Property Taxes in the South Bay of Los Angeles County are computed by the standard 1.0% of the property's assessed valuation (in accordance with Proposition 13, a property's assessed valuation is the original purchase price, plus the cost of improvements, based on the value of permits pulled, plus an increase in valuation of 2% per year) plus additional tax rates for voted bonded indebtedness, plus direct assessments such as school parcel taxes. Copies of building permits are sent to the Assessor. New buildings, additions, and other structures require an appraisal. Structural repairs and/or replacement are not appraisable in most situations. The assessed valuation of a property may also be decreased for one or more  exemptions.

The following is the property tax rates and direct assessments for the cities in the South Bay: of Los Angeles

Palos Verdes Estates: The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.055672%  plus direct assessments of approx. $1,400-$1,600 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, fire suppression fee, emergency services tax, sewer fees and flood control.

Rancho Palos Verdes: The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.055672%  plus direct assessments of approx. $700-800 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc.

Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Peninsula: The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.055672% plus direct assessments of approx. $600-700 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc.

Rolling Hills: The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.055672% plus direct assessments of approx. $1,700-2,000 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc.. There is an additional assessment for the Homeowners Association for the City of Rolling Hills of ,2% (two/tenths of one percent) of the assessed value of the property which is billed separately by the Association, with installments due on 12/10 and 4/10. This assessment goes to maintain the private roads, the guard houses and personnel, and other city amenities within this private gated community.

El Segundo: The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.075655%  plus direct assessments of anywhere up to  about $200-$300 per parcel for other misc. local taxes.

Manhattan Beach: The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.059263% plus direct assessments of approx. $500-700 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc..

Hermosa Beach:  The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.036418%  plus direct assessments of approx. $200-$300 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc..

Redondo Beach:  The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.074359% plus direct assessments of approx. $500-$1,600 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc..

Torrance:  The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.075651% plus direct assessments of approx. $300-400 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc..

San Pedro:  The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.220441%  plus direct assessments of approx. $100-$200 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc..

Lomita: The property tax rate for the fiscal year 2009-2010 is 1.179221%  plus direct assessments of approx. $400-$500 per parcel for such items as school parcel taxes, etc..

Taxes are assessed for the fiscal year running from July 1st through June 30th, with property tax bills payable in two installments on December 10th and April 10th. If a property changes ownership during the year, a supplemental tax bill will be prepared prorating the tax increase due to a change in valuation over the remainder of the fiscal year. If a change in ownership occurs between January 1 and May 31 this will result  in two supplemental assessments and two supplemental tax bills. The first supplemental bill is for the remainder of the fiscal year in which the event occurred. The second supplemental bill is for the subsequent fiscal year.

ACCESSING PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT INFORMATION ON PROPERTIES
Click the link below to visit the L.A. County tax Assessors office web site. Enter an address (or if an address doesn't work, choose two cross streets near the address) and then click on the map parcel to see that parcel's assessed valuation. Then click on the tab for the 2004-2005 property tax bill.  Link: http://assessormap.co.la.ca.us/mapping/viewer.asp

For more information on Property Taxes for the South Bay of Los Angeles, visit my website at Property Taxes