Santa Maria property tax: where it goes
A Santa Maria house at the typical market value ($531,700) pays about $5,790 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 Maria house pays 1.103% of its taxable value in property tax. For a house at $531,700 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $5,789 a year.
Tax is levied on Taxable value.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $531,700 |
|---|---|---|
| 1% general levy (countywide) | 1% | $5,247 |
| Santa Maria-Bonita School District bond 2014-T (schools) | 0.0166% | $87 |
| Santa Maria-Bonita School District bond 2024-K (schools) | 0.024% | $126 |
| Santa Maria Joint Union High School bond 2004-C (schools) | 0.0219% | $115 |
| Santa Maria Joint Union High School bond 2016-H (schools) | 0.0207% | $109 |
| Allan Hancock College bond 2006-I (schools) | 0.02% | $105 |
| Total | 1.103% | $5,789 |
2026-27 tax year, Santa Barbara County (tax rate area 003-000). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
How Santa Maria compares with nearby cities
Property tax rate
- Arroyo Grande · 15 mi1.07%
- San Luis Obispo · 26 mi1.10%
- Santa Maria1.10%
- Lompoc · 19 mi1.12%
- Atascadero · 41 mi1.14%
- Grover Beach · 16 mi1.15%
The combined rate of every agency on the bill, before exemptions.
Ways to pay less
- Homeowners' exemption. California reduces the taxable value of a qualifying owner-occupied home by $7,000. How: File the claim with the County Assessor.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Dec 10 (in 35 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. |
Sources
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 Ramon property taxSanta Ana property taxSanta Barbara property taxSanta Clara property taxSanta Clarita property taxSanta Cruz property taxSanta Monica property taxSanta Rosa property taxSantee property taxSaratoga property taxScotts Valley property taxSeal Beach property taxAll California cities →