Sutter County Recorder Information

Land records in Sutter County are recorded by the Clerk-Recorder. The office is held by Donna M. Johnston.

The online Official Records Index covers 12/1/1993 to present. Searching records is not within the legal scope of the office; the grantor/grantee index is a name index.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Clerk-Recorder | Sutter County, CA · Real Property Frequently Asked Questions

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 January 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)).

Combined documents: $15.00 each (GC 27361). Penalty print: $1.00 (GC 27361). Release of lien, State or County Government: $20.00 (GC 27361.3). Financing statements UCC-1 and UCC-2: $14.00 for 1-2 pages, $24.00 for 3 or more pages. Notification of involuntary lien: $13.25 first debtor, $4.50 each additional debtor (GC 27387). Preliminary 20-day filing and notice: $40.00 (GC 27361.9). Filing papers not to be recorded: $4.00 (GC 27380). Maps: $10.00 first page, $2.00 each additional page (GC 27372). Full-service copies: $4.00 per page (GC 27366). When a document contains more than one title to be indexed, the recording fee increases for each additional title indexed.

Paying the office

Personal checks must have the account holder's name, address, phone number, account number and check number preprinted on them. The office participates in the Sutter County District Attorney's Check Enforcement Program.

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).

Sutter County Documentary Transfer Tax: $0.55 per $500.00 or portion thereof (R&T 11911), described by the office as due at the time of recording on any transfer of real property.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Sutter County Clerk-Recorder Fee Schedule · How to Order Copies · 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.

Original signatures are required on all instruments presented for recording; a certified copy is also acceptable. Titles should appear on the first page directly below the space reserved for the Recorder. Additional titles indexed by the Recorder include, but are not limited to, Assignment of Rents and Assignment of Leases found in the body of the document.

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

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Real Property Frequently Asked Questions · Basic Recording Requirements · Real Property Records · 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)