Santa Cruz property tax: where it goes
A Santa Cruz house at the typical market value ($1,209,000) pays about $14,020 a year on the property tax bill, including flat charges on the same bill. Estimated from public rates, not anyone's actual bill.
A Santa Cruz house pays 1.14% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $1,209,000 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $14,022 a year.
Tax is levied on $7,000 reduction in taxable value for a qualifying owner-occupied home.
The county's 2026-27 tax rate book was not found published; the 2025-26 rate book is used. Parcel taxes are the 2026-27 amounts.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $1,209,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Countywide 1% tax (Prop 13) | 1% | $12,020 |
| 1999 City of Santa Cruz bond | 0.0036% | $43 |
| Santa Cruz City High School District 2022 A bond (schools) | 0.028% | $337 |
| Santa Cruz City High School District 2013 refunding bond (schools) | 0.0081% | $98 |
| Santa Cruz City High School District 2016 A bond (schools) | 0.0068% | $82 |
| Santa Cruz City High School District 2016 B bond (schools) | 0.0059% | $71 |
| Santa Cruz City High School District 2016 C bond (schools) | 0.008% | $96 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary School District 2022 A bond (schools) | 0.0282% | $339 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary School District 1998 C bond (schools) | 0.001% | $12 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary School District 2013 refunding bond (schools) | 0.0083% | $100 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary School District 2016 A bond (schools) | 0.0069% | $83 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary School District 2016 B bond (schools) | 0.0059% | $71 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary School District 2016 C bond (schools) | 0.0103% | $124 |
| Cabrillo College 1998 Series C bond (schools) | 0.0017% | $20 |
| Cabrillo College 1998 Series D bond (schools) | 0.0046% | $55 |
| Cabrillo College 2016 refunding bond (schools) | 0.0052% | $63 |
| Cabrillo College 2019 A refunding bond (schools) | 0.0021% | $25 |
| Cabrillo College 2019 B refunding bond (schools) | 0.0054% | $66 |
| Measure T Santa Cruz City High School District parcel tax | flat | $110 |
| Measure U Santa Cruz City Elementary District parcel tax | flat | $208 |
| Total | 1.14% | $14,022 |
2025-26 tax year, Santa Cruz County (tax rate area 01-003). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
How Santa Cruz compares with nearby cities
Property tax rate
- Scotts Valley · 6 mi1.12%
- Santa Cruz1.14%
- Los Gatos · 18 mi1.15%
- Saratoga · 20 mi1.15%
- Campbell · 22 mi1.22%
- Watsonville · 15 mi1.22%
The combined rate of every agency on the bill, before exemptions.
Ways to pay less
- Homeowners' exemption: $7,000 off taxable value. The California Constitution provides a $7,000 reduction in the taxable value for a qualifying owner-occupied home. How: One-time filing with the county assessor; the home must be your principal residence on January 1.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 | The first installment of property taxes is due November 1 and becomes delinquent December 10. |
Sources
- County 2025-26 tax rate book
- Santa Cruz City Schools parcel tax exemption form
- City UUT senior exemption
- City utility users tax page
- BOE homeowners exemption
Checked October 28, 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.
Property tax in other California cities
San Rafael property taxSan Ramon property taxSanta Ana property taxSanta Barbara property taxSanta Clara property taxSanta Clarita property taxSanta Maria property taxSanta Monica property taxSanta Rosa property taxSantee property taxSaratoga property taxScotts Valley property taxAll California cities →