Contra Costa County Recorder Information

The County Clerk/Recorder is responsible for recording and maintaining real property records in Contra Costa County.

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

REGULAR RECORDING
Base Fee -- 1st Page - Per document title where all pages measure 8.5"x11" (GC 27361 27397 27361.4.......................................................$14.00 *
Each Additional Page - Per additional 8.5"x 11" page (GC 27361(a)............................$3.00
Combined Documents (containing more than one title) - Per each additional document title (GC 27361.1)............................$14.00 *

REAL ESTATE FRAUD RECORDING:
Additional Fee for each of the following documents: $3.00 (CC Res 95-633)
* Abstract of Judgment
* Affidavit
* Amended Deed of Trust
* Assignment of Deed of Trust
* Assignment of Lease
* Assignment of Rents
* Construction Deed of Trust
* Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&R)
* Declaration of Homestead
* Deed of Trust
* Easement
* Lease
* Lien
* Lot Line Adjustment
* Mechanic's Lien
* Modification of Deed of Trust
* Notice of Completion
* Notice of Default
* Notice of Trustee's Sale
* Quitclaim Deed
* Reconveyance
* Release
* Request for Notice
* Rescission of Notice of Default
* Subordination Agreement
* Substitution of Trustee
* Trustee's Deed Upon Sale
* UCC Documents -- Amendment, Assignment, Continuation, Termination

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDING:
Survey Monument Fee - Applies only to deeds showing other than a complete lot and tract legal description (GC 27584 -- 27585 & CCC Res. 78-670.......$10.00
Nonconforming Fee Page - Additional $3.00 per page fee applied to the entire document for any portion of the document that is not 8.5"x11" (GC 27361(a)(2))

Indexing Fee (more than 10 names) - Where additional names are required to be indexed, there will be a charge for each group of 10 names or fractional portion thereof after the initial group of 10 names (GC 27361.8)..................$1.00

Indexing Fee (more than one (1) recording reference) - Per reference to previously recorded document (after the first one), which requires additional indexing (GC 27361.2)...............................$1.00

Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) (Fee in Lieu of) - An additional $20 fee is charged when a transfer document is presented without a PCOR (R&T 480.3(b))

Penalty Print - If wording added to the printed form is spaced more than 9 lines per vertical inch or has more than 22 characters and spaces per inch measured horizontally, the penalty is $1.00 per page (GC 27361)

Involuntary Lien (e.g., Abstract of Judgment) Notification Fee - Additional $7.00 per owner/debtor for notification of involuntary lien (GC 27297.5), 27387)

DOCUMENTARY TRANSFER TAX: Documentary transfer tax is collected on every transfer of property, unless there is a valid exemption listed. County transfer tax is computed on the full value of the property.
Countywide Documentary Transfer Tax (DTT) - Collected on all transfers of real property, excluding liens remaining at the time of sale (RT 11911 & CCC Ord. 64.6).................... $0.55 (per $500) Any amount over $1.00 must be rounded up to the nearest $500 for the Countywide Documentary Transfer Tax.

DTT EXEMPTIONS:
11911 Liens and encumbrances equal or exceed the value of the property - Applicable when the value of the liens outstanding equals or exceeds the value of the property.
11911 Value of the property is less than $100. - Applicable when the property being transferred has a fair market value of less than $100.
11911 Agent to principal, funds of the grantee used to purchase the property. - Only applicable when two deeds are recorded concurrently.
11911 Lease of less than 35 years. -- Applicable when leasehold interest with a term, including options, of less than 35 years.
11921 Instrument securing a debt for collateral purposes only. - Used on Assignments of Lease and/or Rents for collateral purposes only. Not valid on deeds.
11922 Governmental agency acquiring title. Includes foreclosing beneficiary to FHLMC or FNMA.
11923 Conveyance under bankruptcy Federal Case No. _____________. - Approved in court proceeding.
11923 Court Ordered conveyance not pursuant to a sale Court Case No. _____________. - Approved in court proceeding.
11923 Reorganization/adjustments plan Federal Case No. ________________. - Approved in court proceeding.
11924 Transfer by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission Case No. _____________. - Approved in court proceeding.
11925 Proportional interest remains the same. -- Applicable when transfers between individual(s) and legal entity(ies) in which proportional interest remains the same. *Cannot be used from individual to individual.
11926 Trustees Deed Upon Sale or Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. -- Applicable when the grantee was/was not the foreclosing beneficiary. The amount of consideration paid by grantee is $ ___________. The amount of debt with interest is $______________. A special tax statement is required to determine if any value exists. The tax exemption is for the value of the lien and does not include any equity of value.
11927 Dissolution of marriage. -- Applicable when transfer between spouses caused by or in anticipation of divorce.
11928 Grantor is a non-federal government agency. - Only applies when the purchaser immediately reconveys the realty to the exempt agency. The two deeds must be concurrent.
11929 Grantor is a non-federal government agency. -- Applicable when Grantee is a non-profit corporation. Does not apply to individuals or private entity(ies) granting to a non-profit corporation.
11930 Transfer into or out of a trust. -- Applicable when interests transferred outright to, or in trust for the benefit of any person or entity.
11930 Inter vivos gift. -- Applicable when bona fide gift (IRS gift tax may apply).
11930 Transfer by reason of death. -- Applicable when death of property owner where interest is transferred outright.

CITY OF EL CERRITO: Documentary Transfer Tax is collected by the Clerk-Recorder's office on behalf of the City of El Cerrito.
El Cerrito City Transfer Tax Collected (in addition to the Countywide DTT) for the City of El Cerrito based on the full value of the property (El Cerrito Ord. 18-03).....................................$12.00 (per $1,000)
Any amount over $1.00 must be rounded up to the nearest $1,000 for the El Cerrito City Transfer Tax.

CITY OF RICHMOND: Documentary Transfer Tax is collected by the Clerk-Recorder's office on behalf of the City of Richmond.
Richmond City Transfer Tax is Collected (in addition to the Countywide DTT) for the City of Richmond based on the full value of the property (Richmond Ord. 35-90)
Under $1 million.......................................$7.00 (per $1,000)
$1 million -- $3 million................................$12.50 (per $1,000)
$3 million -- $10 million..............................$25.00 (per $1,000)
Over $10 million........................................$30.00 (per $1,000)
Any amount over $1.00 must be rounded up to the nearest $1,000 for the Richmond City Transfer Tax.

SENATE BILL 2 - Effective January 1, 2018, pursuant to SB2 (Atkins), documents accepted for recording at the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder may be charged an additional $75 as follows:

A tax of seventy-five dollars ($75) shall be paid at the time of recording of every real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to be recorded, except those expressly exempted from payment of recording fees, per each single transaction per parcel of real property. The tax imposed by this section shall not exceed two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225).

This tax will be calculated per document, with a maximum of $225 based on the number of documents and titles.

The tax shall not be imposed on any real estate instrument, paper, or notice recorded in connection with a transfer subject to the imposition of a documentary transfer tax as defined in 11911 of the Revenue and Taxation Code or on any real estate instrument, paper, or notice recorded in connection with a transfer of real property that is a residential dwelling to an owner-occupier.

A declaration of valid exemption must be placed on the face of each document, or on a document cover page, which shall become part of the document, prior to depositing with the Recorder. If no valid exemption is declared, the tax will be assessed.
This requirement is being made in accordance with the legislative amendment of Government Code 27388.1

GOVERNMENT LIENS:
Release of Lien, Judgment, Encumbrance or Notice - Executed by the state or any political subdivision of the state (GC 27361.3, 27361.4, 27388, 27397(c)(1), 27361(d)(1), CCC Res. 95-633))..............................$20.00

Release of Lien, Judgment, Encumbrance or Notice - Recorded in ERROR by the state or any political subdivision of the state (GC 27361.3, GC 27361.4)...$0.00
Federal Tax Lien or Release - Per document title; additional page fees apply (GC 27361, 27397, 27361.4).................................$14.00

MAP FILINGS:
Filing or Recording of Map -- 1st page Subdivision, parcel, survey and assessment (GC 27372, 27361, 27361.4)..................................$9.00

Each Additional Page - Each page after the first page (GC 27372, 27361(c))...................$3.00

COPY FEES:
Official Record Copy Fee......................$1.00 per page
Map Copy Fee (18 x 26).....................$3.50 per page
Certified Copy Fee.............................$2.50 per certification plus copy fees

The Clerk Recorder accepts cash, check, credit, or debit cards as a form of payment. Credit and debit transactions are subject to a service fee of up to $6.

County recording fees are subject to change without notice. For the most current fees and further information, contact the local recorder directly.

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

To allow space for the recording label and to avoid extra fees, the top 2.5" of the first page (from the left to the right edges) must be left blank and the documents must have at least a 1.5" margin on each vertical side.

The top left 3" x 5" must show the name of the person requesting the recording and a return name and address. The remaining portion of the space is for the recording label.

For documents that are not 8.5" x 11", each page will be subject to an additional fee of $3. Pages larger than 8.5" x 14" will not be accepted.

The Clerk Recorder offices will not provide document forms and will not assist in the preparation of forms.

In order to meet the legibility requirements, your documents will have to scan properly on the high speed digital scanners used by Contra Costa County.

Do not use highlighter pens or bold type; instead, underline important information.

Use only blue or black ink and a standard font (Times New Roman or Arial) size 9 or larger.

Documents that have been printed on a laser printer will scan better than documents printed on an ink jet printer.