Mendocino 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 Mendocino County Tax Collector’s FAQ and Property Tax Process pages. Always confirm amounts on your own bill.

Mendocino County property tax is paid in two installments: the first is due November 1 and late after December 10, and the second is due February 1 and late after April 10. A late first installment adds 10 percent. A late second installment adds 10 percent plus a $20 cost. Bills are mailed on or before October 31. If you sell with taxes owing, escrow pays them from your proceeds.

Mendocino County property tax at a glance

Bills mailed	On or before October 31
First installment	Due November 1; delinquent after December 10; 10% penalty
Second installment	Due February 1; delinquent after April 10; 10% penalty plus $20 cost
After June 30	1.5% a month on the original tax plus a $15 state fee
Tax sale	After five years of default, the property can be offered at the annual public auction, generally held in May
Tax Collector	501 Low Gap Road, Room 1060, Ukiah, CA 95482; (707) 234-6875
Assessor	(707) 234-6800

When are Mendocino County property taxes due?

The county states that the first installment is due November 1 and becomes delinquent after December 10, with a 10 percent penalty. The second is due February 1 and becomes delinquent after April 10, with a further 10 percent penalty and a $20 cost. Bills go out on or before October 31, and the county notes that the tax bill is the owner’s responsibility even if a bill goes astray.

Mendocino County is on the Teeter plan, under which the county treats unpaid secured amounts as its own receivable. That does not forgive anything for the owner. The penalties and the lien remain in place until the account is paid.

How do I pay my Mendocino County property tax bill?

You can pay online, by phone at 855-857-3625, in person, or by mail. The Tax Collector’s office is at 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1060, in Ukiah, and the phone line for questions is (707) 234-6875.

• Credit cards carry a 2.35 percent convenience fee, with a $2.00 minimum.
• Visa debit carries a flat $3.50 fee.
• E-check has no fee, so it is the cheapest way to pay online.
• Cash must be paid in person.

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

Taxes unpaid on June 30 are classed as defaulted. From then, the county charges 1.5 percent a month on the original tax and adds a $15 state fee. On a $4,000 annual bill that is $60 a month in interest before the earlier penalties are counted.

If the default continues for five years from the first year of delinquency, the Tax Collector records a Notice of Power to Sell. The property can then be offered at the next public auction, which the county holds once a year, generally in May.

Selling before that point lets you keep the equity instead of losing it to a tax sale. If a mortgage is also behind, see how to sell a house in foreclosure.

Supplemental bills and appeals in Mendocino County

When a property changes hands or has new construction, the Assessor reassesses it and the county issues a supplemental bill covering the period from the event through June 30. A buyer should expect one in addition to the regular bill.

If you disagree with an assessed value, the county says an appeal must be filed within 60 days of the notice mailing, so do not wait. Heirs should also read how to sell an inherited property, since inheritance can trigger reassessment.

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

You can sell with unpaid taxes. They are a lien on the property, so escrow pays the amount due out of your proceeds and the buyer takes a clear title.

1. Request a payoff. Call the Tax Collector at (707) 234-6875 and ask for the amount for your expected closing month.
2. Give it to escrow. The escrow officer pays delinquent taxes first from proceeds.
3. Estimate transfer tax. California law sets the county documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of the sale price. Use the calculator below and confirm with escrow.
4. Time the close. Closing before December 10 or April 10 avoids the penalty on that installment.

Our Mendocino County cash home buyer page explains how a no-loan sale can close quickly.

Estimate your transfer tax when you sell

Behind on Mendocino County property taxes? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. No cost, no obligation.

Mendocino County property tax FAQ

What is the penalty for a late second installment in Mendocino County?

10 percent plus a $20 cost, applied after April 10.

What is the cheapest way to pay online?

E-check carries no fee. Credit cards add 2.35 percent with a $2.00 minimum, and Visa debit adds $3.50.

When can Mendocino County sell a tax-defaulted property?

After five years from the first year of delinquency, the Tax Collector can record a Notice of Power to Sell. The property is then offered at the next annual auction, generally held in May.

How long do I have to appeal my assessment?

Within 60 days of the date the notice was mailed, per the county.

Can I sell a Mendocino County house with delinquent taxes?

Yes. Get a payoff figure, give it to escrow, and the taxes are paid from your sale proceeds at closing.

Sources

• Mendocino County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Frequently Asked Questions and Property Tax Process pages
• Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder: Documentary Transfer Tax (state rate under Revenue and Taxation Code 11911)

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm amounts with the Mendocino County Tax Collector.