Marin County Recorder Information

About Marin County Recorder

The recorder is responsible for maintaining records for real property located in Marin County.

Recording Fees

Basic Recording Fee (Note: Additional mandatory fees apply to most documents): First page (8 1/2" x 11") - Per Document Title [GC 27361, 27397] $14.00

UCC Amendment, Assignment, Continuation, Statement, or Termination (Additional Mandatory Fees* may apply) - Standard national form [GC 12194, 57388.1, MC Resolution 2014-58, 2017-102] 1-2 Pages (flat fee) $14.00 -- 3 or more pages (flat fee) $24.00

Release of State or Local Government Lien (if original lien was recorded without fee) [GC 27361, Marin County Resolution 2014-58, 2017-102].....................$20.00

Recording Pursuant Uniform Federal Lien Registration Act [CCP 2100, GC 27361, MC Resolution 2014-58, 2017-102].......................................24.00

Additional mandatory fee: SB2-Building Homes & Jobs Act (GC 27388.1) - Per Document Title - Limited exemptions apply - see complete fee schedule for document titles/exemptions............................................$75.00

$10.00 Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund Applies to the following document titles:
Abstract of Judgment
Affidavit (all types)
Amended Deed of Trust
Assignment of Deed of Trust
Assignment of Lease
Assignment of Rents
Construction Deed of Trust
Covenants, Condition and Restrictions
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 Rescission of Declaration of Default
Notice of Trustee's Sale
Quitclaim Deed
Reconveyance
Release (all types)
Request for Notice of Default
Subordination Agreement
Substitution of Trustee
Trustee's Deed Upon Sale
UCC's (all types)
Any of these titles being rerecorded
Please Note: This fee will not apply to any document subject to Documentary Transfer Tax or any document recorded in connection with such document.

Each additional page (8 1/2" x 11")................................................................$3.00

Penalty fee for non-standard page (other than 8 x 11") applies to all pages of document.....................$3.00

Penalty Fee for small print (more than 9 lines per vertical inch or more than 22 characters and spaces per inch measured horizontally)............................................$1.00

Optional fee for Involuntary Lien Notification (per debtor).................................$11.00

Fee for not filing a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report at time of transfer (R&T 480.3, 480.4)..........................................................................$20.00

Documentary Transfer Tax: County Transfer Tax (all areas) - based on full value less assumed liens............$0.55 per $500 (or portion thereof)

City of San Rafael Tax in addition to County tax - based on full value $2.00 per $1,000 (or portion thereof)

Survey Monument Preservation Fee (Applies to transfer documents only)............$10.00

Fee for filing a California Preliminary 20 Day Notice................................................$50.00

COPY FEES:
Copies - First Page (Government Code 27366)...........................................$4.00
Each Additional Page..........................................................................$2.00
Maps: Subdivision, Parcel, Survey, Assessment Diagrams (18" x 26") each page.....$5.00
Certification of above (complete documents only).........................................$4.00
Courtesy Copy /Acknowledgment of Recording (requested at the time of recording) *Requestor must provide document copy. Self-addressed, stamped envelope required for return by mail............................................No Fee*

Documentary Transfer Tax:
-County Transfer Tax (all areas) - based on full value less assumed liens-$0.55 per $500.00 or portion thereof
-City of San Rafael Tax in addition to County tax - based on full value-$2.00 per $1000.00 or portion thereof

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

On January 1, 2018, California Senate Bill 2, a.k.a., the "Building Homes and Jobs Act," goes into effect and may increase recording fees for real estate instruments. The fee will address homelessness and housing shortages, and help to increase the rate of home ownership within the State by creating a Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund to which the additional fee will be remitted.

Upon taking effect, the recorder's office will impose a fee of $75.00 to be paid when recording every real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to be recorded, per each single transaction per single parcel of real property, not to exceed $225.00.

Transfers subject to the documentary transfer tax as defined in Section 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 are exempt from this fee.

If you have any questions about how the Building Homes and Jobs Act affects your recording fees, please speak with a clerk with the Recorder's Office or a licensed attorney within the state.

Document Formatting Requirements

* Submit an original document that has been signed and acknowledged in front of a notary public.

* A California all-purpose acknowledgment is needed for real property documents.

* The entire document must be sufficiently legible to produce a readable photographic copy. Black ink with a font size of at least 10 point should be used to ensure legibility and to avoid penalty print charges. Printing should be single-sided.

* Documents should be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper.

* On the first page, a 2.5 inch top margin should be provided. The left 3.5 inches of this space should include the name of the party requesting the recording, as well as a return address where the document should be returned after recording.

* Side margins should be at least 1/2 an inch. Top and bottom margins should be a minimum of 1 inch.

* Directly below the 2.5 inch top margin on the first page, the title of the document should be given. The recorder is required to index only the title (or titles) listed in this space. Additional titles may be identified and indexed at the discretion of the recorder.

* Corresponding names should be typed or written beneath signatures in the document.

* Across the bottom of the first page, include the name and return address of the person or entity to where future tax statements should be mailed.

* A document that modifies, cancels, or releases the provisions of a previous document of record requires a recording reference.

* If an entire instrument or part of an instrument is in a language other than English, it will not be accepted unless it is accompanied by an English translation. The translation must be performed by a certified or registered court interpreter or by an accredited translator registered with the American Translators Association. The translation must be accompanied by a notarized declaration.

* If the document effects or evidences a transfer or encumbrance of an interest in real property, the name or names in which the interest appears of record, shall show the name(s) of the assessed owners as they appear on the latest secured assessment roll.

* If the document releases or terminates any interest, right, or encumbrance, it shall contain the names of the persons and entities owning the title or interest being relieved by the document, or the names of the owners of that title or interest as they appeared at the time and in the document creating the right, interest, or encumbrance.

The recording act in California is a race-notice act. A later buyer who pays fair value, does not have notice that there were any earlier conflicting interests, and records first, wins and will have priority over any later recordings.