El CerritoWhat a house pays

El Cerrito property tax: where it goes

A El Cerrito house pays 1.275% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $1,124,400 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $15,457 a year.

Tax is levied on net assessed value as of January 1 (assessed value less exemptions); the 1% countywide tax plus the school district bond, community college bond, BART and East Bay Regional Park District rates.

Who taxes this house

Taxing agencyRateOn $1,124,400
Countywide 1% tax (Prop 13)1%$11,174
West Contra Costa Unified School District bonds (schools)0.2413%$2,696
Contra Costa Community College District bonds (schools)0.0152%$170
BART (incl. 2016 bond)0.0163%$182
East Bay Regional Park District0.0018%$20
Stege Sanitary District sewer service chargeflat$443
EBMUD wet weather facilities charge (lot up to 5,000 sq ft)flat$173
WCCUSD parcel tax (Measure T, by building size)flat$109
WCCUSD assessmentflat$72
AC Transit parcel taxflat$96
El Cerrito street lighting & landscaping assessmentflat$72
El Cerrito Measure H parks & swim center taxflat$58
El Cerrito Measure J storm drain feeflat$58
West Contra Costa Healthcare District parcel taxflat$52
Stormwater charge (FED STORMWATER A-5 on the bill)flat$38
SF Bay Restoration Authority parcel tax (Measure AA)flat$12
East Bay Regional Park District special tax (CFD A/C-3)flat$12
Emergency medical services charge (EMERGENCY MED B)flat$10
East Bay regional trails assessmentflat$5
Mosquito & vector controlflat$3
Total1.275%$15,457

2026-27 tax year, Contra Costa County (El Cerrito tax rate area 03000). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).

Ways to pay less

  • Seniors 65+: WCCUSD parcel tax exemption. Owners 65 or older who live in their single-family home can be exempted from the school district's Measure T parcel tax. Once filed, the exemption renews automatically each year; it must be filed again after a move. How: Apply through the online application portal (OAP.SCI-CG.COM) with a current property tax bill, a California driver's license, ID card or passport, and a current utility bill; forms are due June 30 each year. Questions: (844) 332-0549.
  • No-interest loan to replace your sewer lateral. Stege Sanitary District's Private Sewer Lateral Replacement Loan Program offers a no-interest deferred payment loan of up to $30,000 to replace private sewer laterals, first-come, first-served while funds last. How: Contact Stege Sanitary District: (510) 524-4667.

Dates

WhenWhat
Nov 1 (in 10 days)First property tax installment due; pay by Dec 10, 2026 to avoid a 10% late-payment penalty.
Nov 30, 2026 (in 39 days)Last day of Contra Costa County's 2026 assessment appeal filing period (opened July 2).
Feb 15Last day for a first-time homeowners' exemption claim to get the full exemption for that year.
Jun 30Deadline for seniors 65+ to file the WCCUSD parcel tax exemption.

Pay or manage it

Sources

  1. Stege Sanitary District: property tax bill
  2. Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector (2026-27 secured tax bills)
  3. WCCUSD: parcel tax
  4. WCCUSD: senior citizen parcel tax exemption
  5. City of El Cerrito: assessments and measures
  6. City of El Cerrito: Measure H parks and recreation facilities tax
  7. SF Bay Restoration Authority Measure AA (NBS parcel tax info)
  8. EBRPD CFD special tax (NBS parcel tax info)
  9. California BOE: Homeowners' Exemption
  10. City of El Cerrito: Utility User Tax
  11. California BOE letter: 2026 assessment appeal filing periods by county

Checked October 21, 2026. Every number here comes from the public sources listed, matched by our checker.

Rates change every year; this page shows when it was last checked. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.