Butte County Recorder Information

Land records in Butte County are recorded by the County Clerk-Recorder. The office is held by Keaton Denlay.

The County Recorder does not provide searches of its records; the research room is open to the public from 9 am till 12 pm and 1 pm till 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday (legal holidays excluded). Records are indexed under the property owner's name.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Butte County Clerk-Recorder Fee Schedule · FAQs - Recorded Documents / Official Records

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Added at recording

Other charges

Fee schedule effective January 1, 2026.

StatewideThe recorder charges $1 extra per page or sheet when printing on printed forms is spaced more than nine lines per vertical inch or more than 22 characters and spaces per inch (Gov. Code § 27361(a)(1)). Counties may adopt additional fees: up to $10 per real estate instrument for the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund upon a board of supervisors resolution (Gov. Code § 27388); $1 for the first page for a social security number truncation program (Gov. Code § 27361(d)); $1 per instrument fees for micrographics/archive, business-day operation, and indexing within two business days (Gov. Code § 27361.4); and up to $1 per instrument for an electronic recording delivery system (Gov. Code § 27397). A recorder may charge an additional $20 recording fee when a document evidencing a change in ownership is presented without a concurrent Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (Rev. & Tax. Code § 480.3(b)).

Copies of official records are $5.00 for the first page and $2.50 for each additional page (Gov. Code § 26831); conformed copy charge $2.00 (Butte Co. Code Chap 2 Art 1 Sec 2-11.3). Translation certification $30.00 (Gov. Code § 27293). Penalty print $1.00 per page. Lien notice fee $9.00 for the first debtor address and $5.00 for each additional debtor at a different address (Gov. Code § 27361.3). Recording deeds without a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report: $20.00 (R&T 480.3).

Transfer tax

Documentary Transfer Tax. $0.55 for each $500 or fractional part thereof of consideration or value exceeding $100 (county); cities may impose one-half that amount. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911)

StatewideA county's documentary transfer tax is imposed by board of supervisors ordinance under Rev. & Tax. Code § 11911(a). A city within a taxing county may impose its own tax at one-half the county rate (§ 11911(b)), and a credit is allowed against the county tax for the city tax (§ 11911(c)). Some charter cities levy their own rates. Every taxed document must show on its face the amount of tax due and the incorporated or unincorporated location of the realty (§ 11932).

Butte County collects documentary transfer tax under County Ordinance (Chapter 21, Article III, Ordinance 3982), at $0.55 for each $500 or fractional part thereof when the consideration or value exceeds $100. Revenue from the unincorporated area goes 100% to the County; revenue from incorporated areas is split 50% to the town or city and 50% to the County. Documents claiming an exemption must cite the code section as close to the tax declaration as possible.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Butte County Clerk-Recorder Fee Schedule · Documentary Transfer Tax | Butte County Clerk Recorder, CA · California Government Code § 27361 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27388 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11932 (FindLaw)

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

StatewideAt least a 1/2-inch margin on the two vertical sides except in the space reserved for recording information. The left-hand 3 1/2 inches of the top 2 1/2 inches of the first page is used to show the name of the person requesting recording and the return name and address.

StatewideIf the first page does not meet the recording-space requirements, a separate page meeting them and showing the document title must be attached to the front. A document that modifies, releases, or cancels a previously recorded document must state the recorder identification number or book and page of that document. A deed of trust or mortgage with power of sale must specify the trustor's or mortgagor's address and contain a request for notice of default and sale.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (BOE-502-A) Statewide County assessor and recorder; form prescribed by the State Board of Equalization
  May be filed with the recorder concurrent with the recordation of any document effecting a change in ownership; the recorder may charge an additional $20 recording fee without it

Submitting documents

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Staff Directory • Clerk · FAQs - Recorded Documents / Official Records · California Government Code § 27361.5 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27361.6 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27321.5 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27280.5 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 480.3 (Onecle)