San Diego County, California - Recorder Information

Register of Deeds

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

Recording Fees

First page of all titles not associated with the real estate fraud fee............... $14.00 (standard page size (8 " x 11")) -GOV 27361(a),(c); GOV 27361.4(a),(b),(c); GOV 27397(c)(1)
First page of all titles associated with the real estate fraud fee ......................$17.00
Titles associated with fraud fee: Deed of Trust, Notice of Trustee Sale, Assignment
of Deed of Trust, Reconveyance, Notice of Default, Substitution of Trustee, Request
for Notice, Notice of Rescission of Declaration of Default. (standard page size (8 " x 11"))
GOV 27361(a),(c); GOV 27361.4(a),(b),(c); GOV 27397(c)(1); GOV 27388(a)(1)

SB 2 -- Atkins Building Homes and Jobs Act.............................................................$75.00
Fee to be charged for every real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or
permitted by law to be recorded, except those expressly exempted from payment
of recording fees, per each single transaction per parcel of real property. The fee
imposed by this section shall not exceed two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225)
per single transaction. Please see GC 27388.1 for exemptions. GOV 27388.1

Each additional page (8 " x 11").................................................$3.00 GOV 27361(a),(b),(c)

Release of lien by a state or local government entity.......................................$20.00
(excludes federal)-GOV 27361.3(a),(c)

Non-standard printing (penalty print fee)................................................. $1.00
9 lines per vertical inch or 22 characters per horizontal inch, per page. GOV 27361(a)(1)

Non-standard size page...................................................................................$3.00
(other than 8 " x 11"), per page. GOV 27361(a)(2)

Each additional title not associated with the real estate fraud fee............................$14.00 GOV 27361(a),(c); GOV 27361.4(a),(b),(c); GOV 27397(c)(1)
Each additional title associated with the real estate fraud fee................................$17.00
GOV 27361(a),(c); GOV 27361.4(a),(b),(c); GOV 27397(c)(1); GOV 27388(a)(1)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRING ADDITIONAL INDEXING:
Each additional recording reference indexed ................................$1.00 GOV 27361.2
Additional names indexed (each group of 10 names after the first) ...............$7.00
GOV 27361.8; GOV 54985; ORD 10845

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDER SERVICE FEES
Documentary transfer tax per $500.00 (or a fraction thereof)......$0.55
RTC 11911; ORD 9889
Monument preservation..........................................$10.00 GOV 27585
Notification of involuntary lien -- first notice ............................$13.00
GOV 27387; GOV 54985; ORD 10845
Notification of involuntary lien -- each additional notice.................................$6.00
(at different address) GOV 27387; GOV 54985; ORD 10845
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report..............................$20.00----RTC 480.3(b)
Preliminary notice.................................................................$23.00--GOV 27361.9; .ORD 10845
Filing (non-recorded document)................$12.00---GOV 27380; GOV 54985; ORD 10845
Record search (financing statement -- request for information, etc.) $8.00
COM 9525(c); CCP 2103(d); GOV 54985; ORD 10634
Document copy or system generated report -- first page.................$2.00
(sizes up to and including 11" x 17")- GOV 27366; RES 2017-175
Document copy or system generated report -- each additional page............$.05
(sizes up to and including 11" x 17")-GOV 27366; RES 2017-175
Certification...............................$1.00 GOV---- 27364; RES 2007-086

MISCELLANEOUS:
Power of attorney (file, cancel, withdraw, or revoke) -- first name............$20.00
GOV 26855.1; GOV 54985; ORD 10824
Power of attorney (file, cancel, withdraw, or revoke) -- each additional name...$2.25 GOV 26855.1

Documentary Transfer Tax:
Due on all taxable conveyances in excess of $100 at a rate of $.55 per $500 or fractional portion of real property value; excluding any liens or encumbrances already of record as required, per Revenue and Taxation Code 11911. It is collected at the time of recording on each deed, or instrument.

A Documentary Transfer Tax Declaration must be completed and signed for all deeds. If no Documentary Transfer Tax is due, so indicate by entering "0" on the tax line and sign the declaration. Please explain the reason why no tax is due on the document or on a separate signed statement. (R&T 11932)

If any portion of your recordable real estate deed document is in a foreign language, it must be translated into English. The translator will need to complete a Declaration and Verification of Interpretation form for submission to the County Clerk. The County Clerk will then complete a Translation Certificate for a fee of $10.00. Both the Declaration of Interpretation and the Translation Certificate forms must be completed and attached to the document prior to recording.

All applicable fees must be paid at the time of recording. When using a credit or debit card, a $2.50 surcharge will be added to the transaction.

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.

If paying by check or money order, please make your check or money order payable to "San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk"

Document Formatting Requirements

The property must be located in San Diego County.(CC 1169)

The document must be authorized or required by law to be recorded. (GC 27201)

The document must be submitted with the proper fees and taxes. (GC 6301, 27201, 27261)

The document must be in compliance with state and local laws.

The document should Name the person requesting recording. (GC 27361.6)

The document should state the Name and address to whom the document should be returned, fill in "Recording Requested By and Mail To". (GC 27361.6)

The document must be legible enough to produce a readable photographic record.(GC 27201, 27361.6, 27361.7)

Signatures must be original unless the document is a certified copy issued by the appropriate custodian of the public record. (GC 27201b, GC 28288, Evid Code 1530)

The document must be properly acknowledged, unless exempt. California requires an (all-purpose acknowledgement). (GC 27201, 27289, 27285, 27287, 27288, CC 1189)

The Assessor's Parcel Number is required on deeds by local Ordinance. (R&T 11911.1)

The notary seal must be legible for a microfilm reproduction .(GC 8207)

The document should not contain more than the last four digits of the Social Security number, pursuant to Civil Code 1798.89. This does not apply to documents executed prior to January 1, 2010 or certified copies of the death certificate attached to the documents.

If any portion of your recordable real estate deed document is in a foreign language, it must be translated into English. The translator will need to complete a Declaration and Verification of Interpretation form for submission to the County Clerk. The County Clerk will then complete a Translation Certificate for a fee of $10.00. Both the Declaration of Interpretation and the Translation Certificate forms must be completed and attached to the document prior to recording.