Property tax in Palmdale and Lancaster is 1% of a home's assessed value plus voter-approved rates that depend on its tax rate area. For the 2026-27 tax year, the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller's total rates for the Palmdale, Lancaster and Quartz Hill tax rate areas we checked run from 1.175643% to 1.219421%, and 1.396483% where the Palmdale Water District rate applies. On a $460,000 purchase, that is about $5,408 to $5,609 a year, or $6,424 in a Palmdale Water District area, before fixed charges on the bill and any Mello-Roos special tax.
Rates on this page come from the Auditor-Controller's tax rate lookup for fiscal year 2026-27 and were checked on October 5, 2026. Your tax bill shows your tax rate area (TRA) number, and the same lookup lists that area's rates.
California Property Tax Basics: Proposition 13
California's Proposition 13 (1978) set the base property tax rate at 1% of the assessed value at the time of purchase, with annual increases capped at 2% — regardless of how much the market value rises. On a $460,000 purchase, your base tax is $4,600/year in year one, $4,692 in year two, $4,786 in year three, and so on. This is one of the strongest reasons to buy sooner: your tax basis is locked in. If you wait 5 years and the home costs $550,000, your base tax starts at $5,500/year — $900 more per year, every year, forever.
Beyond 1%: What Actually Shows Up on Your Tax Bill
Every Los Angeles County property pays the 1% general tax levy. On top of it come rates that voters approved to repay bonds for the elementary school district, the Antelope Valley Union High School District and the Antelope Valley Community College District, plus a water agency rate. Which school district and water agency serve the home sets the total, so two homes in the same city can carry different rates. On a $460,000 home, the gap between 1.175643% and 1.396483% is about $1,016 a year.
| Sample area (tax rate area) | Total, with the 1% levy | School and college bonds | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, Lancaster School District (TRA 10226) | 1.175643% | 0.108673% | 0.06697% |
| Palmdale, Westside Union School District (TRA 14135) | 1.183505% | 0.116535% | 0.06697% |
| Palmdale, Palmdale School District (TRA 7007) | 1.219421% | 0.152451% | 0.06697% |
| Palmdale, Palmdale School District and Palmdale Water District (TRA 7596) | 1.396483% | 0.152451% | 0.244032% |
Mello-Roos: The Hidden Tax in Newer Neighborhoods
Mello-Roos is a special tax charged by a Community Facilities District (CFD) to pay for things like schools, roads and parks in the area it covers. It is a fixed dollar amount set by the district, not a percentage of the home's value, and it appears on the annual bill as its own line. The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector lists a CFD for the Palmdale/Lancaster area among the county's Mello-Roos districts, and other public agencies form their own. Amounts differ by tract and by year, so ask for the seller's latest tax bill and check it before you make an offer.
Supplemental Tax Bills: The First-Year Surprise
When you buy a home, the Los Angeles County Assessor reassesses it, generally at the purchase price. If the new value is higher than the old one, you get one or more supplemental tax bills for the difference, prorated for the months left in the fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). If the prior owner's assessed value was $280,000 and you pay $460,000, the $180,000 difference at 1.219421% comes to about $2,195 for a full year, and the bill covers only the months you own the home in that fiscal year. The Treasurer and Tax Collector sends supplemental bills only to the property owner, even if your lender has an impound account, so budget for it separately.
The Homeowner's Exemption: Free $70/Year Savings
If the home is your principal residence on January 1, you can claim a $7,000 reduction in assessed value, which the Assessor estimates saves roughly $70 a year. It's not much, but it's free money. The Los Angeles County Assessor automatically mails new owners the claim form (BOE-266/ASSR-515), and the exemption can also apply to a supplemental bill if the prior owner didn't claim it. Sal reminds every buyer to file this during the post-closing checklist.
How Property Taxes Affect Your Monthly Payment (PITI)
Your monthly mortgage payment isn't just principal and interest — it includes property taxes and insurance (PITI). Lenders collect 1/12 of your annual tax bill each month and hold it in an escrow account. On a $460,000 home in a Palmdale School District area (1.219421% for 2026-27), that's about $467 a month for property tax alone, before fixed charges. A Mello-Roos special tax adds its own fixed amount. This is why two homes at the same price can have different monthly payments: the tax rate area and any Mello-Roos tax change the bill.
Know Your Real Monthly Payment Before You Buy
Want to find out if you qualify? Text Sal at (833) 977-2202 — free, no commitment, and bilingual. He calculates the full PITI — including Mello-Roos and insurance — for every home you're considering, so you never commit to a payment you can't afford. Understanding your property tax obligation is the difference between a comfortable homeowner and a stretched one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the property tax rate in Palmdale CA?+
For the 2026-27 tax year, total rates in the Palmdale tax rate areas we checked are 1.183505% (Westside Union School District areas), 1.219421% (Palmdale School District areas) and 1.396483% where the Palmdale Water District rate applies, per the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller. Each includes the 1% general levy; fixed charges and any Mello-Roos tax are added as dollar amounts. Sal Bermudez at De Tu Lado Casas calculates exact tax costs for every property. Text (833) 977-2202.
What is the property tax rate in Lancaster CA?+
For 2026-27, total rates in the Lancaster tax rate areas we checked are 1.175643% in Lancaster School District areas and 1.183505% in Westside Union School District areas on the west side, per the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller. Both include the 1% general levy; fixed charges and any Mello-Roos tax are added as dollar amounts.
How much is property tax on a $300,000, $400,000 or $800,000 house in Palmdale?+
At the 2026-27 rates we checked in Palmdale (1.183505% to 1.396483%), the yearly tax is about $3,551 to $4,189 on $300,000 of assessed value, $4,734 to $5,586 on $400,000 and $9,468 to $11,172 on $800,000. Fixed charges and any Mello-Roos tax come on top, and the $7,000 homeowners' exemption lowers the taxable value if the home is your principal residence.
Why are property taxes so high in Palmdale?+
On top of the 1% general levy, Palmdale bills carry voter-approved bond rates for the school, high school and community college districts (0.116535% to 0.152451% in the Palmdale areas we checked for 2026-27), a water rate (0.06697%, or 0.244032% in Palmdale Water District areas) and fixed direct assessments that local agencies add, plus a Mello-Roos tax in some tracts. A purchase also resets the assessed value, generally to the price paid, so a new owner often pays more than a long-time neighbor in a similar house.
What is the Los Angeles County property tax rate?+
The base rate is the 1% countywide general tax levy on assessed value. Voter-approved bond rates and other levies are added by tax rate area, so the total depends on where the home is. In the Palmdale, Lancaster and Quartz Hill tax rate areas we checked for 2026-27, totals run from 1.175643% to 1.396483%.
What is Mello-Roos tax in Lancaster and Palmdale?+
Mello-Roos is a special tax charged by a Community Facilities District to pay for things like schools, roads and parks in the area it covers. It is a fixed dollar amount, not a percentage of the home's value, and it appears on the annual tax bill as its own line. Amounts differ by tract and by year, so check the seller's latest tax bill for the home you're considering.
What is a supplemental tax bill in California?+
After you buy, the Los Angeles County Assessor reassesses the home, generally at the purchase price. If the new value is higher, you get one or more supplemental bills for the difference, prorated for the months left in the fiscal year that ends June 30. The Treasurer and Tax Collector sends supplemental bills only to the owner, even when a lender has an impound account.
Questions? We're Here.
Talk to Sal — Hablamos Espanol
Bilingual real estate agent serving Palmdale, Lancaster, Quartz Hill, and all of Antelope Valley. No pressure, no jargon.