By Adolfo Guzman-Lopez for LAist
Originally published Nov. 6, 2026
The city of L.A.’s current sales tax is 10.25%. But after the region’s stretched firefighting services became visible during the devastating 2025 fires, voters solidly approved Measure FD this week, increasing the rate to 10.75%.
It’s expected to raise nearly $350 million yearly for the L.A. Fire Department to hire more firefighters, purchase vehicles and upgrade fire stations.
How and when the increase will trickle down to you
It’s likely you won’t start paying the additional sales tax until spring. The exact date is difficult to predict: The measure says the tax will be collected on “the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than one hundred ten (110) days after the adoption of this Ordinance” by the L.A. City Council. The L.A. County Registrar-Recorder has until Dec. 3 to certify county elections.
Until then, the City of L.A.’s 10.25% sales tax won’t change. Then it will go up to 10.75%.
(It’s important to know that money doesn’t all go to the city. The state of California has a base sales tax of 7.25% to which cities add.)
A $1,000 laptop, for example, would carry $102.50 in sales tax. But the sales tax increase would raise that sales tax by $5 on that computer.
Under state law, the municipal sales tax will be charged on merchandise such as furniture, giftware, toys, antiques, clothing and restaurant food.
Grocery food and medicine are exempt, however.
How L.A.’s increased sales tax compares to elsewhere
Highest:
- 11.75%: Palmdale and Lancaster (highest in the nation)
- 11.5%: Santa Fe Springs
- 11.25%: Azusa, Bell Gardens, Calabasas, City of Commerce, Compton, Covina, Culver City, Gardena, Glendora, Irwindale, Lynwood, Pico Rivera, San Marino, South Gate, Santa Monica
- 10.25%: Bell, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Cerritos, City of Industry, Claremont, Diamond Bar, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Maywood, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Dimas, Santa Clarita, Walnut, West Covina, Westlake Village
Lowest:
- 7.75%: Tustin, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano
- 7.25%: Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Camarillo
Outside of California:
- 10.4%: Seattle
- 10.5% : Chicago
- 8.25%: Dallas
- 8.875%: New York City
Next time you get sticker shock after you swipe your card or phone to pay for something, remember that cities turn around and use that money to pay for water, trash collection, police and emergency services with that money.
