Santa Barbara County Property Taxes
Santa Barbara County, California
Effective Tax Rate
0.00%
20.4% above state avgMedian Annual Tax
$0
$406/mo escrow
Estimate Your Tax
Annual Tax
$0
Monthly
$0
Eff. Rate
0.66%
At a Glance
Median Home Value
$735,700
State avg ▲ $569,022
Tax w/ Mortgage/yr
$5,434
$453/mo escrow
Tax w/o Mortgage/yr
$3,762
$314/mo
State Tax Rate Rank
#11
of 58 counties (1 = lowest)
Data Story
About Property Taxes in Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara taxes nearly double national
Santa Barbara County residents pay a median of $4,870 in property taxes—nearly twice the U.S. median of $2,690. With an effective rate of 0.662%, the county sits slightly below California's state average of 0.714%, but still lands in the top 20% nationally.
Below state average, above the middle
Santa Barbara's 0.662% effective rate ranks it in the lower half of California counties—a relatively favorable position. In dollar terms, the county's $4,870 median tax payment sits slightly above California's state average of $4,045.
Cheaper than San Luis Obispo peers
Santa Barbara homeowners pay $4,870 annually on a median home worth $735,700. The county's effective rate of 0.662% beats the state average and compares favorably to nearby coastal counties with similar home values.
A $736K home costs $4,870 yearly
The typical Santa Barbara homeowner pays $4,870 annually in property taxes on a median home valued at $735,700. Adding mortgage-related assessments brings the effective total closer to $5,434 for most residents.
Overassessments could add up to savings
Thousands of Santa Barbara County homeowners may be paying too much in property taxes due to overassessment. A simple appeal—which costs nothing to file—can potentially save you hundreds each year.
How Santa Barbara County Compares
Median Annual Property Tax
Santa Barbara County
0.66%
Effective rate
California Avg
0.71%
Effective rate
National Avg
0.91%
Effective rate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Santa Barbara County, California?
How much are property taxes in Santa Barbara County?
How does Santa Barbara County compare to the California average?
What is the median home value in Santa Barbara County, California?
Is Santa Barbara County a low property tax area in California?
How does Santa Barbara County rank for property taxes in California?
Counties with Similar Tax Rates
Nearby Counties
Other Counties in California
Data updated: March 2026
Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Effective tax rate is calculated as median property tax divided by median home value.