Property Transfer Tax

The City of Berkeley charges a transfer tax any time real estate changes ownership. Berkeley’s transfer tax rate is 1.5% for properties up to $1.7M and 2.5% for properties over $1.7M. For example, a property that sells for $1.7M will owe $25,500 in transfer tax to the City of Berkeley. A property that sells for $2M will owe $50,000.

The City’s transfer tax is in addition to the transfer tax charged by Alameda County. The City’s transfer tax helps fund general municipal services and could be used for homeless shelters, navigation centers, mental health support, rehousing, rental subsidies, and other services for people experiencing homelessness.

Sellers or buyers (owners) of residential or mixed-use buildings with at least two residential units may qualify for a real estate transfer tax rebate by completing voluntary seismic upgrades or permanent home-hardening upgrades.

The total rebate for any combination of voluntary seismic upgrades and home-hardening improvements is up to 1/3 of the base 1.5% transfer tax. Learn more about the City's Seismic Retrofit Rebate or Home Hardening Rebate. Or attend a County of Alameda property transfer clinic to learn more about the transfer tax.