Process
Notice of Sale
The published and mailed notice that a property will be offered at a tax sale.
States require notice to the owner and other parties with an interest before a tax sale, usually by mail and by publication in a newspaper or online. The notice lists the parcel, the sale date, and how to redeem.
Defective notice is one of the most common grounds for challenging a tax sale, so buyers should know whether notice was properly given.
How it works by state
- California
- California counties also publish a notice of impending power to sell for properties reaching the default period.
General information, reviewed 2026-10-12. Not legal advice. Rules change and each county publishes its own sale terms; confirm with the county before bidding.
Related terms
- Redemption PeriodThe window during which an owner can keep a property by paying the delinquent taxes, interest, and fees.
- Tax SaleA public sale a local government holds to collect unpaid property taxes, by selling either the property itself or a claim against it.
- Quiet TitleA lawsuit that confirms who owns a property and clears competing claims.