Who Pays Escrow/Title Costs?

In California, whether the buyer, seller or both pay escrow and title insurance 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 which party is customarily responsible for the costs in each county.
  
  County Who Pays Escrow Costs Who Pays Title Costs
  Alameda Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Alpine Eldorado  (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
Calaveras  (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)		 Eldorado (Seller Pays)
Calaveras (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Amador 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Buyer Pays
  Butte Chico & Oroville (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
Paradise (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)		 Chico & Oroville (Seller Pays)
Paradise (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Calaveras Bear Valley (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
San Andreas (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)		 Bear Valley (Buyer Pays)
San Andreas (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Colusa 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Contra Costa Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Del Norte 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  El Dorado 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Fresno 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Glenn 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Humboldt 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Imperial 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Inyo 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Kern 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Kings 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Lake Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Lassen 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Los Angeles 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Madera 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Marin Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Mariposa 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Mendocino Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Merced 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Modoc 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Mono 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Monterey Salinas (1/2 Buyer 1/2 seller)
Monterey Peninsula (Seller Pays)		 Seller Pays
  Napa Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Nevada 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Orange 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Placer 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Plumas 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Riverside 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Sacramento Seller Pays Seller Pays
  San Benito Seller Pays Seller Pays
  San Bernardino 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  San Diego 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  San Francisco Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  San Joaquin 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  San Luis Obispo 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  San Mateo Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Santa Barbara 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Santa Clara Seller Pays Seller Pays
  Santa Cruz 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Shasta 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Sierra 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Siskiyou 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer/1/2 Seller
  Solano Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Sonoma Buyer Pays Buyer Pays
  Stanislaus 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Modesto (Seller Pays)
Turlock (1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller)
  Sutter Seller Pays Seller Pays
  Tehama 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Trinity 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Tulare 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Tuolumne 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller
  Ventura 1/2 Buyer-1/2 Seller Seller Pays
  Yolo Davis (Buyer Pays)
Woodland (Seller Pays)
 Davis (Buyer Pays)
Woodland (Seller Pays)
  Yuba Seller Pays 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.