Washington County Recorder Information

Land records in Washington County are recorded by the Department of Assessment & Taxation - Recording Division.

Documents may be viewed on the computers in the customer service lobby free of charge; self-made copies are $.50 per page. Staff-made copies are $4.00 for the first page and $.25 for each additional page; certified copies are $3.75 in addition to the staff-made charge. Copies may be requested by phone or email, with copy fees pre-paid.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recording a Document | Washington County, OR · Copies of Documents | Washington County, OR

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 August 1, 2025.

StatewideA page is one side of a sheet 14 inches or less long and 8-1/2 inches or less wide. Each additional transaction in a multi-transaction instrument under ORS 205.236, each additional municipal assessment lien, and each additional lien under ORS 311.675 is $5. A county may require a Public Land Corner Preservation Fund fee by ordinance under ORS 203.148 (ORS 205.320(1)(j)). Up to $3.75 may be charged for locating a record for copies.

The Public Land Corner Preservation Fee is $10.00 per document (Washington County R&O 25-51, ORS 203.148), increased from $5.00 on August 1, 2025. Instruments otherwise exempt from recording fees, internal county government instruments not otherwise charged, and IRS and US Department of Justice liens, satisfactions and related documents are exempt from it. If the first page lacks a 3-inch x 3-inch space in the top right-hand corner, an extra page fee of $5.00 is charged. Documents submitted with insufficient fees are returned unrecorded. Re-recording is charged the recording fee again.

Paying the office

All recording fees are required to be paid at the time of recording.

Transfer tax

No transfer tax. None is collected when a document is recorded. (statewide, Or. Const. Art. IX, §15)

StatewideNo state real estate transfer tax. ORS 306.815 bars cities, counties, and other political subdivisions from imposing a tax or fee on the transfer of a fee estate in real property, but does not apply to a tax in effect and operative on March 31, 1997, or to Public Land Corner Preservation Fund fees under ORS 203.148; local offices where a grandfathered tax exists collect their own.

Washington County Real Property Transfer Tax (Chapter 3.04 Washington County Code) is charged on each transfer of real property located within Washington County, including every sale, quitclaim, contract for sale, or other transfer of title. The tax is one dollar per thousand dollars of the selling price. The tax is paid, or an exemption is filed, within fifteen (15) days from the date of recording; after 15 days a late penalty is assessed. Exemptions are listed in section 3.04.030J.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: HJR 203 (2020), reprinting Or. Const. Art. IX §15 · Recording a Document | Washington County, OR · Increased Recording Fees Effective August 1, 2025 · Transfer Tax Exemption & Application Forms · ORS 205.320 Fees collected by county clerk · ORS 205.327 Penalty for presenting nonstandard instruments for recording · ORS 306.815 Tax on transfer of real property prohibited; exceptions

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

The first page must have a 3-inch x 3-inch space in the top right-hand corner for recording information. If there's not enough space an extra page fee of $5.00 is charged.

StatewideThe first page must contain the names of the transactions, the names of the parties to be indexed, the return name and address, for fee title conveyances the true and actual consideration (ORS 93.030) and tax statement information (ORS 93.260), and for assignments of a mortgage or trust deed the assignee's name and address. Instruments must be clearly labeled to allow recording in the appropriate record. Size and type rules do not apply to out-of-state notarial acts or certified copies of public records.

Provide a legible original document. As of January 1, 2020 electronic signatures and notaries are accepted on documents submitted for recording (ORS 93.804). Re-recorded documents must carry the re-recording statement on the first page or an attached cover sheet.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• J.2 Deeds in lieu of foreclosure and transfers by order of court Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.3 Vendors assignments and transfers of a sellers interest in a contract Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.7 Trustees deed as a result of foreclosure Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.10 Fulfillment Deeds Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.11 Documents recorded solely for security purposes Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.13 Exemption Form Under $13,999 Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.14 Transfers to effect a mere change in identity form or place of organization Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.15 Transfers to effect the dissolution of a corporation, partnership or joint venture Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.16 Transfers by gift, devise or inheritance Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption
• J.18 Transfers between spouses effected by court order in a marriage dissolution or separation Washington County Assessment & Taxation
  To claim a transfer tax exemption

Submitting documents

Mailed documents must include the appropriate fee; contact the office to verify the amount. Documents submitted with insufficient fees will be returned unrecorded. The office cannot help fill out documents, advise which document type to use, or provide notary services.

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: Recording a Document | Washington County, OR · Transfer Tax Exemption & Application Forms · ORS 205.232 Conditions for instruments to be recorded · ORS 205.234 Requirements for first page of instruments to be recorded