About Your Escrow
Update d
Who Pays What in California? Your Guide to Customary Practices in Closing Costs COUNTY
Alameda
CONTACT NUMBER 510.272.6362
WEBSITE
ESCROW CHARGES & FEES
TITLE FEE (Owner’s Policy)
www.acgov.org
Buyer
Buyer
COUNTY TRANSFER TAX / $1,000 Seller-$1.10
Seller/Buyer split in the city of Alameda only.
Alpine
530.694.2286
www.alpinecountyca.gov
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Amador
209.223.6468
www.amadorgov.org
Split - Buyer/Seller
Buyer
Seller-$1.10
Butte
530.538.7691
www.buttecounty.net
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Calaveras
209.754.6372
www.calaverasgov.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Colusa
530.458.0500
www.countyofcolusa.org
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Contra Costa
925.335.7900
www.contracosta.ca.gov
Buyer
Buyer
Seller-$1.10
Del Norte
707.464.7213
www.co.del-norte.ca.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
El Dorado
530.621.5490
www.edcgov.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Fresno
559.600.3471
www.co.fresno.ca.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller
Seller-$1.10
Glenn
530.934.6412
www.countyofglenn.net
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Humboldt
707.445.7593
www.co.humboldt.ca.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Imperial
760.482.4272
www.co.imperial.ca.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Inyo
760.878.0222
www.inyocounty.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller
Seller-$1.10
Kern
661.868.6448
www.co.kern.ca.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller
Seller-$1.10
Kings
559.582.3211
www.countyofkings.com
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller
Seller-$1.10
Lake
707.263.2293
www.co.lake.ca.us
Buyer
Buyer
Seller-$1.10
Lassen
530.251.8234
www.lassencounty.org
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Los Angeles
562.462.2125
www.lacounty.gov
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller
Seller-$1.10
Madera
559.675.7724
www.madera-county.com
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split: Chowchilla & Mountain Area Seller: Valley Areas
Seller-$1.10
Marin
415.499.6092
www.marincounty.org
Buyer
Buyer
Seller-$1.10
Mariposa
209.966.2332
www.mariposacounty.org
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
Mendocino
707.463.4376
www.mendocinocounty.org
Buyer
Buyer
Seller-$1.10
Merced
209.385.7627
www.co.merced.ca.us
Split - Buyer/Seller
Split - Buyer/Seller
Seller-$1.10
CITY TRANSFER TAX
Tax per $1000 purchase price OR percentage of purchase price Buyer/Seller Split
Alameda: $12 | Albany: $15 *Berkeley: $15 for purchase up to $1.7M; $25 over $1.7M | Emeryville: $12 for less than $1M; $15 for $1M-$2M; $25 over $2M Hayward: $8.50 | Oakland: $10.00 up to $300,000; $15.00 for $300,001 to $2M; $17.50 over $2M up to $5M; $25 over $5M Piedmont: $13.00 | San Leandro: $11.00 *Effective 1/1/2026
Buyer/Seller Split Richmond (% of purchase price): $100 to $999,999: 0.7% $1,000,000 to $2,999,999: 1.25% $3,000,000 to $9,999,999: 2.5% $10,000,000 and above: 3% El Cerrito: $12.00 per $1,000
Seller Pays Culver City: 0.45% under $1.5M; 1.5% for $1.5M to $2,999,999; 3% for $3M to $9,999,999; 4% for $10M+ *Los Angeles: $2.25 for each $500 or fraction thereof; AND EITHER 4% of the total transaction value of sales above $5.3M but less than $10,600,000; OR 5.5% of the total transaction value of sales at or above $10,600,000 Pomona: $2.20/$1,000 Redondo Beach: $2.20/$1,000 Santa Monica: $3/$1000 up to $4,999,999; $6/$1000 for over $5M to $8M; $56/$1,000 over $8M; *Effective 7/1/2025
Get your instant transfer tax estimates online at TransferTax.TitleTools.net And always insist on Fidelity National Title.
Trusted everywhere, every day. Continued on page 2. Please see the following page for additional county information. Revised 4/27/2026.
Seller pays - San Rafael: $2.00/$1,000