Is the San Diego trash fee on your North Park San Diego property tax bill wrong, and who pays it if you sell this fall?
Up to 87,000 City of San Diego property tax bills show the wrong trash fee this year. Some are too high, and some are too low. The city says corrected bills will arrive before the November 1 due date, and you will not owe the incorrect overage. If you sell, your escrow officer splits the tax bill between you and your buyer, so ask escrow to use the corrected San Diego trash fee.
Sellers in 92104 have already started asking me one question. “Who pays this at closing, the buyer or me?” This guide answers that question and shows you how to check your bill in about five minutes. For the full picture of a sale from start to finish, read our guide to selling your home in North Park.
What Happened With the San Diego Trash Fee on Tax Bills?
The City Council voted on June 24, 2025, to collect the trash fee through the County property tax bill. The fee appears as a line item on your bill, next to your other fixed charges.
This year, the numbers went wrong. The City of San Diego sent bad data to the County, and the error landed on the 2026-27 tax bills. Mayor Todd Gloria said the data “was being changed in the process of being submitted to the county.”
Up to 87,000 accounts got hit, according to KPBS and Times of San Diego. One homeowner’s bill showed a $2,353 trash charge. Times of San Diego reported that the charge was about $1,650 higher than it should have been.
Not every error went up. 10News reported some homeowners got undercharged. An undercharge may sound like good news, but the city plans to fix those bills, too.
How to Check Your San Diego Trash Fee in 5 Minutes
You do not need to call anyone to start. Pull out your 2026-27 property tax bill and follow these steps.
Step 1: Find the trash line on your bill
Look in the fixed charges section. The County says each fixed charge lists a phone number for the agency behind it. Your trash fee belongs to the City of San Diego, not the County.
Step 2: Log in to the city’s Waste Portal
Go to wasteportal.sandiego.gov and create an account if you do not have one. The portal shows your trash service details.
Step 3: Compare the two numbers
If your bill does not match the portal, write down both amounts. Take a photo of the tax bill page.
Step 4: Contact the city if something looks off
Call Environmental Services at 858-694-7000 or email trash@sandiego.gov. The city also offers a Fee Dispute Form. The city says a dispute takes 4 to 6 weeks to process.
Should You Pay Your Property Tax Bill Now or Wait?
Mayor Gloria asked residents to hold off on paying, if possible, while the city fixes the data. The city says affected homeowners will not pay late costs caused by the error.
Keep the County dates in front of you anyway. Your first installment is due November 1 and goes delinquent after December 10. The second installment is due February 1 and goes delinquent after April 10.
The County also warns that not getting a bill does not stop a late penalty. If your corrected bill has not shown up by early November, call the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector at 877-829-4732.
Who Pays the San Diego Trash Fee When You Sell Your Home?
Your escrow officer decides the split. The County’s guide for new homeowners tells you to talk to your escrow officer about which taxes you owe. The County tax year runs from July 1 to June 30. In a typical sale, escrow splits the tax bill by the days each side owns the home. Our guide to closing costs when selling a home in San Diego shows where prorated taxes land on your settlement statement.
The error adds a risk. If escrow uses the wrong trash amount, one side ends up paying too much. Ask your escrow officer these three questions:
- Which trash fee amount are you using, the original bill or the corrected one?
- If the corrected bill has not arrived, will you hold back funds until it does?
- Who gets the refund or the extra bill if the amount changes after closing?
Put the answers in writing. An email from escrow works fine.
Selling This Fall: Your Before, During, and After Timeline
Before you list
Check your trash fee in the Waste Portal and save a screenshot. Hand your listing agent a copy of your 2026-27 tax bill so escrow receives it on day one.
During escrow
Ask escrow the three questions above. Watch for the corrected bill in your mailbox and forward it to escrow as soon as you receive it in the mail.
After closing
The County mails tax bills to the owner on the tax roll. After a sale, the new owner gets the bill. If a refund or a corrected bill lands in your name after closing, send it to escrow or your agent right away so nobody pays twice.
Paying Taxes Through a Mortgage Impound Account?
Many homeowners pay property taxes through their mortgage. If you do, a wrong trash fee raises your monthly payment.
Times of San Diego talked to a senior homeowner whose trash charge ran $224 too high. Her mortgage payment went up $100 a month because her lender collects taxes through her escrow account.
Call your loan servicer and tell them a corrected bill is on the way. Ask them to update your impound amount once the new bill posts.
If you picked your bin size last year and want to lower the fee going forward, read our guide to choosing the right trash bin size in North Park.
What I Tell My North Park Sellers About Tax Bill Surprises
In over 20 years of selling homes in North Park, I have learned tax bills cause more closing-week stress than almost anything else on a settlement statement. Our team at McT Real Estate Group has closed over 530 transactions, and smooth closings start with a copy of the tax bill in escrow on day one.
This fall, my sellers have already started asking who pays the trash fee at closing. And the first thing I’ve said is to log on to the waste portal site and check the numbers there. Compare to your statement. If it shows differently, call them directly to have it fixed asap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my San Diego trash fee so high on my property tax bill?
The City of San Diego sent incorrect trash fee data to the County for the 2026-27 tax bills. Up to 87,000 accounts got the wrong amount. Some bills came in too high and some too low.
How do I check if my San Diego trash fee is correct?
Log in to the city’s Waste Portal at wasteportal.sandiego.gov and compare your service details to the trash line on your tax bill. If the numbers do not match, call Environmental Services at 858-694-7000 or email trash@sandiego.gov.
Should I pay my property tax bill if the trash fee is wrong?
Mayor Todd Gloria asked residents to hold off on paying, if possible, while the city corrects the bills. The city says affected homeowners will not be charged late fees resulting from the error. The first installment is due November 1 and goes delinquent after December 10.
When will San Diego send corrected property tax bills?
Mayor Gloria said revised bills will arrive before the November 1 due date. If you have not received a corrected bill by early November, call the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector at 877-829-4732.
Who pays the trash fee when I sell my house in San Diego?
Your escrow officer prorates the property tax bill, including the trash fee. It gets split between you and your buyer. The County tax year runs July 1 to June 30. Ask escrow to use the corrected trash fee amount and to confirm the split in writing.
What if I sell my home before the corrected tax bill arrives?
Ask your escrow officer whether they will hold back funds until the corrected bill comes in. Also ask who receives any refund or extra charge after closing. Get both answers in writing so nobody pays twice.
Will the trash fee error raise my mortgage payment?
Yes, if you pay property taxes through a mortgage impound account. Times of San Diego reported one homeowner’s payment went up $100 a month because of an inflated trash charge. Call your loan servicer and ask them to update your impound amount after the corrected bill posts.
Is there help paying the San Diego trash fee?
The city runs a Financial Assistance Program for homeowners whose primary residence gets City trash service. Households at or below 60 percent of the California State Median Income qualify, and so do households enrolled in approved assistance programs. Tenants do not qualify.
Questions About Your Tax Bill and Your Sale?
If you plan to sell in North Park, South Park, University Heights, or Golden Hill this fall, and you have questions or concerns about this, we can talk about this during our first meeting. Once we start working together, we will reach out to our Escrow officer and have them provide an estimate with proration and your net proceeds, line by line.
Want to see what your home would sell for first? Request a free home valuation in San Diego and get a number based on recent North Park sales.
Call or text 619-736-7003, email z@marymctsoldme.com, or visit mctrealestategroup.com.
Z. McT-Contreras | McT Real Estate Group | TXR Homes Inc | DRE#01715784