City of Oakland Measure FF — Real Property Tax (Alameda County)

What it does

Shall the measure amending Oakland's Real Property Transfer Tax Ordinance to eliminate the foreclosure exception for all property transfers except transfers converting commercial property to certain housing or healthcare uses, transfers to community banking organizations, and certain transfers of residential properties of four units or less, and allowing the City Council to establish, amend, or remove foreclosure-related exceptions, raising approximately $4-$13 million annually pursuant to tax rates in Oakland Municipal Code section 4.20.020, beginning January 1, 2027 until repealed, be adopted?

A YES vote means

Oakland would end the foreclosure exception to its real property transfer tax except for certain listed transfers, and let the Council set or remove foreclosure exceptions, raising about $4-$13 million a year starting January 1, 2027, until repealed.

A NO vote means

Oakland's foreclosure exception to the real property transfer tax would stay as it is.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

According to Councilmember Charlene Wang's agenda report, the Real Property Transfer Tax approved as Measure X in 2018 exempts all transfers made through foreclosure, and she proposed narrowing that exemption to fund shelter and homelessness services, calling it the RESTORE Oakland Measure.

Under the measure, the exemption would remain only for certain small residential transfers, commercial properties converted to housing or healthcare uses, and community banks; the tax would be general (majority vote) and begin January 1, 2027.

The Finance Department's June 4, 2026 supplemental report, based on 30 transactions from 2024, estimated annual revenue of $400,000 to $1,000,000 and said projections are preliminary because commercial foreclosures have risen since then; the ballot question adopted by the Council states approximately $4 million to $13 million annually.

The Council adopted the resolution as amended on July 7, 2026, inserting the ballot question and allowing the Council to set or change foreclosure exceptions by ordinance.

Put on the ballot by Oakland City Council, July 7, 2026 (Resolution No. 91228 C.M.S.).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3, official source 4.

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Also on Alameda County ballots

• City of Alameda Measure L — GO Bond Measure
• City of Alameda Measure M — Charter Amendment - Amend And Repeal Outdated Provisions
• City of Alameda Measure N — Charter Amendment - Leases And Sales Of Real Property Measure
• City of Albany Measure O — Requirement To Zoning Changes Measure
• City of Albany Measure P — Street Paving And Storm Drain Parcel Tax Measure
• City of Albany Measure Q — EMS, ALS, Fire Protection Parcel Tax Measure
• City of Albany Measure R — Business License Tax Measure
• City of Albany Measure S — Real Property Transfer Tax Measure
• City of Albany Measure T — Street Trees & Streetlighting Parcel Tax Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure U — Bond Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure V — Sales Tax Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure W — Charter Amendment Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure X — Rent Ordinance Amendment Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure Y — Initiative - Arts Tax Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure Z — Initiative - Public Bank Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure AA — Initiative - Soda Tax Measure

All Alameda County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Oakland Measure FF mean?

Oakland would end the foreclosure exception to its real property transfer tax except for certain listed transfers, and let the Council set or remove foreclosure exceptions, raising about $4-$13 million a year starting January 1, 2027, until repealed.

What does a NO vote on City of Oakland Measure FF mean?

Oakland's foreclosure exception to the real property transfer tax would stay as it is.

How many votes does City of Oakland Measure FF need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Oakland Measure FF?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.