Sacramento County Recorder Information

The Clerk-Recorder is responsible for maintaining records for real property located in Sacramento County.

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

1. Basic Recording Fees (GOV 27360-27388)
*First page/title, 8" x 11" - $20.00*. Each additional page, if all pages are 8" x 11" - $3.00. Each additional title - $20.00*

*Some documents may be assessed a $75 fee for the Building Homes and Jobs Act unless specific exemptions apply. To be exempt from paying the Building Homes and Jobs Act fee, a document presented for recording must have on the first/lead page, one of the following:

1. Documents recorded concurrently "in connection with" a transfer subject to the imposition of documentary transfer tax.
2. Documents recorded concurrently "in connection with" a transfer of real property that is a residential dwelling to an owner-occupier.
3. The fee imposed has reached the cap of $225.
4. Documents not related to real property.

*Documents assessed the Building Homes and Jobs Act Fee:
o First page/title, 8" x 11" - $95.00. Each additional page, if all pages are 8" x 11" - $3.00. Each additional title - $95.00

* Documents exempt from the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Fee:
o First page/title, 8" x 11" - $14.00. Each additional page, if all pages are 8" x 11" - $3.00. Each additional title - $14.00

*Release of governmental lien (per lien released) (GOV 27361.3) - $20.00

2. ADDITIONS TO BASIC RECORDING FEES:
Rules for Recorded Documents
-----Portion of document more or less than 8" x 11" (GOV 27361(a)(2))
* Surcharge charged for each page of the document if any page is other than 8" x 11" - $3.00. Maximum size recordable is 8" x 14"
* Involuntary Lien Notification (GOV 27387). For abstracts of judgment, mechanic's liens, homeowner's association liens, etc. (per judgment debtor/owner) - $13.00

Documentary Transfer Tax (DTT) Imposed on each deed, instrument, or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the County shall be granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons by his or their direction. The tax is at the rate of $0.55 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof, when the net consideration or value of the property exceeds $100.00 exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining thereof at the time of sale. (RTC 11911). Those cities opting into this tax receive half the amount collected for property in the city.

* City Transfer Tax. The City of Sacramento collects a separate Additional Real Property Transfer Tax ("City Transfer Tax") pursuant to Sacramento City Code section 3.16.020 and does not receive any DTT revenue. City transfer tax is collected, in addition to DTT, if the tax amount has been identified in the declaration on the first or lead page the document. Read the City of Sacramento's notice for further information.

* Indexing of more than 10 names (GOV 27361.8). Each group of 10 names (or fraction after the initial 10 names) - $1.00

*Documents requiring additional indexing (GOV 27361.2). Any instrument containing reference to more than one previously recorded document requires additional indexing. A fee of $1.00 shall be charged for each additional reference. The first cross reference is included in the recording fee.

*Penalty print (GOV 27361) More than 9 lines per vertical inch or 22 characters per horizontal inch (per page) - $1.00

3. Filed Documents. Filed documents are contract agreements, contracts, and plans and specifications - $7.00 (GOV 27380)

*Maps (subdivision, parcel, survey and assessment): (GOV 27372, 27361.4)

*First page (including $75 Building Homes and Job Act Fee) - $113.00

*Each subsequent page - $19.00

*Preliminary 20 Day Notice - $32.00 (GOV 27361.9, SCC 2.01.012)

COPY FEES:
Official Records (Recorded Documents)
* First page - $8.00
* Each subsequent page - $1.00
* Certification per document - $1.00
* Self-service, uncertified copies may be purchased in-person for $1.00 per page.
* Order copies of previously recorded documents
Conformed (Accommodation) Copies
* Copies of documents to be recorded which are provided by the customer will be conformed with the date accepted for recording for NO FEE. Copies submitted through the mail will be conformed for no fee and returned if a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided.
Vital Records Fees, Certified (HSC 103625)
* Birth - $32.00
* Death - $24.00
* Marriage - $17.00 or Confidential Marriage - $17.00
Note: A Certificate of Search is issued when a record cannot be located. The fee is the same as the copy fee. (GOV 27369, HSC 103650 & HSC 103625). A search of the public vital statistics microfiche indexes by the applicant is NO FEE.
UCC Search (COM 9407) Per name - $17.00

DOCUMENTARY TRANSFER TAX (DTT) is imposed on each deed, instrument, or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the County shall be granted, assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons by his or their direction. The tax is at the rate of $0.55 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof, when the net consideration or value of the property exceeds $100.00 exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining thereof at the time of sale. (Revenue and Taxation Code 11911). Those cities opting into this tax receive half the amount collected for property in the city.

CITY TRANSFER TAX The City of Sacramento collects a separate Additional Real Property Transfer Tax ("City Transfer Tax") pursuant to Sacramento City Code section 3.16.020 and does not receive any DTT revenue. City transfer tax is collected, in addition to DTT, if the tax amount has been identified in the declaration on the first or lead page the document. Read the City of Sacramento's notice for further information.

INDEXING OF MORE THAN 10 NAMES (GC 27361.8)
Each group of 10 names (or fraction after the initial 10 names) - $1.00

DOCUMENTS REQUIRING ADDITIONAL INDEXING (GC 27361.2) Any instrument containing reference to more than one previously recorded document requires additional indexing. A fee of $1.00 shall be charged for each additional reference. The first cross reference is included in the recording fee.

PENALTY PRINT (GC 27361) More than 9 lines per vertical inch or 22 characters per horizontal inch (per page) - $1.00

Translation certification - $10.00

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.

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

Original Signature:
Requires an original signature(s) on all instruments, papers, or notices presented for recording except as otherwise provided by law. A certified copy is also acceptable.

Page and Sheet Defined:
(a) "Page" is one printed side of a single piece of paper being 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches.
(b) "Sheet" is one printed side of a single piece of paper which is not exactly 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches but not greater than 8-1/2 inches by 14 inches.

First Page or Sheet:
The first page or sheet of a document must provide space reserved for the recorder. At least the top 2-1/2 inches with the left 3-1/2 inches used to show the name of the person requesting recording and where to mail the document after it is recorded. If this space is not provided a separate page shall be attached by the person requesting recording which meets these criteria and reflects the title or titles of the document. (Standard recording fees will be charged for this page.)

Document Titles:
All documents must have the title or titles of the document contained herein. Only that title or titles captioned on the first page of a document immediately below the space reserved for the recorder will be indexed.

Fees:
If any part of a document does not conform to the definition of a page then a $3.00 surcharge shall be charged for every page or sheet of the document.

Recorder ID Number or Book and Page:
Any document which modifies, releases, or cancels the provisions of a previously recorded document shall state the recorder identification number or the book and page of the document being modified, released, or canceled.