Orange property tax: where it goes
A Orange house pays 1.06% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $945,800 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $10,369 a year.
Tax is levied on the assessed value (Prop 13).
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $945,800 |
|---|---|---|
| 1% general levy (countywide) | 1% | $9,388 |
| Orange Unified School District bonds (schools) | 0.0243% | $228 |
| Rancho Santiago Community College District bonds (schools) | 0.0271% | $254 |
| Metropolitan Water District (MWDOC) | 0.0085% | $80 |
| OC San regional sewer service fee | flat | $397 |
| Metropolitan Water District water standby charge (MWDOC area) | flat | $10 |
| OC Mosquito and Vector Control District: mosquito, fire ant and disease control assessment (District No. 2) | flat | $9 |
| OC Mosquito and Vector Control District: vector surveillance and control assessment (District No. 1) | flat | $2 |
| Total | 1.06% | $10,369 |
2026-27 tax year, Orange County (tax rate area 08-001). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
Ways to pay less
- Veterans rated 100% disabled: property tax exemption. The Disabled Veterans' Exemption lowers property tax on the home of veterans rated 100% disabled from a service-connected injury or disease, or paid at the 100% rate due to unemployability; an unmarried surviving spouse may also claim it. The basic exemption ($100,000, adjusted each year for inflation) needs no annual filing once granted. The low-income exemption ($150,000, also adjusted) must be filed every year between January 1 and February 15. How: To receive 100 percent of the eligible exemption, file the claim with the county assessor within 90 days after you receive the disability rating, or on or before the next lien date, whichever occurs later.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2026 (in 38 days) | Last day to file a 2026 regular assessment appeal in Orange County (filing runs July 2 to November 30 at 5:00 p.m.). |
| Dec 10 (in 48 days) | First property tax installment (due Nov 1) is delinquent after Dec 10: 10% penalty. |
| Feb 15 | Last day for a first-time homeowners' exemption claim to get the full exemption for the year. |
| Apr 10 | Second property tax installment (due Feb 1) is delinquent after Apr 10: 10% penalty plus $23 per bill. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- Orange County Auditor-Controller 2026-27 tax rate book
- California BOE: disabled veterans' exemption
- Orange County Auditor-Controller property tax report (2019)
- OC Treasurer-Tax Collector: general FAQ
- OC Treasurer-Tax Collector: how property tax is calculated
- California BOE: homeowners' exemption
- OC Treasurer-Tax Collector: payment of secured property taxes
- OC Clerk of the Board: assessment appeal FAQs
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.