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The Clerk-Recorder is responsible for maintaining records for real property located in Sonoma County.
Recording Fees
Standard Pages (8" x 11")
No Documentary Transfer Tax, SB2 fee exemption, or AB1466 fee exemption
[Government Codes 27361, 27388.1, 27388.2, 27397, 77205]
$91.00 first page
$3.00 per additional page
Standard Pages (8" x 11")
Documentary Transfer Tax paid or exempt from SB2 and AB1466 fee (stated on first page of document or cover sheet)
[Government Codes 27361, 27388.1, 27388.2, 27397, 77205]
$14.00 first page
$3.00 per additional page
Double Documents
[Government Code 27361.1, 27388.1, 27388.2]
$14.00 per additional title (with SB2 and AB1466 exemption stated on face of document)
$91.00 per additional title
(no SB2 or AB1466 exemption)
Documents Requiring Additional Indexing
[Government Code 27361.2, 27631.8]
$1.00 per additional
reference indexed
$1.00 each group of
10 names
Combined Documents
[Government Code 27361.1, 27388.1, 27388.2]
$14.00 per additional title
(with SB2 and AB1466 exemption stated on face of document)
$91.00 per additional title
(no SB2 or AB1466 exemption)
Release of Lien by a Public Agency
[Government Code 27361.3]....................$20.00
Survey Monument Fee [Government Codes 27584, 27585] [Resolution 10-0900]
The fee is $10.00 and will apply to Grant Deeds. It does NOT include:
Quit Claim Deed, Tax Deed Reconveyance, Deed Decree of Distribution Judgment of Partition, Deed of Trust Easement Deed, Deed changing vesting (ie: community property to joint tenancy, or to your own trust), Correction Deed Re-Recorded Deed
EXCEPTIONS TO THE FEE INCLUDE: Grant Deeds conveying lots created by recorded tract (subdivision) map
Grant Deed conveying real property from any public agency
Grant Deed conveying real property to any public agency
THE ONLY EXEMPT LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS ARE A REFERENCE TO A FULL PARCEL CREATED BY A RECORDED SUBDIVISION/TRACT MAP OR REFERENCE TO A CONDOMINIUM UNIT
EXAMPLES OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION THAT ARE NOT EXEMPT:
Parcel created by a recorded Record of Survey Map, Parcel created by a recorded Parcel Map, Portion of a parcel created by a recorded Subdivision Map (including exceptions from described parcels), U. S. Government Survey (Township & Range), Metes and Bounds, Street address, Omnibus description (ie: all property located in Sonoma County), Generic description (ie: the Norton Ranch)
NOTE: In the absence of a clear description the Recorder's Office will assume that a fee is due. Example: "Lot 4 on Recorded Map 143 at Page 37, Sonoma County Records"
Maps
[Government Codes 27372, 27361, 27397, & 27388.1]................$9.00
$2.00 per additional page
Filed Documents (building contracts)
[Government Code 27380].....................................$6.00
UCC Filings (1 or 2 pages)
[Government Code 12194, 27388.1, 27388.2]
$10.00 each (with SB2 and AB1466 exemption stated on face of document)
$87.00 (no SB2 and AB1466 exemption)
UCC Filings (3 or more pages)
[Government Code 12194, 27388.1, 27388.2]
$20.00 each (with SB2 and AB1466 exemption
stated on face of document)
$97.00 (no SB2 and AB1466 exemption)
NOTIFICATION FEES
Involuntary Lien Notice Notification
[Government Code 27387 & 27297.5]..............................$7.00 each
Preliminary Lien Notice Notification
[Government Code 27361.9]......................................$35.00 each
ADDITIONAL FEES
Non-standard page size
(8 " x 14" maximum size)
[Government Code 27361(a)(2)....$3.00 per page (for every page of document)
PCOR Fee (no PCOR with deed)
[Revenue & Taxation 480.3/Resolution 85-1260].............$20.00
Penalty Print
[Government Code 27361(a)(1)]............................$1.00 per page
TAXES
Authorization to Charge Documentary Transfer Tax: Revenue & Taxation Code 11911
Valid Exemptions to Documentary Transfer Tax: Revenue & Taxation Code 11921-11930
Documentary Transfer Tax
County Transfer Tax (per $500.00) *
Includes cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Sonoma and Town of Windsor $0.55
Santa Rosa City Transfer Tax (per $1,000.00) ** $2.00
Petaluma City Transfer Tax (per $1,000.00) ** $2.00
* Minus any loans assumed in the sale.
** Santa Rosa and Petaluma City transfer tax is collected in addition to County transfer tax.
** No exemption for assumed loans.
Documents that transfer title are subject to payment of the documentary transfer tax on the value of the property transferred or on the amount paid for the property being purchased.
If the document is exempt from transfer taxes, a statement and/or appropriate Revenue and Taxation code should be stated on the face of the exempt document.
Some local communities require additional taxes. Check the recorder's website for details: http://www.sonoma-county.org/recorder/fees.asp
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.
Exemptions
Only an expressly limited number of statutory exemptions exist regarding the collection of this fee. When an exemption is applicable, a valid declaration of exemption must be placed on the face of each document, or on the cover page, prior to depositing with the Recorder, otherwise the fee will be assessed and collected. Following are samples of applicable statutory exemptions to be used on the first page of each document:
* Document is subject to the imposition of documentary transfer tax and includes a declaration showing the amount of documentary transfer tax paid at the time of recording
* Exempt from fee per GC 27388.1 (a) (2); recorded concurrently "in connection with" a transfer subject to the imposition of documentary transfer tax
* Exempt from fee per GC sec 27388.1 (a) (2); Document represents a transfer of real property that is a residential dwelling to an owner-occupier
* Exempt from fee per GC 27388.1 (a) (2); recorded concurrently "in connection with" a transfer of real property that is a residential dwelling to an owner-occupier
* Exempt from fee per GC 27388.1 (a) (1); fee cap of $225.00 reached
* Exempt from the fee per GC 27388.1 (a) (1) Not related to real property
Failure to include a specified statutory exemption reason will result in the imposition of the $75.00 Building Homes and Job Act fee.
Note: This fee is collected on behalf of the State of California and funds are deposited with the State of California. The County Recorder only collects the fee on behalf of the State of California. Our staff has no discretion to exempt documents from the fee except as specifically provided by Government Code Section 27388.1.
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.
Document Formatting Requirements
* Submit an original document that has been signed and acknowledged in front of a notary public.
* A California all-purpose acknowledgment is needed for real property documents.
* The entire document must be sufficiently legible to produce a readable photographic copy. Black ink with a font size of at least 10 point should be used to ensure legibility and to avoid penalty print charges. Printing should be single-sided.
* Documents should be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper.
* On the first page, a 2.5 inch top margin should be provided. The left 3.5 inches of this space should include the name of the party requesting the recording, as well as a return address where the document should be returned after recording.
* Side margins should be at least 1/2 an inch. Top and bottom margins should be a minimum of 1 inch.
* Directly below the 2.5 inch top margin on the first page, the title of the document should be given. The recorder is required to index only the title (or titles) listed in this space. Additional titles may be identified and indexed at the discretion of the recorder.
* Corresponding names should be typed or written beneath signatures in the document.
* Across the bottom of the first page, include the name and return address of the person or entity to where future tax statements should be mailed.
* A document that modifies, cancels, or releases the provisions of a previous document of record requires a recording reference.
* If an entire instrument or part of an instrument is in a language other than English, it will not be accepted unless it is accompanied by an English translation. The translation must be performed by a certified or registered court interpreter or by an accredited translator registered with the American Translators Association. The translation must be accompanied by a notarized declaration.
* If the document effects or evidences a transfer or encumbrance of an interest in real property, the name or names in which the interest appears of record, shall show the name(s) of the assessed owners as they appear on the latest secured assessment roll.
* If the document releases or terminates any interest, right, or encumbrance, it shall contain the names of the persons and entities owning the title or interest being relieved by the document, or the names of the owners of that title or interest as they appeared at the time and in the document creating the right, interest, or encumbrance.
The recording act in California is a race-notice act. A later buyer who pays fair value, does not have notice that there were any earlier conflicting interests, and records first, wins and will have priority over any later recordings.