Westminster property tax: where it goes
A Westminster house pays 1.102% of its taxable value in property tax, plus flat charges on the same bill. For a house at $858,300 of market value with the homeowners' exemption, that's about $9,781 a year.
Tax is levied on the property's taxable value.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $858,300 |
|---|---|---|
| 1% general levy (countywide) | 1% | $8,513 |
| Westminster School District bonds (schools) | 0.0482% | $410 |
| Huntington Beach Union High School District bonds (schools) | 0.0203% | $173 |
| Coast Community College District bonds (schools) | 0.0252% | $215 |
| Metropolitan Water District (MWDOC) | 0.0085% | $72 |
| OC San regional sewer service fee | flat | $397 |
| Total | 1.102% | $9,781 |
2026-27 tax year, Orange County (tax rate area 20-000). Exemptions applied: Homeowners' exemption ($7,000).
Ways to pay less
- If you have the utility users tax exemption: Lifeline water rate with no fixed charge. People who have qualified for exemption from Westminster's utility users tax automatically qualify for the Lifeline water rate: there is no fixed charge, and they pay the current tiered residential commodity rate for the water they actually use. How: Qualify for the utility users tax exemption; that also qualifies you for the Lifeline rate.
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
- OC Treasurer-Tax Collector: general FAQ
- OC Assessor: general FAQ
- California BOE: homeowners' exemption
- Westminster Municipal Code Chapter 3.14, utility users tax
- Westminster senior citizen utility users tax exemption application
- OC Treasurer-Tax Collector: payment of secured property taxes
- OC Clerk of the Board: assessment appeal FAQs
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.