Jonathan LopezWill Prop 19 Raise the Property Taxes on a Home I Inherited in Woodland Hills?
If you inherited a home in Woodland Hills from a parent, one of the first questions is what happens to the property tax bill. California's Proposition 19 changed the rules for transfers on or after February 16, 2021, and the answer now depends on what you plan to do with the house.
The One Year Move In Rule
The Board of Equalization's Proposition 19 publication (Pub. 800-1) says the child must live in the home as a primary residence within one year of the transfer and must continue to occupy it. If that happens, the home can keep the parent's lower assessed value, up to a cap. If the child never moves in, the exclusion does not apply.
The Value Cap
The BOE says the protected amount is the home's factored base year value at the time of transfer plus $1 million, adjusted by an inflation factor. The BOE lists the adjusted amount as $1,044,586 for transfers from February 16, 2025 through February 15, 2027. Value above the cap is added to the assessed value. At Movoto's October 7, 2026 Woodland Hills median of $1,299,000, subtracting $1,044,586 leaves about $254,414. By my arithmetic, a home worth that much would exceed the cap if the parent's factored base year value is under about $254,000. That is a reasoning example from the published numbers, not a tax calculation for any specific home.
When the Exclusion Is Lost or Not Available
The BOE says that once the property is no longer the family home, such as when it becomes a rental, the exclusion is removed. It also says the exclusion does not apply to transfers between siblings or to transfers to legal entities. The claim is made on form BOE-19-P with the County Assessor, and the BOE says it must be filed within three years of the transfer and before the property is transferred to a third party. A late claim can still help for future years if you still own the property.
How This Affects Keep Versus Sell
If you plan to move in, the exclusion may preserve a lower tax bill. If you plan to rent it out or you are one of several heirs who will not occupy it, the reassessment question changes the math. Many heirs compare the carrying cost of keeping the house with the net from selling it. For related issues, see inherited-mortgage-woodland-hills.html">how an inherited mortgage works, what happens when a sibling disagrees about selling, and whether an empty inherited home stays insured.
Woodland Hills Timing
Movoto's Woodland Hills page (updated October 7, 2026) shows a $1,299,000 median price, 434 active listings, 82 price-reduced homes, and 50 days on market compared with 44 a year earlier. If you decide to sell, a realistic price matters more when homes are taking longer to sell.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Property tax outcomes depend on the facts of each transfer. Confirm your situation with the County Assessor, a CPA, or an estate attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Prop 19 reassess a home I inherit from a parent?
It can. The BOE says the child keeps the parent's lower assessed value only if the home becomes the child's primary residence within one year of the transfer. Otherwise the home is generally reassessed to market value.
What is the Prop 19 value cap?
The BOE says it is the home's factored base year value plus $1 million adjusted by an inflation factor, listed as $1,044,586 for transfers from February 16, 2025 through February 15, 2027. Value above the cap is added to the assessed value.
What happens if I rent out the inherited home?
The BOE says the exclusion is removed once the property is no longer the family home, such as when it becomes a rental.
Do I have to file a claim?
Yes. The BOE says to file form BOE-19-P with the County Assessor within three years of the transfer and before transferring the property to a third party. A late claim only reduces taxes from the year it is filed forward.
Does the exclusion apply to siblings who inherit?
No. The BOE says the exclusion does not apply to transfers between siblings or to legal entity transfers.
Can you help me compare keeping versus selling?
Yes. I run a CMA on the inherited home at no cost so you can compare the sale numbers with your carrying costs.
Inherited a Woodland Hills home and deciding whether to keep it or sell?
Or call (818) 934-7576.