Sacramento County Recorder Information

Land records in Sacramento County are recorded by the County Clerk/Recorder.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Fee Schedule

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

Added at recording

Other charges

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)).

Each additional title is charged $20.00 ($95.00 when the Building Homes and Jobs Act fee is assessed). Documents exempt from the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Fee: first page/title $14.00, each additional page $3.00, each additional title $14.00. Release of governmental lien (per lien released) $20.00 (Gov. Code § 27361.3). Filed documents (contract agreements, contracts, plans and specifications) $7.00 (Gov. Code § 27380). Maps: first page (including $75 Building Homes and Jobs Act Fee) $113.00, each subsequent page $19.00. Preliminary 20 Day Notice $32.00. Conformed copies of documents to be recorded are conformed for no fee.

Paying the office

Recording fees for documents presented at the Satellite Office - South, or after 3:00 p.m. at the Main office, must be paid by cash or check. All payments must be in U.S. dollars. Starter checks, unnumbered checks, and non-personalized checks are not acceptable.

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).

The City of Sacramento collects a separate Additional Real Property Transfer Tax under Sacramento City Code § 3.16.020 on transfers of interests in real property located in the City of Sacramento incorporated area, levied at the rate of .00275 of the value of consideration, and does not receive any county DTT revenue. Effective September 1, 2013, it is due and payable at the time of deed recording and is collected by the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder, in addition to DTT, if the tax amount has been identified in the declaration on the first or lead page.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Fee Schedule · Acceptable Forms of Payment · City of Sacramento Additional Real Property Transfer Tax · 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

Documents deposited at the Main office after 3:00 p.m. are recorded the next business day. Same-day document recording is not available at the Satellite Office - South.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Transferring Ownership of Real Property · Location, Hours, and Holidays · 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)