California Property Tools

What's in Your San Diego County Property Tax?

Your San Diego County property tax isn't one number — it's the 1% Proposition 13 base plus voter-approved bond debt that depends on your Tax Rate Area. Pick your city below to browse its Tax Rate Areas and see the total rate for each, then open one to estimate the tax on any assessed value.

Know your parcel number (APN)? Find your Tax Rate Area.

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Your APN is on your tax bill and the county parcel viewer (10 digits). We match it to your Tax Rate Area from the current roll — ad-valorem only.

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Mello-Roos or a “Direct Assessment” line on your bill? Learn how Mello-Roos special taxes work → — these flat charges are separate from the ad-valorem rates above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes up my San Diego County property tax rate?

Every parcel pays the 1% Proposition 13 base levy. On top of that, your Tax Rate Area adds voter-approved bond debt for the agencies that serve it — school and community-college districts, cities, and special districts. San Diego County publishes this added debt as a single combined rate per Tax Rate Area, so the total is the 1% base plus that voter-approved-debt rate.

What is a Tax Rate Area (TRA)?

A Tax Rate Area is a geographic zone with a unique combination of overlapping taxing agencies. San Diego County has thousands of them. Your TRA number is printed on your county tax bill, and it determines how much voter-approved bond debt is added to the 1% base.

Why isn't each bond listed separately?

San Diego County's published Tax Rate Area list gives the total rate per TRA (the 1% base plus a combined voter-approved-debt figure), not a line for each individual school or district bond. We show that official total and its two components. For the itemized list of bonds behind the combined figure, use the County Auditor & Controller's Tax Rate Area search or your own tax bill.

Does this include Mello-Roos or direct assessments?

No. The rates here are ad-valorem only (a percentage of assessed value). Mello-Roos / Community Facilities District special taxes and other fixed direct assessments are billed separately as flat charges on your San Diego County bill.

Learn More

San Diego Property Tax by ZIP CodeTypical rate and bill by ZIP, with a quick calculator.San Diego County Property TaxThe average rate, a worked bill, and the county calculator.What Is Mello-Roos?How Community Facilities District special taxes work.Property Tax Rate by CountyHow San Diego compares with California's other counties.

Source: San Diego County Auditor & Controller Tax Rate Area list (2025-2026) for the total rate per TRA (the 1% Proposition 13 base plus a combined voter-approved-debt rate); San Diego County Assessor / SanGIS parcel data for the city-to-TRA aggregation. Ad-valorem rates exclude Mello-Roos and fixed direct assessments. A city's “most common” TRA is a convenience — your parcel's TRA (on your bill) is authoritative. Educational information, not an official bill.