Essence Escrow Inc.

CITY RESIDENTIAL REPORTS

  • Carson

    NO LONGER REQUIRED

    310-952-1766

    N/A

    The Carson city council ended the need for a Residential Property Report on September 20, 2019.

     

    Website

  • Cathedral City (Riverside County)

    Smoke Detector Inspection

    760-770-0341

    Please visit

    Cathedral City's website for more details.

    Website

  • Chico (Butte County)

    Energy Retrofit Inspection

    530-879-6700

    Cost depends on the inspector and is only necessary for buildings built before 1991. Buyers can choose not to get it. Inspectors are certified by the city. Inspections are not needed for commercial buildings.
    Website

  • Compton

    Application For Report of Building Records

    310-605-5509

    $129 for first Single Family Dwelling, $105 for additionalInspection required.

    Residential only. Buyer must acknowledge the Residential Building Report.

    Website

  • Corte Madera (Marin County)

    Application for Report of Residential Building Record

    415-927-5062

    $130

    The inspector does not visit the property, and this cannot be ignored. The buyer is not required to acknowledge this. Commercial buildings are exempt from this requirement. It is valid for six months.

    Website

  • Cudahy

    Pre-Sale Inspection Report

    323-773-5143

    $255 up to 5 unitsInspection required.

    Get the form at Building and Safety, pay for it, and schedule an appointment. Applies to residential, commercial, and vacant land.

    Website

  • Culver City

    Report of Building Records

    310-253-5800

    $96-$128

    No inspection. Needed for residential and commercial properties; no vacant land. Call for application. Takes 10 days. Buyer must acknowledge.

    .

    Website

  • Daly City (San Mateo County)

    Residential Requirements Report Request

    650-991-8061

    $45

    Fax report. The report is generated by a computer. The buyer must acknowledge the report and inspection; this cannot be skipped. The report is valid for 6 months.

    Website

  • Del Rey Oaks (Monterey County)

    Residential Property Report

    831-394-8511

    $100

    Visit the website for details. A physical inspection is needed. The property owner must acknowledge the report. The report is mandatory. Commercial buildings have a different report.

    Website

  • Eastvale (Riverside County)

    Business Registration Certification

    951-361-0900

    $46.00 annual fee

    For businesses and rental properties. No physical inspection needed now. Yearly term from April 1 to March 31.

    More details here.

    Website

  • El Monte

    Property Inspection Report

    626-580-2050

    $195.50-$252.50+Inspection required.

    Residential and commercial properties available. Call for an application form. Buyer confirmation is required.

    Website

  • El Segundo

    NONE

    Pursuant to Building Dept.

    310-524-2380

    NONE

    Call

  • Gardena

    Property Information Report

    310-217-9530

    $435 for exterior only inspection. $552 for exterior and interior inspection.

    Report due 15 days before closing. Applies to residential and commercial; condos exempt. Buyer can sign a Waiver and must acknowledge the report or Waiver.

    Website

  • Hawaiian Gardens

    Pre Sale Inspection

    562-420-2641

    $265

    Inspection needed for residential and commercial properties. New constructions are not included. Deliver 21 days before closing; Buyer must acknowledge.

    Website

  • Hermosa Beach

    Report for Residential Building Records

    310-318-0235

    $263.00

    Residential only. Processing takes 2 weeks. Only external inspection. Valid for 6 months.

    Website

  • Huntington Park

    Residential Pre-Sale Inspection Program

    323-584-6271

    $105 for exterior inspection,

    $60 for interior inspection.

    Inspection required for single-family homes (1-4 units) and vacant land only. No commercial or over 4 units. Valid for 6 months.

    Website

  • Inglewood

    Report of Building Records and Code Violations

    310-412-5294

    $163 (up to 4 units) + $11/unit (after 4 units)

    Extra fees for inspection. See the Building Fees page for details. Buyer must acknowledge this. Valid for 6 months.

    Website

  • Laguna Beach (Orange County)

    Real Property Report

    949-497-0714

    $350

    No inspection required. All properties, including commercial and land. Visit Building Dept for application and payment. Realtor must have City Business License to show. Takes 7 days.

    Website

  • Long Beach

    Garage Inspection Program

    562-570-6401

    $105.00 for 1-2 unitsInspection concerns only non-street parking at a residence/building.

    Certain conditions allow for the use of a Garage Exemption Certificate.

    Website

  • Los Angeles City

    Residential Property Report – 9A

    213-485-2216

    $70.85 per parcel

    No inspection is needed for residential and vacant land, not for commercial properties or the first sale of new homes. An application with original signatures from the Seller (and Buyer, if involved) is required. Approval lasts for 6 months. Reports can be searched and printed.

    Website

  • Los Angeles City | Dept of Water and Power

    Certificate of Compliance

    213-284-6130

    $15 -$75 and up

    Licensed plumber will verify low flow toilets and showerheads and sign the Certificate of Compliance. Seller and Buyer must also sign. Form link

    Website

  • Marina (Monterey County)

    Residential Property Report

    831-884-1214

    $50

    See website for details. Physical inspection required. Buyer acknowledges report, which cannot be waived. Valid for 3 months. Not needed for commercial buildings.

    Website

  • Monterey (Monterey County)

    Residential Property Inspections

    831-646-3890

    Report faxed. Exterior inspection only. Buyer acknowledges. Report cannot be waived. Valid for 6 months. Not required for condominiums, but required for apartments.
    Website

  • Newport Beach

    Report of Residential Building Records

    949-644-3215

    $156 – 182 and up

    Residential only. Inspection optional; if declined, noted for Buyer's acknowledgment. Takes 30 days post-application. Corrections due within 30 days, or Buyer assumes responsibility. Valid for one year.

    Website

  • Oakland (Alameda County)

    Sidewalk Certificate of Compliance

    510-238-3199

    $84.92 as of March 24, 2021

    Applies to selling, buying, or renovating properties over $100,000. See their FAQ for details.

    Website

  • Oxnard (Ventura County)

    Report of Building Records

    805-385-7840

    $37.80

    No inspection needed. Residential/commercial. Buyer must acknowledge. Processing takes 7 days. Valid for 6 months. Contact Patricia or Ruby for application via fax or email.
    Website

  • Palos Verdes Estates

    Real Property Records Report

    310-378-0383

    $156

    No inspection required. It takes 5 business days. Valid for 6 months. The homeowner applies. If someone else applies, they need a City Business License.

    Website

  • Pasadena

    Presale Self-Certification Program

    626-744-7144

    $27.78 - $150.38

    Inspection required; cannot be waived. Applies to single-family, duplex, condos, townhouses. See webpage for details.

    Website

  • Piedmont (Alameda County)

    Housing Records Search

    510-420-3050

    $50

    No physical inspection is allowed. The report is mandatory. The buyer does not need to acknowledge it. Commercial buildings need the same report.
    Call

  • Port Hueneme (Ventura County)

    Residential & Commercial Building Records

    805-986-6512

    $43-$107

    Option for report only or report and inspection, required for residential and commercial. Buyer may waive with a signed waiver to Building and Safety. A supplement to a report obtained within the last 6 months is available. No online application; call for details.

    Website

  • Rolling Hills Estates

    Pre-Sale Inspection Report

    310-377-1577

    $200-$300

    Residential only. Buyer can choose record search or on-site inspection. Application required. Takes 7 business days. Necessary for closing.

    Website

  • Ross (Marin County)

    Residential Report

    415-453-1453 ext.106

    $325 + $100 each add. unit

    Physical inspection and a $100 business license are required. Buyer must acknowledge the report, which cannot be waived. This applies to commercial buildings and is valid for 12 months. Visit the Building Dept for the application.
    Visit

  • Salinas (Monterey County)

    Residential Building Record Report

    831-758-7251

    $71.04

    Report sent by fax. No physical inspection needed. Buyer agrees to the report. The report cannot be ignored. Valid for 90 days.

    Website

  • San Diego (San Diego County)

    Water Conservation Certificate

    619-533-7485

    NO LONGER REQUIRED

    Not needed for resale transactions since February 28, 2022. See their resource page for more details.

    Website

  • San Fernando

    Residential Inspection Upon Resale

    818-898-1227

    $240.00

    Inspection needed. Contact their office for an application. Additional details are available on the Building and Safety page.
    Website

  • San Francisco

    Report of Residential Building Record (3R Report)

    415-558-6080

    $148

    Residential only. City does not inspect; a licensed contractor is required. Valid for one year. Buyer does not need to sign. Each building requires its own application.

    Website

  • San Francisco

    Residential Energy & Water Conservation

    628-652-3420

    Residential properties need Energy Conservation done only once in their lifetime, which will be noted in the 3R report. Water conservation is required every time the property changes hands. Check the website for City-approved inspectors, who typically charge a flat fee for inspections and filing.

    Website

  • San Francisco

    Stationary Tank Permits

    415-558-3300 (Fire Dept)

    $330 + $344/year

    Residential properties only. Verify if there is a stationary tank, a cap on the sidewalk, or a generator (above ground or portable). The buyer must apply. There is a one-time fee of $330 and an annual tax license of $344, payable to the Tax Collector. The Fire Department will inspect the tanks every year.
    Website

  • San Luis Obispo

    Water Conservation Certificate - Toilet Retrofit Verification

    805-781-7215

    Unknown

    Required prior to sale. Inspection by licensed contractor or Water Resources staff member.

    Website

  • San Marino

    Residential Compliance Certificate

    626-300-0711

    $70.00

    Residential only. Inspection fee separate. Apply in person for approved inspectors. Inspection report mandatory; buyers need not acknowledge it. All violations must be fixed within 6 months. Processing takes 10 business days. Valid for 2 years or until sold.
    Website

  • San Pablo (Contra Costa County)

    Residential Health and Safety Inspection

    510-215-3030

    $125 (condo), $175 (SFR), $25+ per/unit

    Physical inspection is necessary. The report cannot be skipped. Valid for 6 months. Commercial buildings are exempt. Buyer does not need to sign.
    Website

  • Santa Monica

    Report of Residential Building Records

    310-458-8355

    $330.44

    Inspections are not needed. Report is generated by a computer. It can be completed online. It cannot be waived. The buyer must acknowledge it. Valid for 6 months. Find the application form under “Forms – Public Records – Public Records Request.”

    Website

  • South Gate

    Pre-Sale Inspection Report

    323-563-9583

    $63

    Inspection needed. For residential use only or residential in mixed-use buildings. Code violations must be fixed within a year by either Seller or Buyer. Buyer must acknowledge. Report is valid for one year.
    Website

  • Thousand Oaks (Ventura County)

    Report of Residential Building Records

    805-449-2500

    $82- $308

    Inspections are needed only if there are open permits, costing $308. If no inspection is needed, it costs $82. This is valid for 6 months and takes up to 10 business days to process.
    Website

  • Torrance

    Smoke Detector Cert of Compliance

    310-781-7635

    Building and Safety Dept.
    No property inspection or report needed. A contractor must complete a Smoke Detector Compliance.

    Website

Essence Escrow Inc.

REAL ESTATE FORMS | FILLABLE

Essence Escrow Inc.

Check your local tax codes

California’s Revenue and Taxation Codes calls for the payment of a County Documentary Transfer Tax on the value of all real property of which ownership is being transferred. All counties have the same tax amount, which is 0.11% of the value. The value is rounded up to the nearest $500 and then the percentage applied. For instance, for a property whose value is $123,456, the roundup will be to $123,500, and then multiplied by .11%. The County tax would be $135.85.

Listed below are various cities that impose their own City Transfer Tax along with the respective rates applicable to each. This particular tax amount will be paid in conjunction with the County Documentary Transfer Tax when the transfer of ownership deed is officially recorded. It is important to note that in some cities, the Transfer Tax is calculated based on a tiered structure that can vary. The City of Los Angeles deserves special mention as it encompasses a very large geographic area that stretches, with only a few small exceptions of other cities in between, from the San Fernando Valley area all the way down to San Pedro and extending eastward to Boyle Heights. Please make sure to utilize the map link provided below for additional context. Furthermore, it is essential to understand that City Transfer Taxes can change from year to year as a result of government decisions, policies, or legislative actions. We strive to keep the rates listed below up to date and accurate. If you find yourself in any doubt or need further clarification, we encourage you to call the City in question or contact us directly at (626) 584-9999 for any information regarding current rates.

For exemptions to the payment of Documentary Transfer Tax, please visit the following links on our site:


https://www.vivaescrow.com/documentary-transfer-tax-exemptions/

For FAQs, please visit: https://www.vivaescrow.com/california-documentary-transfer-tax/

Essence Escrow Inc.

CITY DOCUMENTARY TRANSFER TAX TABLE

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 1.2%

    Web Address: Alameda County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 1.5%

    Web Address: Alameda County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: Tiered

    Web Address: Alameda County

    Memo: 1.5% at $1,800,000 or less; 2.5% at more than $1,800,000

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: Tiered

    Web Address: Culver City

    Memo: Please consult their site for a breakdown of the tiered rates.

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 1.2%

    Web Address: Contra Costa County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: Tiered

    Web Address: Alameda County

    Memo: 1.2% at less than $1,000,000; 1.5% at $1,000,000 to $2,000,000; 2.5% at more than $2,000,000

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.85%

    Web Address: Alameda County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.3%

    Web Address: San Mateo County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.45%, Measure ULA will be in effect April 1, 2023 and updated July 1, 2024

    Web Address: City of Los Angeles Transfer Tax Calculator and FAQ

    Memo: This applies to areas within the City of Los Angeles. Check the property address for details. Colored areas are incorporated and subject to Los Angeles City tax; white areas are not, but may have their own tax. Starting July 1, 2024, Measure ULA will be in effect. Properties sold for $5,150,000 to $10,300,000 will have a city tax rate of 4.45%. Properties above $10,300,000 will have a tax rate of 5.95%. The previous rate of 0.45% will still apply to properties under $5,150,000.

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.33%

    Web Address: Santa Clara County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: Tiered

    Web Address: Alameda County

    Memo: Please consult their site for a breakdown of the tiered rates.

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.33%

    Web Address: Santa Clara County

    Memo: Please consult their site for a breakdown of the tiered rates.

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 02%

    Web Address: Sonoma County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 1.3%

    Web Address: Alameda County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.22%

    Web Address: Los Angeles County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.22%

    Web Address: Los Angeles County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: Tiered

    Web Address: Contra Costa County

    Memo: Please consult their site for a breakdown of the tiered rates.

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.11%

    Web Address: Riverside County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): No

    City Tax Rate: 0.275%

    Web Address: Sacramento County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): No

    City Tax Rate: Tiered

    Web Address: San Francisco City

    Memo: Please consult their site for a breakdown of the tiered rates.

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): No

    City Tax Rate: 0.33%, Measure E tiered rates effective July 1, 2020

    Web Address: Santa Clara County

    Memo: Effective July 1, 2020, Measure E is in effect. For sale of properties at $2 million and over, a tiered rate is in effect. Information is posted on Santa Clara's website here

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: Tiered

    Web Address: San Mateo County

    Memo: 0.5% under $10,000,000; 1.5% for $10,000,000 and above

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.2%

    Web Address: Marin County

    Memo: The particular form for reporting of Transfer Tax is downloadable here

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: Tiered

    Web Address: Santa Monica

    Memo: 0.3% for under $5,000,000; 0.6% for $5,000,000 to $7,999,999; 5.6% for $8,000,000 and above

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.2%

    Web Address: Sonoma County

    Memo: N/A

  • County Tax Rate (0.11%): Yes

    City Tax Rate: 0.33%

    Web Address: Solano County

    Memo: N/A