San Mateo County Recorder Information

Land records in San Mateo County are recorded by the County Clerk-Recorder. The office is held by Mark Church.

The online index has no document images. Recorded documents can also be searched on public terminals in the office.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recorder Services | San Mateo County ACRE · Mark Church Bio · Search the Grantee-Grantor Database

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)).

Undersized print: $1.00 on every page of the document. Combined documents: $14.00 per title. Preliminary 20-Day Notice (record, notify filer): $84.00. Financing Statements/UCC: $14.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page. Involuntary liens: supplemental fee to notify debtors $7.00 (government filers exempt), $3.00 for each additional group of ten debtors; search files and certify findings $15.00 per debtor; state tax lien on an out-of-state debtor $8.00. Release of a lien recorded without fee per Gov 27383: $20.00. Acknowledge/proof of recording/conformed copy: $10.00. Research files: $20.00. Map of subdivided land: $9.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page. Copy of paper on file, no certification: $5.00 first page. Restrictive Covenant Modification: no fee.

Paying the office

Mailed documents must include a pre-printed check or money order.

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 county tax is imposed under San Mateo County Ordinance 2.93 at 55 cents per $500 or fraction thereof. The City of San Mateo is the only city for which the county collects a city conveyance tax. That tax is levied at $5 per thousand, based on the purchase price or fair market value of the real property interest conveyed, and is due at the time of recording. A separate declaration for the city conveyance tax must appear on the face of the document.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: RECORDER · Recording Documents FAQs | San Mateo County ACRE · How to Record a Document | San Mateo County ACRE · 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.

The right-hand 5" of the top 2 1/2" of the first page must be kept clear for the Recorder's use. The tax statement address goes on the bottom of the first page of deeds. Exhibits should be on separate pages and properly marked. A foreign-language document must have an English translation certified by the County Clerk attached. A document may not display more than the last four digits of a social security number.

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

A rejected mailed document and its payment are sent back unrecorded with an explanation. For a conformed copy (proof of recording), include an exact copy of the document with a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recording Requirements | San Mateo County ACRE · How to Record a Document | San Mateo County ACRE · County Clerk-Recorder Division · 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)