(a) The tax collector shall include the amounts of the installments of fees or charges and the interest on bills for taxes levied against the respective lots and parcels of land. Thereafter, all laws applicable to the levy, collection and enforcement of taxes of the entity, including penalties and interest thereon and cancellation or refund thereof, shall be applicable to those installments of fees or charges and interest, except that, if any real property to which the fees or charges relate has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value or a lien of a bona fide encumbrancer for value has been created and attaches thereon during the year prior to the date on which the first installment of the general taxes that include the fees or charges appears on the assessment roll, then the lien which would otherwise be imposed by Section 5474.5 shall not attach to the real property and the fees or charges and interest shall be transferred to the unsecured roll for collection.

(b) The amount of the unpaid installments of fees or charges and interest may, in the discretion of the entity, be secured at any time by filing for record in the office of the county recorder of any county, a certificate specifying the amount of the fees or charges and interest and the name and address of the person liable therefor. From the time of recordation of the certificate, the amount required to be paid together with interest and penalty constitutes a lien upon all real property in the county owned by the person or afterwards, and before the lien expires, acquired by him or her. The lien shall have the force, priority, and effect of a judgment lien and shall continue for 10 years from the date of the filing of the certificate unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. The lien may, within 10 years from the filing of the certificate or within 10 years from the date of the last extension of the lien in the manner herein provided, be extended by filing for record a new certificate in the office of the county recorder of any county and from the time of this filing the lien shall be extended to the real property in this county for 10 years unless sooner released or otherwise discharged.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 330, Sec. 19. (SB 1090) Effective January 1, 2013.)