San Francisco Property Taxes: Your Top Questions Answered

Property taxes in San Francisco can feel complicated, especially with the city’s mix of state laws, local rules, and new initiatives. At Legacy Real Estate, we hear the same questions over and over again—so here’s a quick guide to the ones that matter most.

1. How are San Francisco property taxes calculated?

In California, property tax is generally about 1% of your home’s assessed value, plus voter-approved local assessments. Thanks to Proposition 13, your assessed value only increases up to 2% a year until you sell the property or make major improvements.

📎 A Guide to San Francisco Property Tax

2. When are property taxes due?

Think “No Darn Fooling Around”:

• 1st installment due November 1 (delinquent after Dec 10)

• 2nd installment due February 1 (delinquent after Apr 10)

Miss a deadline, and penalties add up fast. Always pay early if you can.

📎 How to Work Out Your San Francisco Property Taxes

3. What’s the deal with Prop 19 and family transfers?

Proposition 19 (effective 2021) changed how parents can transfer property to children. In short:

• You can still transfer your primary residence to your kids without reassessment (up to a $1M exclusion above current taxable value).

• For other property (like rentals), transfers now trigger reassessment at market value.

• Prop 19 also allows homeowners 55+, disabled, or wildfire/disaster victims to transfer their tax base to a new home anywhere in California.

📎 How to Transfer Your Property Tax Base in San Francisco

4. How do I look up my property tax bill?

San Francisco makes it easy online. You can:

• Search by address or block/lot number

• View secured property tax bills

• Check payment history

📎 San Francisco Treasurer & Tax Collector – Property Tax Lookup

5. What about the Empty Homes Tax?

In 2022, SF voters approved the Empty Homes Tax, targeting vacant residential units left unrented for more than 182 days a year. The idea was to encourage landlords to rent units and ease housing shortages.

⚠️ The tax has been tied up in legal challenges and is not currently in effect, but it remains a hot topic for owners and investors to keep an eye on.

📎 Understanding Proposition M: San Francisco’s Empty Homes Tax

More to Explore

If you found this helpful, check out some of our other posts on San Francisco property and taxes:

• Supplemental Taxes Explained

• Downsizing in Retirement: Real SF Stories, Tax Perks & Pitfalls

• Navigating Probate Property Sales in San Francisco