Vista property tax: where it goes
A Vista house pays 1.13% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $762,400 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $8,570 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 21, 2026), so the ad valorem rates are 2025-26. The sewer charge and the flat assessments are the 2026-27 amounts.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $762,400 |
|---|---|---|
| 1% general levy (Prop 13) | 1% | $7,554 |
| Vista Unified school tax (schools) | 0.1035% | $782 |
| Community college (Palomar) school tax (schools) | 0.019% | $144 |
| Metropolitan Water District | 0.007% | $53 |
| County vector control assessment | flat | $13 |
| Vista Landscape and Lighting District No. 1 | flat | $14 |
| Vista Street Maintenance District No. 1 (Zone 2) | flat | $11 |
| Total | 1.13% | $8,570 |
2025-26 tax year, San Diego County (tax rate area 12236). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Dec 10 (in 48 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 delinquent after close of business; 10% penalty plus $10 cost. |
Pay or manage it
Sources
- City of Vista agenda report: levy of delinquent mandatory trash charges (June 9, 2026)
- City of Vista agenda report: levy of assessments for fiscal year 2026/27 (May 26, 2026)
- San Diego County Property Tax Rate Book FY2025-26
- San Diego County tax rates by tax rate area, FY2025-26
- San Diego County tax rate area index, FY2025-26
- San Diego County Assessor: Homeowners' Exemption
- San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector: important dates
Checked October 21, 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.