Selling your home without an agent inCalifornia

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.13

A willful or negligent violation of an Article 1.5 duty can make the violator liable for the transferee’s actual damages, while noncompliance alone does not invalidate the transfer.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.19(a)

For an Article 1.5 property in a high or very high fire-hazard-severity zone, the seller must provide the buyer with qualifying documentation of compliance with Public Resources Code § 4291 or the applicable local vegetation-management ordinance when § 1102.19’s conditions are met.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.19(b)

If the covered wildfire-zone seller has not obtained the qualifying compliance documentation, § 1102.19 requires the seller and buyer to enter a written agreement under which the buyer undertakes the applicable documentation duty.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.19(b)(2)

Under the specified § 1102.19 buyer path where no local documentation ordinance applies but a qualifying inspection source exists, the buyer must obtain compliance documentation within one year after escrow closes.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.3(a)

For a covered sale, the seller must deliver the completed Article 1.5 written statement as soon as practicable before title transfers.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.3(c)

If a required disclosure or material amendment is delivered after an offer is executed, the prospective buyer has three days after in-person delivery or five days after mail or agreed electronic delivery to terminate by written notice.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6f(a)(2)

For a covered pre-2010 home in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, the seller’s notice must include the statutory low-cost retrofit list and identify listed retrofits completed during the seller’s ownership.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6i

On or after January 1, 2026, a seller or seller’s agent in an Article 1.5 transfer must deliver the statutory electrical-system inspection advisory to the prospective buyer.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6j

On or after January 1, 2026, a seller of covered single-family residential property must disclose in writing any state or local future gas-appliance replacement requirements or restrictions known to the seller or agent.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6k(a)

A seller of covered single-family residential property with actual knowledge of tobacco or nicotine residue, or a history of occupants smoking those products on the property, must disclose that knowledge to the buyer in writing.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102(a)

California Civil Code Article 1.5 generally applies to listed transfers of single-family residential property, subject to the exemptions in Section 1102.2.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1710.2(a)(1)(A)

California law does not require an owner or covered agent to disclose an occupant’s death or manner of death when it occurred more than three years before the prospective transferee’s offer.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1710.2(d)

Civil Code § 1710.2 does not protect an owner or agent who intentionally misrepresents a death on the property in response to a prospective transferee’s direct inquiry.

Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1103.2(a), 1103.3(a)

For property subject to Article 1.7, the required natural-hazard disclosures must be made on the statutory Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17926(d)

Noncompliance with California’s carbon-monoxide-device rule does not by itself invalidate a title transfer; the section specifies actual damages capped at $100, apart from costs and attorney fees, without displacing other legal duties or remedies.

Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911(a)

California law authorizes a county or city-and-county to impose a documentary transfer tax by ordinance on qualifying instruments conveying sold real property when taxable consideration exceeds $100, at the state-law rate stated in § 11911(a).

City of Berkeley > Property Transfer Tax > County tax

Applies in Berkeley city

Berkeley states that its City transfer tax is additional to Alameda County’s transfer tax.

City of Berkeley > Property Transfer Tax > current rates

Applies in Berkeley city

Berkeley currently publishes a 1.5% City transfer-tax rate for properties up to $1.7 million and 2.5% for properties over $1.7 million.

City of Berkeley > Property Transfer Tax > seismic and home-hardening rebate

Applies in Berkeley city

Berkeley says an owner of a residential or mixed-use building with at least two residential units may qualify for a transfer-tax rebate by completing eligible voluntary seismic or permanent home-hardening upgrades.

Los Angeles Office of Finance > Does the City impose a real property transfer tax other than Measure ULA?

Applies in Los Angeles city

The Los Angeles Office of Finance publishes a 0.45% base transfer-tax rate based on the consideration or value of the real-property interest conveyed.

Los Angeles Office of Finance > How often is the City’s real property transfer tax applied?

Applies in Los Angeles city

Los Angeles states that its real-property transfer tax applies to documents conveying real property within the City.

Los Angeles Office of Finance > threshold note effective after June 30, 2026

Applies in Los Angeles city

For Los Angeles transactions closing after June 30, 2026, the City publishes a 4% ULA tax for value over $5.4 million but below $10.9 million and a 5.5% ULA tax for value of $10.9 million or more, in addition to the base tax.

Los Angeles Office of Finance > Will the value thresholds be adjusted annually?

Applies in Los Angeles city

Los Angeles says the ULA value thresholds are adjusted annually using the Chained Consumer Price Index, so parties must not reuse a prior-year threshold without current verification.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6b(a)

California’s special-tax notice rule can apply to an Article 1.5 sale when the property is subject to a continuing Mello-Roos special-tax lien, a covered Improvement Bond Act assessment lien, or a covered contractual assessment and the separate Government Code notice is not required.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6b(b)

When § 1102.6b applies and the local agency makes the notice available, the seller must make a good-faith effort to obtain the applicable special-tax or assessment notice and deliver it to the prospective buyer.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6c(a)

For a real-property sale subject to Article 1.5, the seller or seller’s agent is responsible for delivering the statutory supplemental-property-tax notice to the prospective buyer.

FTB Publication 1016 > Information for Sellers > Exemptions for Sellers

A California real-property seller claiming a full or partial withholding exemption must complete and sign Form 593 with a valid taxpayer identification number and provide it to the buyer or real-estate escrow person before closing.

FTB Publication 1016 > Information for Sellers > Exemptions for Sellers

FTB guidance says withholding is required if the buyer or real-estate escrow person does not receive a completed and signed Form 593 identifying the seller’s exemption before closing.

FTB Publication 1016 > Withholding Requirement

California FTB guidance states that real-estate withholding is the buyer’s or qualified intermediary’s responsibility, although the real-estate escrow person may perform it for the buyer.

42 U.S.C. § 4851b(27)

Federal lead-disclosure law generally defines target housing as housing constructed before 1978, subject to the statutory elderly, disability, zero-bedroom, child-occupancy, and jurisdiction-specific exceptions.

42 U.S.C. § 4852d(a)(1)(B)

Before a purchaser or lessee is contractually obligated for target housing, the seller or lessor must disclose known lead-based paint or hazards and provide available lead-hazard evaluation reports.

42 U.S.C. § 4852d(a)(1)(C)

For a target-housing sale, the seller must permit the purchaser a 10-day lead risk-assessment or inspection period unless the parties mutually agree to a different period.

Cal. Civ. Code § 4525(a)

A California owner selling a separate interest in a common interest development must provide the listed § 4525 documents to the prospective purchaser as soon as practicable before title transfer or execution of a real property sales contract.

Cal. Civ. Code § 4525(a)(11)

For a covered California common-interest-development resale, the § 4525 package now includes the report from the most recent inspection conducted under § 5551.

Cal. Civ. Code § 4530(a)(1)

After a qualifying written request, a California common-interest association must provide the requested § 4525 documents to the owner or an owner-authorized recipient within 10 days after mailing or delivery of the request.

Cal. Civ. Code § 4530(b)(6)

A California seller must give the prospective purchaser, at no cost, current § 4525 documents already in the seller’s possession.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1101.4(c)

A California seller or transferor of single-family residential property must disclose in writing both the statutory water-conserving-fixture requirement and whether the property has any noncompliant plumbing fixtures.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.15

A California residential seller subject to Article 1.5 who actually knows of a former federal or state ordnance location within the statutory neighborhood area must give written notice as soon as practicable before title transfer.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.156

For a sale on or after January 1, 2025, a seller subject to Article 1.5 who received qualifying domestic-water-storage-tank assistance, or knows the property received it and still has the tank, must deliver the statutory disclosure statement to the prospective buyer.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.17

A California residential seller subject to Article 1.5 who actually knows the property is adjacent to or zoned for the specified industrial use, or affected by a nuisance from that use, must give written notice as soon as practicable before title transfer.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6h(a), (d)

A seller accepting an offer within 18 months after taking title must disclose covered contractor-performed additions, modifications, alterations, or repairs made during that ownership period.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1102.6h(c)

When Section 1102.6h applies and the seller obtained a permit for disclosed work, the seller must provide the buyer a copy of that permit.

Cal. Civ. Code § 2079.10a(a)

Every California contract for sale of residential real property containing one to four dwelling units must include the prescribed registered-sex-offender-database notice in at least 8-point type.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13113.8(a)

A covered California single-family dwelling or factory-built home that is sold must have an operable smoke alarm meeting the applicable approval and installation standards.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13113.8(b)-(c)

For a covered transfer of real property containing a single-family dwelling, the transferor must deliver a written smoke-alarm compliance statement as soon as practicable before title transfer, or before execution of a real property sales contract.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17926(a)

A California owner must install an approved carbon-monoxide device in an existing dwelling unit intended for human occupancy when it has a fossil-fuel heater or appliance, fireplace, or attached garage.

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19211(b)

A California seller of real property containing a water heater must certify in writing to the prospective purchaser that the statutory bracing, anchoring, or strapping rule has been satisfied.

Berkeley BESO guidance > Option three > Defer upgrades to buyer

Applies in Berkeley city

When a covered Berkeley seller validly defers BESO upgrades, the buyer has two years from the sale date to complete them under the City’s published process.

Berkeley BESO guidance > Rules apply to 1-4 unit residential buildings

Applies in Berkeley city

Berkeley’s published small-residential BESO sale requirements do not apply to condominiums or accessory dwelling units.

Berkeley BESO guidance > Seller Requirements > Step two

Applies in Berkeley city

Before a covered Berkeley sale is finalized, the seller must use one of the City’s three published paths: complete qualifying upgrades, qualify for the stated heat-pump exemption, or defer upgrades to the buyer through the City process.

Berkeley BESO guidance > Time-of-Sale Energy Requirements

Applies in Berkeley city

For a covered Berkeley small residential sale, the City directs the seller to complete a Home Energy Score report before listing and either complete the applicable upgrades before final sale or validly defer responsibility to the buyer.

Berkeley BESO official guidance, Small Residential Buildings > Sellers

Applies in Berkeley city

Beginning January 1, 2026, Berkeley’s official BESO guidance requires a seller of a single-family home or duplex to obtain a Home Energy Score and either complete required upgrades before sale or use the buyer-deferral path.

LADBS Residential Property Report > About

Applies in Los Angeles city

Los Angeles official guidance requires a residential-property seller to provide the City’s Residential Property Report to the buyer before selling or entering escrow.

LADBS Residential Property Report > Other Requirements When Selling > item 1

Applies in Los Angeles city

LADBS states that the seller must apply to the City for the Residential Property Records and Pending Special Assessment Liens report and deliver it before the sale or exchange agreement or before close of escrow.

LADBS Residential Property Report > Other Requirements When Selling > item 2

Applies in Los Angeles city

Los Angeles official sale guidance says a commercial or residential building containing plumbing fixtures must comply with the City’s Water Conservation Ordinance.

LADBS Residential Property Report > Other Requirements When Selling > item 4

Applies in Los Angeles city

Los Angeles official sale guidance says a commercial or residential building containing fuel-gas piping requires a seismic gas shut-off valve or excess-flow shut-off valve.

San Francisco Housing Code § 1211(a)

Applies in San Francisco city

Before a covered sale or exchange transfers title to a San Francisco residential building, the seller or authorized representative must obtain a valid energy inspection, install the applicable § 1212 measures, and furnish the completed compliance inspection record to the buyer.

San Francisco Housing Code § 1211(c)

Applies in San Francisco city

San Francisco permits a seller to transfer responsibility for the applicable energy and water conservation measures to the buyer only through the conditional § 1211(c) escrow path at title transfer.

San Francisco Housing Code § 1211(d)

Applies in San Francisco city

For a covered San Francisco residential sale or exchange, the seller or authorized representative must give the buyer written notice of the Housing Code’s energy- and water-conservation requirements.

San Francisco Housing Code § 12A09

Applies in San Francisco city

Before a covered sale or exchange transfers title to a San Francisco residential building, the seller or authorized representative must obtain a valid water-conservation inspection and install the applicable § 12A10 measures, subject to the linked § 1211 process.

San Francisco Housing Code § 351(a)

Applies in San Francisco city

Before a covered sale or exchange of a San Francisco residential building, the owner or authorized agent must obtain a Report of Residential Building Record from the Department of Building Inspection.

San Francisco Housing Code § 351(a)

Applies in San Francisco city

The San Francisco owner or authorized agent must deliver the 3R report to the buyer or transferee before the sale or exchange is consummated.