Oakland Real Property Transfer Tax
1% to 2.5% depending on price · plus Alameda County $1.10 per $1,000
Oakland charges its own transfer tax of 1% to 2.5% depending on price on top of the Alameda County tax of $1.10 per $1,000, so buyers and sellers pay both. On a $1,000,000 sale the total is $16,100 (1.61% of the price), compared with $1,100 in a city without its own tax.
Oakland transfer tax rates
| Sale price | City tax rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $300,000 | $10.00 per $1,000 (1%) |
| Over $300,000 to $2 million | $15.00 per $1,000 (1.5%) |
| Over $2 million to $5 million | $17.50 per $1,000 (1.75%) |
| Over $5 million | $25.00 per $1,000 (2.5%) |
| Alameda County documentary transfer tax (every sale) | $1.10 per $1,000 (0.11%), on the price minus any loan the buyer assumes |
The rate for the bracket the price falls in applies to the whole price, so crossing a threshold by $1 raises the tax on every dollar.
Like the county tax, the city tax is charged per $500 of value or fraction of $500.
Measure X (2018) rates. Oakland's Council may raise the $300,000 and $2,000,000 thresholds by CPI no more than once every five years. Low- and moderate-income first-time buyers may qualify for a reduced rate.
Transfer tax at common sale prices
| Sale price | County tax | City tax | Total | Share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $550 | $7,500 | $8,050 | 1.61% |
| $750,000 | $825 | $11,250 | $12,075 | 1.61% |
| $1,000,000 | $1,100 | $15,000 | $16,100 | 1.61% |
| $1,500,000 | $1,650 | $22,500 | $24,150 | 1.61% |
| $2,000,000 | $2,200 | $30,000 | $32,200 | 1.61% |
| $3,000,000 | $3,300 | $52,500 | $55,800 | 1.86% |
| $5,000,000 | $5,500 | $87,500 | $93,000 | 1.86% |
| $10,000,000 | $11,000 | $250,000 | $261,000 | 2.61% |
At $1 million, Oakland ranks tied for #1 of the 27 California cities with their own transfer tax.
Oakland 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 Alameda County with their own tax
| City | City rate | Total on a $1M sale |
|---|---|---|
| Oakland | 1% to 2.5% depending on price | $16,100 |
| Alameda | $12.00 per $1,000 (1.2%) | $13,100 |
| Albany | $15.00 per $1,000 (1.5%) | $16,100 |
| Berkeley | 1.5% to 2.5% depending on price | $16,100 |
| Emeryville | 1.2% to 2.5% depending on price | $16,100 |
| Hayward | $8.50 per $1,000 (0.85%) | $9,600 |
| Piedmont | $13.00 per $1,000 (1.3%) | $14,100 |
| San Leandro | $11.00 per $1,000 (1.1%) | $12,100 |
The rest of Alameda 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 Oakland?
Oakland charges 1% to 2.5% depending on price, plus the Alameda County tax of $1.10 per $1,000. On a $1 million sale that is $16,100 in total; on $2,000,000 it is $32,200.
Who pays the transfer tax in Oakland?
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 Alameda County and Oakland transfer taxes?
Yes. Oakland 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 Oakland transfer tax calculated?
The rate for the bracket the price falls in applies to the whole price, so crossing a threshold by $1 raises the tax on every dollar. Like the county tax, the city tax is charged per $500 of value or fraction of $500.
Are any transfers exempt from the Oakland 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. Oakland has its own exemption rules, which can differ; ask the city's finance department or your escrow officer before relying on one.
Sources
- Oakland transfer tax source: Alameda County Clerk-Recorder, City Real Property Conveyance Tax table (auditor.alamedacountyca.gov/clerk-recorder-real-property-tax, Wayback 2026-08-27): full value rounded up to the nearest $500; Ordinance 11628 CMS; Oakland Municipal Code 4.20.020 (Measure X).
- 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.