Del Norte County Property Tax Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Figures come from the Del Norte County Tax Collector’s published notices; sources are listed at the end.

In Del Norte County, a late secured installment picks up a 10 percent penalty and a $10.00 cost on each parcel. The Tax Collector’s most recent notice sets the second installment deadline at April 10. The office is at 981 H Street, Suite 150, Crescent City, and its phone is (707) 464-7283. When you sell a house with taxes owing, escrow pays the balance from your proceeds at closing.

Del Norte County property tax at a glance

How much is property tax in Del Norte County?

California sets a 1 percent base on assessed value under Proposition 13, with bonds and direct charges added.

Assessed value starts at the purchase price and can climb no more than 2 percent a year, so a Crescent City home held for many years usually costs less to carry than a similar one bought recently.

The Del Norte pages do not publish a countywide average, so check the bill for your parcel and use the estimator below.

When are Del Norte County property taxes due?

The county’s published notice for the 2025-26 year names April 10, 2026 as the second installment deadline. The Tax Collector’s main page lists a property tax deadline without printing the dates, and it does not state the first installment date or a delinquent date.

Under California’s general schedule the first installment is due in the fall and the second in the winter, so look at your bill or call the office for your exact dates.

• Owners who bought recently and did not receive a bill should call (707) 464-7283, the county says.
• Unsecured tax, which covers business assets, boats, aircraft and similar property, is due by August 31 in 2026-27.
• The office has reduced hours, so call before you drive in on a deadline day.

Del Norte County property tax calculators

Estimate a yearly bill, the cost of paying late and the transfer tax on a sale. Use the numbers on your own bill.

The late-cost calculator uses the state’s standard monthly rate for defaulted taxes. Del Norte’s notices do not state it, so treat that figure as an estimate.

How do I pay my Del Norte County property tax bill?

You can pay by mail with a check, money order or cashier’s check, online by credit card, debit card or e-check through the county’s payment portal, or by calling the automated line at 1-844-368-3145.

The county says fees apply to electronic payments but does not publish the amounts, so look at the screen before you confirm. Payment is also accepted in person at the Tax Collector’s office.

Given the reduced hours, mailing early or paying online is more dependable than waiting for the last afternoon.

What happens if I don’t pay property taxes in Del Norte County?

The notice is plain on one point. After the April 10 deadline, a 10 percent penalty and a $10.00 cost are added to each parcel. On a $2,800 installment, that is $280 plus $10, so $290 extra for a single day of lateness.

The Tax Collector also conducts sales of tax-defaulted properties, and its website has a Tax Sale page. The pages we checked do not list the default date, the monthly rate or the sale timeline, so ask the office for a written redemption amount before you make any decision.

What if I just bought the property?

New owners are the group most likely to miss a bill. A sale triggers a supplemental assessment and the regular bill can be mailed to the previous owner, so the office tells recent buyers who did not receive one to call (707) 464-7283. If you are selling an inherited house, see how we buy houses in Del Norte County.

How to sell a house in Del Norte County when you owe property taxes

A sale can go forward with taxes owing. The balance is a lien paid at closing from your proceeds.

1. Ask for the payoff. Call the Tax Collector and request the amount due as of your closing date, including any penalties and costs.
2. Check every year. Ask whether earlier years or a supplemental bill are also open.
3. Plan for transfer tax. California charges $0.55 per $500, so a $300,000 sale is $330. The contract decides who pays.
4. Choose a closing date before the next deadline. That keeps new penalties from being added.

A cash buyer does not wait on lender approval, so closing can be timed ahead of a tax date. Read the California transfer tax report for what sellers pay at recording.

Behind on Del Norte County property taxes? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. It is free and there is no obligation.

Del Norte County property tax FAQ

What is the penalty for paying Del Norte County property tax late?

The Tax Collector’s notice says a 10 percent penalty plus a $10.00 cost on each parcel is added after the installment due date.

When is the second installment due in Del Norte County?

For the 2025-26 year the Tax Collector’s notice gave Friday, April 10, 2026 as the second installment deadline.

How do I pay Del Norte County property taxes?

By mail, online with a card or e-check, by the automated phone line at 1-844-368-3145, or at the Tax Collector’s office. Fees apply to electronic payments.

What if I did not get my Del Norte County tax bill?

Call the Tax Collector at (707) 464-7283. The county tells recent buyers who did not receive a bill to call the office.

Can I sell my Del Norte County house if I owe property taxes?

Yes. Escrow pays the balance from your sale proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Del Norte County Tax Collector: second installment notice, 2025-26
• Del Norte County Tax Collector

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Dates and fees can change; confirm the amount on your own bill with the Del Norte County Tax Collector.