Orinda property tax: where it goes
A Orinda house pays 1.142% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $1,392,695 of value before exemptions with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $17,176 a year.
Tax is levied on net assessed value as of January 1 (assessed value less exemptions); the 1% countywide tax plus the rates listed on the bill (Orinda roads bonds, ORINDA ELEM bonds, ACALANES BOND, community college bonds, BART, East Bay Regional Park District).
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $1,392,695 |
|---|---|---|
| Countywide 1% tax (Prop 13) | 1% | $13,857 |
| BART | 0.0044% | $61 |
| BART bond (2016) | 0.0119% | $165 |
| East Bay Regional Park District | 0.0018% | $25 |
| Orinda roads bond (2016) | 0.016% | $222 |
| Orinda roads bond (2014) | 0.0111% | $154 |
| Acalanes Union High School District bond (2008) (schools) | 0.0273% | $378 |
| Orinda Union School District bond (18E) (schools) | 0.0269% | $373 |
| Orinda Union School District bond (18I) (schools) | 0.0269% | $373 |
| Community college bond (2002) (schools) | 0.0006% | $8 |
| Community college bond (2006) (schools) | 0.0072% | $100 |
| Community college bond (2014) (schools) | 0.0074% | $103 |
| Orinda Union School District parcel tax (Measure A) | flat | $385 |
| Orinda Union School District parcel tax (Measure B) | flat | $124 |
| Orinda Union School District parcel tax (Measure Z) | flat | $295 |
| Acalanes high school parcel tax (Measures G & A) | flat | $301 |
| Orinda zone fire tax (ORINDA ZN FIRE TAX) | flat | $93 |
| Orinda library parcel tax (ORINDA LIBRARY TAX) | flat | $69 |
| County stormwater charge (FED STORMWATER A10) | flat | $60 |
| SF Bay Restoration Authority parcel tax (Measure AA) | flat | $12 |
| East Bay regional trails assessment | flat | $5 |
| Mosquito & vector control | flat | $5 |
| Emergency medical services charge (EMERGENCY MED B) | flat | $10 |
| Total | 1.142% | $17,176 |
2026-27 tax year, Contra Costa County (Orinda tax rate area 18001). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
Ways to pay less
- Seniors 65+: Orinda school parcel tax exemption (Measure Z). The Orinda Union School District's Measure Z parcel tax ($295 per parcel) provides an optional exemption for homeowners age 65 and over, as well as low-income homeowners with disabilities who qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits. How: The district's parcel tax page lists a May 31, 2027 filing deadline for 2027-28 exemptions and has the application form.
- Low-income seniors: Orinda school Measures A and B exemption. The Orinda Union School District's Measures A and B provide exemptions for low-income seniors, age 65 or older as of July 1, 2027 for the 2027-28 exemption. How: The district's page says the parcel must be your primary residence, household income may not exceed the limit on the application, and the application must be filed by May 31, 2027.
- Free extra pickups and Reuse & Clean-up Days. The residential rate includes 4 on-call collections of yard trimmings and/or recyclables and 1 on-call landfill collection per rate year at no additional cost, plus two pre-scheduled Reuse and Clean-up Days a year. How: For questions about your recycling, organics, and landfill services, contact Republic Services at (925) 685-4711.
- Seniors, blind or disabled: postpone property taxes. The State Controller's Property Tax Postponement program lets eligible homeowners postpone payment of current-year property taxes on their primary residence. How: Go to www.ptp.sco.ca.gov, call (800) 952-5661 or email postponement@sco.ca.gov.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 (in 9 days) | First property tax installment due; pay by Dec 10, 2026 to avoid a 10% late-payment penalty. |
| Nov 30, 2026 (in 38 days) | Last day of Contra Costa County's 2026 assessment appeal filing period (opened July 2). |
| Feb 15 | Last day for a first-time homeowners' exemption claim to get the full exemption for that year. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
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.