Buying a Home in Plumas County, CA: Transfer Tax & Dixie Fire Recovery
The Dixie Fire — nearly a million acres, downtown Greenville destroyed — is the defining fact for any buyer evaluating property in Plumas County today.
Plumas County was directly and severely affected by the July 2021 Dixie Fire — at nearly 1 million acres, one of the largest wildfires in California history — which completely destroyed downtown Greenville and the communities of Indian Falls and Canyon Dam, along with nearly 100 cabins in Warner Valley. Recovery and rebuilding remain an active, ongoing process years later.
What’s the transfer tax in Plumas County?
Plumas County's documentary transfer tax follows the standard statewide base rate of $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration.
Available sourcing did not surface a confirmed local city add-on in Quincy or Portola — verify directly with the county Assessor's office for a specific transaction.
What should I know about the Dixie Fire before buying in Greenville?
The Dixie Fire started July 13, 2021, and burned approximately 963,000 acres across Plumas, Lassen, Butte, Shasta, and Tehama counties, completely destroying downtown Greenville (over 200 homes and most businesses) along with Indian Falls, Canyon Dam, and roughly 100 cabins in Warner Valley.
If you're buying a newly-rebuilt home in Greenville or other Dixie Fire-affected areas, ask about construction date and current wildfire-hardening building code compliance — a genuine advantage of new construction in a rebuilt area. Greenville's rebuild is real but still in progress (a grocery store, a gas station, and some other businesses have reopened, but full downtown recovery is ongoing) — don't assume full-service infrastructure matches pre-fire levels. Check current CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for any specific property, and treat wildfire insurance availability/cost as an early part of your due diligence. Plumas County has continued receiving Dixie Fire recovery funding (nearing $60 million as of a 2025 report) and secured direct PG&E settlement payments, and 2021 Dixie Fire victims are exempt from state and federal taxes on fire-related compensation payments under 2025 legislation (AB 132).
What is it like living outside Quincy and Portola in Plumas County?
Remote and rural — most of Plumas County outside Quincy and Portola is forested and mountainous with low population density.
Expect well/septic infrastructure and longer response times for specialty trades, as in other rural Sierra counties.
Disclosure landscape
- For Dixie Fire-affected areas, ask about construction date and wildfire-hardening code compliance on any rebuilt home.
- Check current CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for any specific property before making an offer.
Frequently asked
Is it safe to buy a home in Greenville, CA after the Dixie Fire?
Many buyers do, particularly for newly-rebuilt homes that meet current wildfire-hardening building codes — but full downtown recovery is still in progress, and insurance availability and cost should be confirmed with a real quote before you remove contingencies.
Is there a city transfer tax add-on in Quincy or Portola?
No confirmed local add-on was found in available sourcing — the standard statewide base rate of $1.10 per $1,000 applies, but verify directly with the county Assessor's office for a specific transaction.
Is Dixie Fire compensation money taxable if I received a PG&E settlement?
2021 Dixie Fire victims are exempt from state and federal taxes on fire-related compensation payments under 2025 legislation (AB 132) — confirm current details with a tax professional for your specific situation.
This is educational guidance, not legal advice. Consult a California real estate attorney for legal questions specific to your transaction.