Santa Monica Real Property Transfer Tax
0.3% to 5.6% depending on price · plus Los Angeles County $1.10 per $1,000
Santa Monica charges its own transfer tax of 0.3% to 5.6% depending on price on top of the Los Angeles County tax of $1.10 per $1,000, so buyers and sellers pay both. On a $1,000,000 sale the total is $4,100 (0.41% of the price), compared with $1,100 in a city without its own tax.
Santa Monica transfer tax rates
| Sale price | City tax rate |
|---|---|
| Under $5 million | $3.00 per $1,000 (0.3%) |
| From $5 million to just under $8 million | $6.00 per $1,000 (0.6%) |
| $8 million or more | $56.00 per $1,000 (5.6%) |
| Los Angeles 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.
$3 per $1,000 below $5 million, $6 from $5 million to just under $8 million, and $56 (5.6%, Measure GS) from $8 million, each on the whole price.
Transfer tax at common sale prices
| Sale price | County tax | City tax | Total | Share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $550 | $1,500 | $2,050 | 0.41% |
| $750,000 | $825 | $2,250 | $3,075 | 0.41% |
| $1,000,000 | $1,100 | $3,000 | $4,100 | 0.41% |
| $1,500,000 | $1,650 | $4,500 | $6,150 | 0.41% |
| $2,000,000 | $2,200 | $6,000 | $8,200 | 0.41% |
| $3,000,000 | $3,300 | $9,000 | $12,300 | 0.41% |
| $5,000,000 | $5,500 | $30,000 | $35,500 | 0.71% |
| $10,000,000 | $11,000 | $560,000 | $571,000 | 5.71% |
At $1 million, Santa Monica ranks #19 of the 27 California cities with their own transfer tax.
Santa Monica 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 Los Angeles County with their own tax
| City | City rate | Total on a $1M sale |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | 0.3% to 5.6% depending on price | $4,100 |
| Culver City | 0.45% to 4% in brackets | $5,600 |
| Los Angeles | 0.45% plus Measure ULA tax of 4% to 5.5% on high-value sales | $5,600 |
| Pomona | $2.20 per $1,000 (0.22%) | $3,300 |
| Redondo Beach | $2.20 per $1,000 (0.22%) | $3,300 |
The rest of Los Angeles 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 Santa Monica?
Santa Monica charges 0.3% to 5.6% depending on price, plus the Los Angeles County tax of $1.10 per $1,000. On a $1 million sale that is $4,100 in total; on $2,000,000 it is $8,200.
Who pays the transfer tax in Santa Monica?
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 Los Angeles County and Santa Monica transfer taxes?
Yes. Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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. Santa Monica has its own exemption rules, which can differ; ask the city's finance department or your escrow officer before relying on one.
Sources
- Santa Monica transfer tax source: Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, Documentary Transfer Tax Bulletin (rev. 2026-04-01) (Santa Monica rates effective 2023-03-01).
- 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.