La Mesa property tax: where it goes
A La Mesa house pays 1.196% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $812,000 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $9,641 a year.
Tax is levied on assessed value; in addition to the one percent (1%) rate set by Proposition 13, a typical annual secured tax bill includes tax rates for voter approved debt of school districts and special districts.
The County Auditor has not yet published its 2026-27 tax rate book (checked October 22, 2026), so the ad valorem rates are 2025-26. The vector control assessment is the 2026-27 amount.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $812,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1% general levy (Prop 13) | 1% | $8,050 |
| La Mesa-Spring Valley, Grossmont high school and Grossmont-Cuyamaca college taxes (schools) | 0.1541% | $1,241 |
| Grossmont Healthcare District bonds (Prop G) | 0.0199% | $160 |
| City of La Mesa Prop D (fire, police, emergency services) | 0.015% | $121 |
| Metropolitan Water District | 0.007% | $56 |
| County vector control assessment | flat | $13 |
| Total | 1.196% | $9,641 |
2025-26 tax year, San Diego County (tax rate area 05002). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 30 (in 39 days) | An appeal is filed with the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Boards. The filing period is July 2nd through November 30th of each year. |
| Dec 10 (in 49 days) | First property tax installment delinquent after close of business; 10% penalty after that. |
| Feb 15 | Homeowners' exemption deadline for the full exemption (about $70); late filings through December 10 get 80%. |
| Apr 10 | Second property tax installment payment deadline; 10% penalty plus $10 cost added to payments made after this date. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- County tax rates by area
- County tax rate area index
- San Diego County Assessor: Homeowners' Exemption
- San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector: important dates
Checked October 22, 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.