The November 3, 2026 ballot was long, but the part that affects Westside Los Angeles homeowners is short. Outside the Pacific Palisades, nothing on the ballot changed your property taxes or the cost of selling your home. Inside the Palisades, one measure matters a lot: Measure TE, which is passing and waives the city's "mansion tax" (Measure ULA) for qualifying fire-affected owners who sell by January 6, 2030.
Below is a breakdown of every result that touches real estate, who it applies to, what it could save you, and what to do next. Votes are still being counted. LA County certifies results by November 27, and the state by December 11, so the numbers here are rounded and worded as "passing" or "failing" until then.
Key Takeaways
Measure TE is passing (about 62% yes). Palisades owners whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the January 2025 fire can sell without paying Measure ULA through January 6, 2030.
On a $6 million Palisades sale, that's $240,000 not owed. On a $12 million sale, it's $660,000.
Prop 43 did not pass. The vote threshold for citizen-led local special taxes stays at a simple majority. Measure ULA isn’t affected either way, since Prop 43 would only have applied to future measures.
Props 40 and 42 don’t change how your home is taxed. Prop 40, the one-time tax on billionaires’ net worth, did not pass, and it excluded homes owned directly. Prop 42, which is on track to pass, bars new state taxes on owning assets like stocks, business interests and retirement accounts.
LA has a new mayor. Nithya Raman won after Karen Bass conceded on November 5.
The 2026 Election Scorecard for Westside Homeowners
| Measure | What it does | Status | Who it affects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measure TE (LA City) | Exempts fire-affected Palisades sales from Measure ULA through Jan 6, 2030 | Passing, about 62% yes | Palisades owners as of Jan 7, 2025 with fire damage |
| Prop 43 (State) | Would require two-thirds for citizen-led local taxes | Failed, about 43% yes | Future local tax measures |
| Prop 40 (State) | One-time 5% tax on net worth over $1 billion, excluding real estate | Headed for defeat | Billionaires only |
| Prop 42 (State) | Limits new wealth taxes going forward | On track to pass | Future wealth tax proposals |
| Measure FD (LA City) | Half-cent sales tax to fund the LA Fire Department | Passing | Everyday purchases in LA, not property taxes |
| Measure PL (LA City) | Merges seven area planning commissions into one | Passing | Owners rebuilding or developing |
| LA Mayor | Citywide race | Nithya Raman elected | Housing and permitting policy citywide |
Unofficial results as of November 10, 2026. LA County certifies by November 27; California by December 11. Sources: LA County Registrar, CalMatters, The Real Deal.
Before the vote, we walked through what was on the November 2026 ballot for California homeowners. This post is the follow-up: what actually happened and what it means for you.
Measure TE: The Palisades Exemption From the Mansion Tax
Measure TE is the only result on this ballot with real dollars attached for Westside sellers. To understand it, start with the tax it carves out.
What is Measure ULA, the "mansion tax"?
Measure ULA is a City of Los Angeles transfer tax that voters passed in 2022. (For the full background, see our Measure ULA 2026 update.) It's charged on the full sale price, not just the amount over the threshold, and it applies to both homes and commercial property inside LA city limits. For 2026 the rates are:
4% on sales from about $5.4 million to just under $10.9 million
5.5% on sales of $10.9 million or more
The thresholds adjust each year for inflation. ULA has raised about $1.4 billion for housing programs since it took effect. It does not apply in separate cities like Santa Monica, Beverly Hills or Malibu, which have their own transfer tax rules.
Who qualifies for the Measure TE exemption?
A sale is exempt from ULA only if all three of these are true:
Fire damage: The residential property in the Pacific Palisades was damaged or destroyed in the January 2025 fire, as verified by the city's building department.
Ownership date: You owned the property on January 7, 2025.
Deadline: The sale closes by January 6, 2030.
The exemption is retroactive to January 7, 2025, and it stays with the original owner. If someone bought a fire-damaged lot after the fire, their later resale does not qualify.
How much does Measure TE save a Palisades seller?
$6 million sale x 4% = $240,000 not owed
$8 million sale x 4% = $320,000 not owed
$12 million sale x 5.5% = $660,000 not owed
Sales below the ULA threshold, which is most Palisades lot sales today, were never subject to ULA, so TE doesn't change anything for them.
How many owners does it actually help?
It's a small group. Of the 566 Palisades sales that closed after the fire, only 8 were above the ULA threshold, according to figures reported by The Real Deal. The city estimates TE will reduce ULA revenue by $35 million to $66 million. Supporters call it overdue fire relief. Critics say it is either too narrow, since it skips owners whose homes weren't damaged but whose values were still hit, or that it chips away at housing funding.
Prop 43: Prop 13's Two-Thirds Rule Stays the Same
If you read our post Is Prop 13 on the November 2026 Ballot?, here's the follow-up. Under current rules, when a city or county puts a special tax on the ballot, it needs a two-thirds vote. When citizens gather signatures to put one on the ballot, a simple majority is enough. That's how Measure ULA passed with about 58% in 2022.
Prop 43 would have raised the bar for citizen-led local taxes to two-thirds as well. It failed, with about 57% voting no. It also was never retroactive, so Measure ULA was not on the line either way. The rules for future local tax measures stay as they are.
Props 40 and 42: The Billionaire Tax Skipped Your House
Prop 40 would have charged a one-time 5% tax on individual net worth above $1 billion. It specifically excluded real estate, and it did not pass, with about 53% voting no. Prop 42, which makes it harder for the state to pass new wealth taxes in the future, is leading with about 52% yes. Neither one changes anything about your home, your property taxes or your sale. We covered the market angle in Will the Billionaire Tax (Prop 40) Affect LA Home Prices?
Other LA Results Worth Knowing
Measure FD (passing): Adds a half-cent to the LA city sales tax, about $345 million a year, for a dedicated Fire Department fund. It's a sales tax on purchases, not a property tax.
Measure PL (passing): Combines the city's seven Area Planning Commissions into one. Supporters say it will cut costs and shorten development timelines. If you're rebuilding or planning an addition, watch how appeals are handled under the new commission.
LA mayor: Nithya Raman won after Karen Bass conceded on November 5. Raman has pushed for more housing near transit, and she takes office in December. Expect housing production and permitting to stay front and center.
The takeaway: standing homes are still moving quickly at full price, while lot values found a floor in early 2026 and are starting to firm up. With a median list price of $8.65 million, many Palisades listings sit above the ULA threshold, which is exactly where Measure TE matters. For a deeper look at values, read Pacific Palisades Real Estate 2026.
What Westside Homeowners Should Do Now
If you own outside the Palisades: Nothing changed for your property taxes, your Prop 13 base or your selling costs. If your home is in LA city limits (Brentwood, Mar Vista, Venice and Westchester included) and worth more than about $5.4 million, ULA still applies when you sell, so factor it into your net.
If you own a fire-affected Palisades property you held on January 7, 2025:
Gather your damage verification from the city's building department and your ownership records from that date.
Talk to your CPA and attorney about how the exemption, insurance proceeds and any capital gains fit together.
Build your timeline backward from January 6, 2030. The sale has to close by then, not just go into escrow.
If you're buying in the Palisades: The exemption belongs to the original owner, not the property. A qualifying seller may be able to price more flexibly, but you won't inherit the exemption when you resell later.
Key Dates
November 27, 2026: LA County certifies local results
December 11, 2026: California certifies statewide results
December 2026: Mayor-elect Raman takes office
January 6, 2030: Last day for a qualifying sale to close under Measure TE
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Measure TE in Los Angeles?
Measure TE is a November 2026 City of Los Angeles measure that exempts qualifying Pacific Palisades home sales from Measure ULA, the city's mansion tax. It applies to residential properties damaged or destroyed in the January 2025 fire, sold by the person who owned them on January 7, 2025, with the sale closing by January 6, 2030.
Did Measure TE pass?
Measure TE is passing with about 62% of the vote in unofficial results. LA County is scheduled to certify the results by November 27, 2026.
How much is the LA mansion tax in 2026?
Measure ULA charges 4% on Los Angeles city sales from about $5.4 million to just under $10.9 million, and 5.5% on sales of $10.9 million or more. The tax applies to the full sale price, and the thresholds adjust each year for inflation.
How much could a Palisades seller save with Measure TE?
A qualifying seller avoids the full ULA charge. On a $6 million sale, that is $240,000. On a $12 million sale, it is $660,000. Sales below the ULA threshold were never subject to the tax.
Did Prop 43 change the mansion tax or Prop 13?
No. Prop 43 would have required a two-thirds vote for future citizen-led local taxes, but it failed. It was not retroactive, so Measure ULA stays in place, and Prop 13 property tax rules are unchanged.
Would Prop 40, the billionaire tax, have taxed my home?
No. Prop 40 applied only to individual net worth above $1 billion and excluded real estate. It did not pass.
Have Questions About Your Home?
Want to know whether Measure TE applies to you, or how any of this may affect your timing to buy or sell on the Westside? Call us at 310-853-2643 or email info@paulsalazargroup.com.
This article is general information, not tax or legal advice. Election results are unofficial until certified. Paul Salazar is a real estate agent with Compass, DRE #01763227. Consult your CPA or attorney about your specific situation.
