Who Pays Escrow Costs?

In California, whether the buyer, seller or both pay escrow fees depends on the county where the property transaction takes place.

While a buyer and seller may negotiate a different arrangement in a purchase agreement, here is a general list of who is customarily responsible for the costs in each county.
 
  County Who Pays Escrow Costs
  Alameda Buyer Pays
  Alpine Calaveras (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
El Dorado (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Amador 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Butte Chico & Oroville (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
Paradise (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Calaveras Bear Valley (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
San Andreas (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Colusa 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Contra Costa Buyer Pays
  Del Norte 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  El Dorado 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Fresno 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Glenn 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Humboldt 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Imperial 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Inyo 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Kern 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Kings 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Lake Buyer Pays
  Lassen County 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Los Angeles 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Madera 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Marin Buyer Pays
  Mariposa 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Mendocino Buyer Pays
  Merced 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Modoc 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Mono 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Monterey Monterey Peninsula (Seller Pays)
Salinas (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Napa Buyer Pays
  Nevada 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Orange 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Placer 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Plumas 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Riverside 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Sacramento Seller Pays
  San Benito Seller Pays
  San Bernardino 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  San Diego 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  San Francisco Buyer Pays
  San Joaquin 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  San Luis Obispo 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  San Mateo Buyer Pays
  Santa Barbara 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Santa Clara Seller Pays
  Santa Cruz 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Shasta 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Sierra 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Siskiyou 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Solano Buyer Pays
  Sonoma Buyer Pays
  Stanislaus 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Sutter Seller Pays
  Tehama 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Trinity 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Tulane 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Tuolumne 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Ventura 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Yolo Davis ( Buyer Pays)
Woodland (Seller Pays)
  Yuba Seller Pays
  Note: Efforts have been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but keep in mind that state and local laws, customs and procedures are subject to change.