What is the average property tax rate in Santa Barbara?

The average effective property tax rate in Santa Barbara is roughly 1.1% to 1.25% of assessed value, made up of the Proposition 13 base rate of 1.0% plus local voter-approved bonds. Most established Santa Barbara homes do not carry Mello-Roos (CFD) special taxes, since the city's housing stock largely predates the special-tax districts common in newer master-planned construction, though some condos and newer developments carry HOA dues. Always verify the exact figure for a specific parcel with the Santa Barbara County Assessor.

Direct AnswerThe average effective property tax rate in Santa Barbara is roughly 1.1% to 1.25% of assessed value, made up of the Proposition 13 base rate of 1.0% plus local voter-approved bonds. Most established Santa Barbara homes do not carry Mello-Roos (CFD) special taxes, since the city's housing stock largely predates the special-tax districts common in newer master-planned construction, though some condos and newer developments carry HOA dues. Always verify the exact figure for a specific parcel with the Santa Barbara County Assessor.

Data current as of August 2026 · rates are parcel-specific — verify with the Santa Barbara County Assessor.

The Proposition 13 base rate

California's Proposition 13 caps the base property-tax rate at 1.0% of assessed value. Assessed value is generally the purchase price at the most recent ownership transfer, escalated at most 2% per year, so a long-time owner can have a much lower assessed value than a recent buyer of an identical home.

Voter-approved bonds

On top of the 1% base, voter-approved bond measures (schools, infrastructure) typically add roughly 0.1% to 0.25% to the effective rate in most Santa Barbara neighborhoods, which is why the all-in effective figure usually lands a little above 1%.

Mello-Roos and HOA

Unlike newer master-planned suburbs, most established Santa Barbara homes do not carry Mello-Roos (CFD) special taxes. Some condos and newer developments carry HOA dues or parcel-specific assessments instead — read the actual tax bill and preliminary title report per parcel.

Illustrative example. On a $1.9M assessed value at a ~1.15% effective rate, the annual property tax is roughly $21,850, or about $1,820 per month on the impound — before any HOA. This is illustrative; your assessed value and exact rate are parcel-specific.

How to verify your exact rate

Pull the most recent property-tax bill from the Santa Barbara County Assessor's parcel lookup. It itemizes the base, bonds, and any assessment line items. The seller's disclosure package in escrow should include the current bill.

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