Jordan Z. Marks

ASSESSOR | RECORDER | COUNTY CLERK

County of San Diego

Homeowners' Exemption


The Homeowners' Exemption provides for a reduction of $7,000 off the assessed value of your residence. This results in an annual property tax savings of approximately $70. This is a free service provided by the Assessor's Office. 

What is the Homeowners' Exemption?

The Homeowners' Exemption provides for a reduction of $7,000 off the assessed value of your residence. This results in an annual property tax savings of approximately $70. Property owners who occupy their homes as their principal place of residence on January 1, and each year thereafter, are eligible for the exemption. 

You may already be receiving the exemption. To verify that you are receiving your Homeowners' Exemption, review your latest property tax bill. The exemption is shown on the upper-right section of your bill. 

What is the Homeowners' responsibility?

As a courtesy, our office will mail a Claim for Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption application whenever there is a purchase or transfer of residential property. 

The application for Homeowners’ Exemption need only be filed once, provided the owner continues to occupy the property as the principal place of residence on which the exemption is filed. You will automatically receive the exemption in future years.

It is the property owners’ responsibility to apply for the exemption; it is also the property owners’ responsibility to terminate the exemption when no longer eligible.

The property owner should notify the Assessor’s Office when any changes occur.

When is the deadline to file?

The regular filing deadline is February 15 to receive the full exemption of approximately $70. Late filing is from February 16 to December 10 to receive 80% of the exemption (approximately $56). Late filed exemptions will receive the full exemption after the first of the year.

If you miss the deadline, you will not be able to file. According to California State law, Homeowners' Exemptions cannot be granted for prior years.

Apply in person:

Apply for the Homeowners' Exemption at our Downtown office located at:

1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 103
San Diego, CA 92101

You may also drop off the application to any of our available Branch Offices.

Apply by mail:

Whenever there is a purchase or transfer of residential property, the Assessor's Office automatically mails a Homeowner's Exemption Claim form

You may also request that one be mailed to you by calling our office at (619) 531-5772.

Send the completed form to:

JORDAN Z. MARKS, ASSESSOR 
1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 103,
San Diego, CA 92101

The Homeowners' Exemption provides for a reduction of $7,000 off the assessed value of your residence. This results in an annual property tax savings of approximately $70.​

Property owners who occupy their homes as their principal place of residence on January 1, and each year thereafter, are eligible for the exemption.

Whenever there is a purchase or transfer of residential property, the Assessor’s Office automatically mails a Homeowners' Exemption Claim form. You may also download the application from the Forms tab, or request that one be mailed to you by calling our office at (619) 531-5772.

No. This is a free service provided by the Assessor’s Office.​

To verify that you are receiving your Homeowners' Exemption, review your latest property tax bill. The exemption is shown on the upper-right section of your bill. ​

No. According to California State Law, Homeowners' Exemptions cannot be granted for prior years. 

No. Once you have filed and been granted the Homeowners' Exemption and you continue to own and occupy the same residence, you will automatically receive the exemption in future years.​

If you pay property taxes on your manufactured home and it does not have State license tags, you may be eligible for the Homeowners' Exemption. For more information, please call the Assessor’s Office at (619) 531-5772.​

No. The Disabled Veterans' Exemption results in a substantially higher savings than a Homeowners' Exemption.​

No. California State Law permits only one Homeowners' Exemption per resident.

State law requires Social Security Numbers in order to ensure that homeowners receive only one exemption.