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 $1.8M and 2.5% for properties over $1.8M. For example, a property that sells for $1.8M will owe $27,000 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.

Owners of residential properties can get a refund of up to 1/3 of the base 1.5% transfer tax for making voluntary seismic upgrades. Learn more about the Seismic Retrofit Refund Program.

Learn more about the transfer tax by attending a County of Alameda property transfer clinic.