Alameda vs. Contra Costa Transfer Tax: East Bay 2026

Both Alameda and Contra Costa counties charge a base documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of sale price. The real difference comes from city layers: Oakland and Berkeley add tiered city taxes that climb steeply with price, Alameda city adds a flat $12 per $1,000, and Richmond in Contra Costa has its own tiered schedule.

How much is the transfer tax for East Bay sellers in 2026?

Both Alameda County and Contra Costa County charge a base documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of sale price. But for sellers in cities like Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, or Richmond, a separate city-level transfer tax layers on top of that county rate, and those city taxes are where the real cost difference lives. The total transfer tax you owe at closing depends on exactly where your property sits and what it sells for.

The County Base Rate: Both Counties Start the Same

Here's something most sellers don't realize: Alameda County and Contra Costa County have identical countywide base rates. Both charge $0.55 per $500 of consideration, which works out to $1.10 per $1,000, according to the Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder and the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder.

That base rate is collected at recording, meaning your closing agent builds it into the closing statement and it's paid when the deed records. The Contra Costa County transfer tax ordinance is explicit: the recorder won't record a deed subject to transfer tax unless the tax is paid. It's not a bill that shows up later, it's a closing-day item.

So on a $1,000,000 sale in unincorporated Alameda County or unincorporated Contra Costa County, the county documentary transfer tax comes to $1,100 based on the verified statutory rate. That's the floor. For most East Bay sellers, the city layer is what drives the number up.

What counts as "consideration"?

The county base rate applies to the full value of the transfer. Contra Costa's recorder notes that liens remaining at the time of sale are excluded from the taxable amount, so if a buyer assumes an existing mortgage, that balance may reduce the taxable base. Confirm the exact calculation with your closing agent for your specific transaction.

City Transfer Taxes: Where the Differences Get Real

This is where sellers in incorporated cities need to pay close attention. City transfer taxes stack on top of the county base, and the structure varies significantly by city. I walk every seller I work with through this before we even set a list price, because the city layer can be a material number at East Bay price points.

City of Alameda (Alameda County)

The City of Alameda charges a flat city transfer tax of $12.00 per $1,000 of full value, per the Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder. That's a flat rate, it doesn't tier up with price. Combined with the $1.10 per $1,000 county base, a seller in the City of Alameda pays $13.10 per $1,000 of sale price. On a $1,000,000 sale, the combined transfer tax would be $13,100 based on those published rates (example calculated from verified statutory rates, confirm with your closing agent).

Oakland (Alameda County)

Oakland uses a tiered city transfer tax schedule, and the brackets matter a lot at typical East Bay price points. According to the City of Oakland's official transfer tax page, the 2026 rates are:

• 1.00% on sales up to $300,000

• 1.50% on sales from $300,001 to $2,000,000

• 1.75% on sales from $2,000,001 to $5,000,000

• 2.50% on sales above $5,000,000

Oakland's city page also notes a discounted rate is available for certain low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyer transactions, worth asking about if that applies to your buyer.

Most Oakland sales fall in the $300,001 to $2,000,000 bracket, so the effective city rate for a typical transaction is 1.50%. Add the $1.10 per $1,000 county base and you're looking at $16.10 per $1,000 total on a mid-range Oakland sale. That's a meaningful number, and it's exactly the kind of thing I flag for sellers when we're running pre-listing numbers together.

Berkeley (Alameda County)

Berkeley also uses a tiered structure. The City of Berkeley's official property transfer tax page shows the current 2026 rates as 1.5% for properties up to $1.7 million and 2.5% above $1.7 million. Note that Berkeley has already adopted a new tier structure effective January 1, 2027, the Berkeley Municipal Code page for the 2027 rate is published separately. If you're closing in early 2027 or later, verify the current rate with your closing agent.

For a Berkeley sale above $1.7 million in 2026, the city rate alone is 2.5%, plus the $1.10 per $1,000 county base on top. That's a significant closing cost to plan for.

Richmond (Contra Costa County)

Richmond is the most prominent Contra Costa city with a published tiered city transfer tax schedule in the county recorder's materials. According to the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder's Richmond page, the tiers are:

• $7.00 per $1,000 on transfers under $1 million

• $12.50 per $1,000 on transfers from $1 million to $3 million

• $25.00 per $1,000 on transfers from $3 million to $10 million

• $30.00 per $1,000 on transfers above $10 million

Add the $1.10 per $1,000 Contra Costa County base and a Richmond seller at $900,000 is looking at $8.10 per $1,000 combined. Cross $1 million and that jumps to $13.60 per $1,000. The bracket crossing point matters, it's something I always flag when a listing is priced near a tier threshold.

For Contra Costa cities other than Richmond, check directly with the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder or your closing agent. Not every city imposes an additional city transfer tax, but rates and applicability can change.

Rate comparison at a glance

The table below shows the combined county-plus-city transfer tax rate for a sale in the $1 million to $1.7 million range, based on verified statutory rates from the sources above. These are illustrative examples calculated from published rates, your closing agent will confirm the exact amount for your transaction.

City / Area	County Base (per $1,000)	City Rate (per $1,000)	Combined Rate (per $1,000)
Unincorporated Alameda County	$1.10	None	$1.10
City of Alameda	$1.10	$12.00 (flat)	$13.10
Oakland ($300K–$2M bracket)	$1.10	$15.00 (1.5%)	$16.10
Berkeley (up to $1.7M bracket)	$1.10	$15.00 (1.5%)	$16.10
Unincorporated Contra Costa County	$1.10	None	$1.10
Richmond, CCC ($1M–$3M bracket)	$1.10	$12.50	$13.60

Rates sourced from: Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder, City of Oakland, City of Berkeley, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, and City of Richmond via Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder. Rates verified as of August 2026. Confirm current rates with your closing agent before closing.

What This Means for Your Closing Statement

Transfer tax is a closing-day item, not an after-the-fact bill. Your closing agent will calculate the amount, include it on the closing disclosure, and pay it at recording. Per the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder's general information, a transfer tax declaration must appear on the deed showing the tax amount or the basis for any exemption. The same requirement applies in Alameda County.

A few things worth knowing before you get to the closing table:

• Who pays is negotiable. Transfer tax is commonly negotiated between buyer and seller as part of the purchase contract, there is no California law that automatically assigns it to one party. Check your own contract and confirm with your closing agent.

• Exemptions may apply. Certain transfers, gifts, transfers into or out of a living trust, some interspousal transfers, may qualify for a full or partial exemption. The exemption basis must appear on the deed. Talk to your closing agent or a tax advisor if you think your transaction might qualify.

• City rates can change. Berkeley already has a 2027 rate change on the books. Oakland's official page is updated independently of county materials. Always verify the current rate with your closing agent before you finalize your net-sheet estimate.

• Tier thresholds matter. If your list price is close to a bracket boundary, $300,000 in Oakland, $1 million or $3 million in Richmond, $1.7 million in Berkeley, a small difference in final sale price can move you into a higher tax bracket. That's worth factoring into your pricing strategy.

For a broader picture of where East Bay prices are sitting right now, my May 2026 East Bay Market Update and May 2026 Central Contra Costa Market Update have the latest numbers by area, useful context when you're thinking about where your sale price might land relative to a tax bracket.

Every situation is different, and the only way to know your actual transfer tax number is to run it with someone who knows this market and your specific city. That's exactly what I do with every seller before we go live.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much transfer tax do Alameda County sellers pay at closing in 2026?

At minimum, Alameda County sellers pay the countywide documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of sale price, per the Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder. If the property is in an incorporated city like Oakland, Berkeley, or the City of Alameda, a separate city transfer tax layers on top, and those city rates are substantially higher. A seller in Oakland at a typical price point pays a combined $16.10 per $1,000; a seller in unincorporated Alameda County pays just $1.10 per $1,000.

Are there exemptions for certain transfers, like trusts or gifts?

Yes, certain transfers may qualify for a full or partial documentary transfer tax exemption, common examples include transfers into or out of a revocable living trust, certain interspousal transfers, and gifts where no consideration changes hands. The exemption basis must be stated on the deed at recording. If you think your transaction might qualify, talk to your closing agent or a tax advisor before closing, the rules are fact-specific and the exemption must be properly documented on the deed.

The Bottom Line for East Bay Sellers

Transfer tax in the East Bay is not a one-size-fits-all number. Both counties share the same $1.10 per $1,000 base, but city layers can multiply that cost several times over, especially in Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond. Knowing your city's rate and how your sale price interacts with the tier thresholds is a real part of your pre-listing math.

I help sellers in Hayward Hills, Castro Valley, Fremont, Dublin, San Ramon, and across the East Bay understand exactly what they're looking at before we go to market. If you want to walk through your specific situation, schedule a free 15-minute consultation and we'll go through it together. Or if you're curious what your home is worth in today's market, get a free home valuation here.

About Tracy Tang Team

Tracy Tang (DRE #01956297) is a top-producing REALTOR® and team leader of the Tracy Tang Team at Compass, serving the San Francisco Bay Area with a sharp focus on the East Bay. Licensed since 2014, Tracy brings 11 years of experience, over 140 homes sold, and a reputation for client-first service rooted in deep local expertise. Her background in international living and five-star hospitality gives her a distinctive ability to serve buyers and sellers from all walks of life across Castro Valley, Pleasanton, Fremont, Dublin, San Ramon, Livermore, and beyond. Specializing in luxury homes, relocation, move-up buyers, 1031 exchanges, multi-family properties, and off-market deals, Tracy is committed to helping each client maximize their opportunity, and her 120-plus verified reviews across Google, Zillow, and Yelp reflect that commitment. Tracy is also a member of the Tom Ferry coaching network, staying ahead of market trends and negotiation strategies.

Compass · (415) 828-2961

Equal Housing Opportunity. Tracy Tang, DRE #01956297, Compass. Licensed by the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Transfer tax rates, exemptions, and allocations are subject to change and vary by jurisdiction, confirm all figures with your closing agent, tax advisor, or lender before closing.