Napa County Recorder Information

Land records in Napa County are recorded by the Recorder-County Clerk. The office is held by John Tuteur.

All documents are filmed and indexed so that copies can be prepared on request, and records are available to the public for property searches and genealogical research. A free Guard Dog email notification service alerts registered property owners when a matching document is recorded.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recorder-County Clerk Fee Schedule · Recorder - County Clerk directory · Recorder - County Clerk

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 July 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)).

Multiple title documents: $15.00 for each additional title (Housing Tax may apply). Penalty print: $1.00 per page. Conformed copy charge: $1.00 per document. Documents recorded without a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report: $20.00. Release of State Liens: $20.00. Federal Tax Lien: $15.00. Federal Tax Lien Releases: $7.00. Release of County Tax Lien: $20.00, plus $3.00 for each additional page. Involuntary lien notification: $10.00 per debtor. Preliminary 20-Day Notice filing: $38.00. Military Discharge (DD214): no fee. Map filing: $8.00 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page. Recorded map copies: $4.00 per page.

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).

Napa County's fee schedule lists the Documentary Transfer Tax at $0.55 per each $500.00. The county describes the municipality's share as one-half of $0.55 per $500, which the County Auditor distributes quarterly for properties inside each municipality's boundaries.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recorder-County Clerk Fee Schedule · Document Transfer Tax · California Government Code § 27361 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27388.1 (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.

Additional titles indexed by the Napa County Recorder include, but are not limited to, an Assignment of Rents and Leases found in the body of the document. If a notary seal cannot be reproduced photographically, the notary's name, county of principal place of business, telephone number, registration number, and commission expiration date may be typed or printed legibly next to or below the seal (GC 27201.5).

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

Documents are recorded between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. every day, excluding legal holidays, and the office is open during the lunch hour for recording. Documents accepted after 3 p.m. are held to record the next business day if they meet recording requirements and the payment for the recording fees is left with the document.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recorder - County Clerk · Basic Recording Requirements · FAQs Recorder/County Clerk · 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)