Recorder Offices
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Ventura County Clerk-Recorder
East County Satellite Office
About the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder
Land records in Ventura County are recorded by the County Clerk-Recorder. The office is held by Michelle Ascencion.
Official Record documents and maps are maintained from 1873 to present. Searching by APN number must be done in person; public kiosks are available in the Ventura and Thousand Oaks offices.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Fee Schedule · County Recorder
Recording Fees
These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.
| Deeds and other conveyances | $14.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page (Regular recording fee; first page limited to 8.5 x 11 sheet) |
|---|---|
| Mortgages and deeds of trust | $14.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page (Regular recording fee; first page limited to 8.5 x 11 sheet) |
| Releases and satisfactions | $14.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page (Regular recording fee; Release of Lien listed separately at $20) |
| Other standard documents | $14.00 first page, $3.00 each additional page (Regular recording fee) |
Added at recording
| Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund | $10.00 Additional fee for each title on listed types, including all Deeds of Trust, Reconveyance, Quitclaim Deed, Release, Notice of Default, Lien, Easement, Lease, Trustee's Deed Upon Sale, all UCC instruments. Gov. Code § 27388 |
|---|---|
| Building Homes and Jobs Act Fee (SB 2) | $75.00 Any real estate instrument, paper or notice except those expressly exempted; not to exceed $225. Gov. Code § 27388.1 |
| Survey Monument Preservation Fund Fee | $10.00 Charged on deeds; deeds whose legal description refers to a recorded Subdivision Map are exempt. Gov. Code § 27584 |
Other charges
| Document that does not meet the formatting standards | $3.00 per page when A page or sheet does not conform to the dimensions described in Section 27361.5(a) |
|---|---|
| Additional names indexed | $1.00 each beyond the 10 included (per group of 10 names or fraction after the first 10) |
| Additional references or marginal notations | $1.00 each beyond the 1 included (each additional reference indexed) |
| Certification | $1.00 |
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)).
Each additional title (instrument, paper, or notice) combined in one document: $14.00 (Gov. Code § 27361.1). Recordation of Involuntary Lien (per debtor): $26.00 (Gov. Code § 27387). Preliminary 20-Day Filing and Notice: $50.00. Uniform Commercial Code filing: $20.00 for one or two pages, $30.00 for three or more pages. Recording, filing, and indexing maps: $6.00, each additional page $2.00. Copies: first page $2.00, each additional page $1.00 (Gov. Code § 27366). Effective January 1, 2027: Recorder Notification Program Fee of $5.00 (Gov. Code § 27297.7), applied to recorded Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds, Deeds of Trust, and Mortgage documents.
Paying the office
| Accepted | Cash, Check, Money order, Cashiers check, Credit card, Debit card |
|---|---|
| Checks payable to | Ventura County Clerk-Recorder |
| Card fee | A $2.50 convenience fee per transaction applies to all debit/credit card payments. |
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).
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Fee Schedule · General Recording Requirements · California Government Code § 27361 (FindLaw) · California Government Code § 27388 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911 (FindLaw) · California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11932 (FindLaw)
Document Requirements
Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.
| Paper size | 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches (a sheet not greater than 8 1/2 inches by 14 inches) (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.5) |
|---|---|
| First page top margin | 2.5 in (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.6) |
| Other margins | 0.5 in (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.6) |
| Ink and paper | Paper quality and print size and color must reproduce legibly by microphotographic or imaging processes (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.6) |
| Return address required | Yes (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27361.6) |
| Tax statement mailing address required | Yes (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27321.5(a)) |
| Parcel number required | Yes |
| Printed names under signatures required | Yes (statewide, Cal. Gov. Code § 27280.5) |
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.
Every document must show its title or titles on the first page directly below the space provided for recording; only those titles are indexed. Documents must contain original signatures or be originally certified by a government agency. Ventura County does not conform copies.
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 EqualizationMay 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
- SB2 Building Homes and Jobs Act Exemption Cover sheet Ventura County Clerk-RecorderWhen an exemption is applicable, a valid declaration of exemption must be shown on the face of the document or on a cover page
Submitting documents
| In person | Accepted |
|---|
Ventura County does not conform copies; additional copies sent to be conformed are returned. In-person services at the East County office are by appointment only.
Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: County Recorder · General Recording Requirements · County Recorder Forms · 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)
Deeds.com Resources & Services
Using Deeds.com is optional. Contact the recorder's office directly for its services and submission options.
How to Get a Copy of Your Deed
Read Deeds.com's guide to requesting document copies from the recorder's office.
Deeds.com eRecording
Not available through Deeds.com
Deeds.com does not currently offer eRecording in Ventura County. Contact the recorder's office about its submission options.
Recorder Offices
Contact the recorder's office directly for its records, copies, and recording requirements.
Ventura County Clerk-Recorder
East County Satellite Office
Deeds.com Forms
Blank legal forms sold by Deeds.com, not by the recorder's office.
Supplemental Document Resources
Recording-related forms and instructions for reference. Confirm which documents apply with the recorder's office.
Deeds.com Customer Care
For help with Deeds.com products, services, or your account. This does not contact the recorder's office.
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