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Oakland · Municipal Code §§4.20.020, 4.20.040, 4.20.080Oakland transfer tax: 1.5% on most homes, with a first-time buyer break

Oakland charges its own transfer tax, on top of the Alameda County tax, as a percentage of the value: 1% for $300,000 or less, 1.5% above $300,000 up to $2 million, 1.75% above $2 million up to $5 million, and 2.5% above $5 million (Oakland Municipal Code §4.20.020(A)). The City Council may raise the $300,000 and $2 million tier thresholds for inflation, no more than once every five years and within set caps (§4.20.020(B)). The seller and the buyer are jointly and severally liable (§4.20.040). Low and moderate income first-time homebuyers – up to 100% of median family income, buying a principal residence for $2 million or less, with no home owned in the past three years – get the rate reduced by half a percentage point (§4.20.080). On a $900,000 home the city tax is $13,500, or $9,000 for a qualifying first-time buyer.

Rate, who pays and an example

  1. Rates

    $300,000 or less 1%; to $2M 1.5%; to $5M 1.75%; above $5M 2.5% of the value (§4.20.020(A)).

  2. Threshold changes

    Council may raise the $300,000 and $2M thresholds by CPI, at most every five years, capped at $500,000 and $3.5M (§4.20.020(B)).

  3. Who is liable

    Transferor and transferee, jointly and severally (§4.20.040).

  4. First-time buyer reduction

    Rate minus 0.5 point: income up to 100% of median, principal residence, price $2M or less, no home owned in 3 years (§4.20.080).

  5. Example – $900,000

    1.5% = $13,500; qualifying first-time buyer 1.0% = $9,000; plus county tax.

Good to know

  • Check the current tier thresholds with the City before closing, since the Council can adjust them.

What the TC checks

  • The tax line on the closing statement against the statutory rate.
  • Who pays it – the statute, the contract or local custom.
  • The value or consideration stated on the deed or declaration.

Questions about this tax

How much is Oakland's transfer tax?

1% up to $300,000, 1.5% up to $2 million, 1.75% up to $5 million and 2.5% above, of the value (Oakland Municipal Code §4.20.020).

Who pays transfer tax in Oakland?

The seller and the buyer are jointly and severally liable (§4.20.040); the contract decides who actually pays.

Is there a first-time homebuyer break in Oakland?

Yes. Qualifying low and moderate income first-time buyers get the rate cut by half a percentage point (§4.20.080).

Related guides

Add the transfer tax check to the closing statement review as a task with an owner and due date in ClosingCode.

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Source: Oakland Municipal Code §§4.20.020, 4.20.040 and 4.20.080 (library.municode.com, read October 25, 2026).

General information, not legal or tax advice. ClosingCode is software; it is not a law firm or brokerage. This guide is not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney.