Skip to content
Oakclause

Homestead Exemption Laws in California

California protects the greater of $300,000 or the prior-year county median single-family home price (capped at $600,000), with both figures adjusted yearly for inflation since January 1, 2022.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

California at a glance

Exemption amount
$300,000 to $600,000 base, by county median
Greater of $300,000 or the prior-year county median single-family sale price up to $600,000; both adjusted annually for inflation since January 1, 2022.
Unlimited in value
No
Acreage limit
No acreage limit
The exemption amount is set by value only.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in California

How much home equity does the homestead exemption protect in California?

Exemption amount in California: $300,000 to $600,000 base, by county median. Greater of $300,000 or the prior-year county median single-family sale price up to $600,000; both adjusted annually for inflation since January 1, 2022.

Is the homestead exemption unlimited in value in California?

No. Unlimited in value in California: no.

Is there an acreage limit on the homestead exemption in California?

Acreage limit in California: No acreage limit. The exemption amount is set by value only.

Where do the California homestead exemption laws come from?

The rules above come from Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 704.730 and Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 703.140(b). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

In bankruptcy, a California debtor may instead use the Code Civ. Proc. 703.140(b) list, whose residence exemption is $36,750 from April 1, 2025.

What this means in practice

The exemption applies to equity, not to the full value of the home. Equity is the market value minus the mortgages and other liens on the property. A lender that holds a mortgage on the home, and certain other claims such as taxes on the property, can usually still be enforced against it regardless of the exemption.

Check whether you need to take a step to claim the protection. Some states protect a home automatically once it is your residence, while others require you to record a homestead declaration with the county or to claim the exemption in court when a creditor tries to collect.

In bankruptcy, federal law can limit a state homestead exemption for a home bought within a set period before the filing, and residency rules decide which state's exemptions apply if you moved recently. Some states also let filers choose the federal bankruptcy exemptions instead of the state list. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm which rules apply to your situation.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.