California law provides a property tax incentive for installing active solar energy systems through a new construction assessment exclusion. This exclusion ensures that adding a qualifying solar energy system does not increase the property’s assessment.
When buildings or growing improvements are owned by a person other than the owner of the land on which they are located, the owner of the improvements or the owner of the land may file with the Assessor a written statement attesting to their separate ownership. Upon approval, the improvements will be assessed to their owner.
California law allows an owner of a qualified contaminated property to transfer its base-year value to a comparable replacement of equal or lesser value that is acquired or newly constructed after January 1, 1995.
If you own rubber-tired equipment that requires a permit to be moved or operated on public streets or highways, it is subject to property tax in the county where it is located on the lien date (January 1).
Vessels are assessed as personal property for property tax purposes, with taxes being the owner's responsibility. Assessors rely on California Department of Motor Vehicle records to ensure accurate taxation and to manage the dynamic nature of vessel ownership and use. If the value of a vessel is $100,000 or more, or if you receive a statement from the Assessor, the vessel must be reported on the Vessel Property Statement.
