Free guide
Homeowner savings: exemptions, retrofit grants and energy rebates
Official property-tax exemptions, earthquake retrofit grants and energy-rebate programs that Southern California owners actually use, with how-to-apply links we could load. Amounts and filing windows change. This is general information, not tax, legal or insurance advice.
Property-tax exemptions
Homeowners' exemption
Statewide; file with your county assessor
If the home is your principal residence, California's homeowners' exemption takes $7,000 off the assessed value, which is about $70 a year off the tax bill at the 1% general levy (bonds and special taxes still apply). The official State Board of Equalization page and county assessor pages explain how to claim it. Many counties mail a claim after a sale; file promptly to receive the full year. Orange County's assessor also notes that this $7,000 exemption is larger than the basic veterans' exemption, so most owner-occupants will want the homeowners' exemption rather than a smaller veterans' amount.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
Disabled veterans' exemption (and the basic veterans' exemption)
Statewide; file with your county assessor
The official Board of Equalization disabled veterans' exemption page is the starting point for veterans with a qualifying disability rating, and for eligible unmarried surviving spouses. Amounts and income tests are set in state law and can change; use the official BOE page and your county assessor rather than a restated figure that may be out of date. Orange County also describes a basic $4,000 veterans' exemption on property owned by an eligible veteran, and notes that the $7,000 homeowners' exemption is usually the better of the two for an owner-occupied home. Orange County's disabled-veterans page lists (714) 834-5945 for questions.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
Prop 19 base-year value transfer (age 55+, severely disabled, or disaster victims)
Statewide
If you are 55 or older, severely disabled, or a wildfire or disaster victim, you can usually move your current taxable value to a replacement principal residence in California bought within two years of the sale. If the new home costs more, part of the difference may be added. This is a transfer of your base-year value, not a new exemption. Our Prop 19 calculator can help you estimate; the county assessor files the claim.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
State Controller property tax postponement (seniors, blind, or disabled)
Statewide; administered by the State Controller, not the county assessor
The State Controller's Property Tax Postponement Program can postpone current-year property taxes for eligible senior, blind, or disabled homeowners who meet official age, occupancy, equity and income rules. This is a postponement (a state lien), not a forgiveness or an assessor exemption. Filing periods and income caps are set by the Controller. Use only the official State Controller page to apply or to see whether the current filing window is open.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
Earthquake retrofit grants
Earthquake Brace + Bolt and related CRMP retrofit grants
Eligible ZIP codes and building types in California, including much of Southern California
The California Residential Mitigation Program offers earthquake retrofit grants, including Earthquake Brace + Bolt for many older, raised-foundation houses, plus a supplemental grant path for income-eligible homeowners. Eligibility depends on the house, the ZIP code and program funding rounds. Grant amounts and whether a round is open are set by the program. Start with the official Brace + Bolt and CRMP sites.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
Solar and energy rebates
California residential energy rebates funded under the federal Inflation Reduction Act (HEEHRA)
Statewide, income-qualified households; administered in California by the Energy Commission and its partners
The California Energy Commission's official page for Inflation Reduction Act residential energy rebate programs states that the HEEHRA Phase I program provides up to $8,000 in rebates to income-qualified California homeowners for a qualifying heat-pump installation (and up to $14,000 per unit for income-qualified multifamily properties). Rules, eligible equipment, income tests and whether a phase is open are set by the state. This is not a guarantee of funding.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
LADWP residential programs, rebates and solar programs
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers
LADWP publishes residential programs and rebates, including solar programs, on its official site. Available rebates, equipment lists and how to apply change. Use the official residential rebates and solar pages rather than a sales flyer.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
Southern California Edison rebate and bill-assistance pages
SCE electric customers (much of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and parts of Los Angeles and surrounding counties)
SCE publishes residential rebate and savings programs, including bill-assistance paths, on its official site. Program names and amounts change. Start at the official rebates and savings page.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
SoCalGas rebates and incentives
SoCalGas customers across much of Southern California
SoCalGas publishes rebates and incentives for qualifying equipment and efficiency work. Check the official rebates page for current offers and how to apply.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
Federal residential clean energy credit (IRS)
Federal income-tax credit; not a utility rebate
The IRS publishes a residential clean energy credit page for qualifying solar and other clean-energy equipment. This is a federal tax credit with its own eligibility rules, dollar caps and expiration dates, not a same-year utility rebate. Confirm current law on the official IRS page or with a tax professional. We link the official page rather than restate a percentage that can change in statute.
Official how-to-apply and program pages
File exemption claims with the county assessor (or with the State Controller for postponement). Confirm deadlines for the current tax year on the official page. Utility and state energy rebates can open, close or change amounts without notice. We omitted dollar figures that we could not read on an official page that loaded.