El Cerrito Real Property Transfer Tax
$12.00 per $1,000 (1.2%) · plus Contra Costa County $1.10 per $1,000
El Cerrito charges its own transfer tax of $12.00 per $1,000 (1.2%) on top of the Contra Costa County tax of $1.10 per $1,000, so buyers and sellers pay both. On a $1,000,000 sale the total is $13,100 (1.31% of the price), compared with $1,100 in a city without its own tax.
El Cerrito transfer tax rates
| Sale price | City tax rate |
|---|---|
| Any sale over $100 | $12.00 per $1,000 (1.2%) |
| Contra Costa County documentary transfer tax (every sale) | $1.10 per $1,000 (0.11%), on the price minus any loan the buyer assumes |
The city rounds the value up to the next $1,000 before applying its rate.
Transfer tax at common sale prices
| Sale price | County tax | City tax | Total | Share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $550 | $6,000 | $6,550 | 1.31% |
| $750,000 | $825 | $9,000 | $9,825 | 1.31% |
| $1,000,000 | $1,100 | $12,000 | $13,100 | 1.31% |
| $1,500,000 | $1,650 | $18,000 | $19,650 | 1.31% |
| $2,000,000 | $2,200 | $24,000 | $26,200 | 1.31% |
| $3,000,000 | $3,300 | $36,000 | $39,300 | 1.31% |
| $5,000,000 | $5,500 | $60,000 | $65,500 | 1.31% |
| $10,000,000 | $11,000 | $120,000 | $131,000 | 1.31% |
At $1 million, El Cerrito ranks tied for #7 of the 27 California cities with their own transfer tax.
El Cerrito Transfer Tax Calculator
Total transfer tax
Who pays
California law doesn't say whether the buyer or the seller pays a transfer tax; the purchase contract does. By custom sellers usually pay the county tax, and city taxes are often split or follow local practice. It's negotiable, so settle it in the contract, and ask your escrow officer for the exact figure: the tax is calculated and paid when the deed is recorded.
Other cities in Contra Costa County with their own tax
| City | City rate | Total on a $1M sale |
|---|---|---|
| El Cerrito | $12.00 per $1,000 (1.2%) | $13,100 |
| Richmond | 0.7% to 3% depending on price | $13,600 |
The rest of Contra Costa County, including unincorporated areas, pays only the county's $1.10 per $1,000 ($1,100 on $1 million).
Transfer tax in all 27 California cities with their own rate →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the transfer tax in El Cerrito?
El Cerrito charges $12.00 per $1,000 (1.2%), plus the Contra Costa County tax of $1.10 per $1,000. On a $1 million sale that is $13,100 in total; on $2,000,000 it is $26,200.
Who pays the transfer tax in El Cerrito?
No state or city law decides who pays. The purchase contract does. By custom the seller usually pays the county tax, and the city tax is often split or follows local practice, so negotiate it and ask your agent or escrow officer what is usual locally.
Do I pay both the Contra Costa County and El Cerrito transfer taxes?
Yes. El Cerrito is a charter city with its own tax, so it is added to the county's $1.10 per $1,000. In general-law cities, by contrast, the city's share is credited against the county tax and buyers pay $1.10 per $1,000 in total.
How is the El Cerrito transfer tax calculated?
The city rounds the value up to the next $1,000 before applying its rate.
Are any transfers exempt from the El Cerrito transfer tax?
The county tax applies only to sales, so gifts and transfers for no payment, such as most transfers into your own living trust or between spouses in a divorce, generally owe nothing. El Cerrito has its own exemption rules, which can differ; ask the city's finance department or your escrow officer before relying on one.
Sources
- El Cerrito transfer tax source: Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, City of El Cerrito transfer tax page (Wayback 2025-10-19): $12.00 per $1,000 of full value, rounded up to the nearest $1,000; El Cerrito Ord. 18-03.
- California Revenue and Taxation Code 11911 (county documentary transfer tax and the general-law city credit)
Educational estimate only, not tax or legal advice. Transfer taxes have exemptions and special cases this page doesn't cover. The escrow or title company calculates the exact amount at closing.