Riverside County, California • Recorder deeds and official records • Reviewed September 18, 2026
Riverside County CA Recorder: Deeds, Official Records, Copies, Recording Requirements & Office Guide
The Riverside County Recorder is part of the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder office.
Use this office for recorded deeds, liens, official records, recorded document copies, certified copies, map recordings and document recording services.
Use the Assessor for property value, APN and assessment questions. Use the Treasurer-Tax Collector for tax bills, tax payments and delinquent tax issues.
Fast answer
Riverside County Recorder Quick Facts
Riverside County combines Assessor, County Clerk and Recorder services in one department.
Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.
Use for recorder, clerk, copy and recording questions.
County Clerk-Recorder toll-free phone line.
Riverside, CA 92507. Main location for many Recorder services and older-record needs.
1st Floor, Riverside, CA 92501. Offers document recording and record copies.
The self-service system displays recorder documents indexed from January 1, 1974 forward.
Certified copies are used when an official certified record is required.
If you need a deed copy, start with the official records search. If you only have an address or APN and need ownership/value details, start with Assessor services first.
Office locations
Riverside County Recorder Offices, Addresses, Hours and Services
Riverside County offers Recorder-related services at several public service locations.
Appointments are encouraged, and the county asks visitors to complete any required application before visiting.
Riverside Gateway
Address: 2724 Gateway Dr., Riverside, CA 92507
Phone: 951-486-7000
Hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Useful for: document recording, map recordings, record copies, clerk copies, notary registration and vital records.
Open Riverside Gateway LocationRiverside Downtown
Address: 4080 Lemon St., 1st Floor, Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: 951-955-6200
Hours: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Useful for: document recording, record copies, assessor services, notary verification, marriage licenses and vital records.
Open Downtown LocationPalm Desert
Address: 38-686 El Cerrito Rd., Palm Desert, CA 92211
Phone: 951-955-6200
Hours: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Useful for: document recording, record copies, drop box, clerk services and vital records.
Hemet
Address: 880 N. State St., Suite B-6, Hemet, CA 92543-1496
Phone: 951-955-6200
Hours: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Useful for: document recording, record copies, assessor service drop-off and clerk services.
Temecula
Address: 41002 County Center Dr. #230, Temecula, CA 92591-6027
Phone: 951-955-6200
Hours: 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Useful for: document recording, record copies, clerk services and vital records.
Blythe
Address: 270 N. Broadway, Blythe, CA 92225
Phone: 951-955-6200
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Useful for: document recording, record copies, drop box, clerk services and vital records.
Map and visit planning
Google Map to Riverside County Recorder Main Gateway Office
The Riverside Gateway office is the main public service location for many Recorder services.
Bring the document number, party name, recording date, document title, APN, copy request details or the document you want recorded.
Search workflow
How to Search Riverside County Deeds and Official Records
Riverside County’s self-service system allows official records search and fee-based copy ordering.
The system offers name search, document number search, document type search, map type and book/page search, and advanced search.
Start from the Riverside County self-service search page.
Open Official Records SearchUse name search if you know a party name. Use document number or book/page when you already have a reference.
Individual names should be entered last name first. The system’s help gives the example Smith James M.
Exact match searches the order you enter. Wildcard search works more like an internet search and can be broader.
Save the document number, recording date, document title, parties and any book/page information.
The county warns that no refunds are issued once copies are made, so confirm the document before ordering.
After opening: read the name-format instructions, search last name first, try an initial if needed, and use wildcard search when the exact spelling may not match.
The self-service system displays Recorder documents indexed from January 1, 1974 forward. The copy page says records from 1974 and earlier may need Gateway Riverside office research.
Copies and certified copies
How to Get a Riverside County Deed Copy or Certified Record
Riverside County offers regular and certified copies of recorded documents.
A regular copy may be enough for research. A certified copy is used when an agency, court, title company, lender or other official request requires certification.
Use the online search to locate and select the recorded document.
Ask the requesting party whether certification is required before you pay.
The county provides all four copy-request options for official records.
For in-person orders, the county says to keep the order number that begins with SST.
Recorded document copy first-page fee listed by the county.
Charged for each additional page of the same recorded document.
Certification makes the copy usable as an official certified copy.
After opening: choose online, mail, drop box or in-person service. Check the copy fee, certification fee, payment method and processing time before ordering.
After opening: search for the document, confirm it is correct, add it to the cart, choose regular or certified copy, and verify shipping/payment details before submitting.
Recording workflow
Recording a Deed or Real-Estate Document in Riverside County
The Recorder records documents that meet California and local recording requirements.
The Recorder cannot prepare your deed, choose the correct form, provide legal advice or notarize your document.
Property location: the property must be located in Riverside County.
Recordable document: the document must be authorized or required by law to be recorded.
Return address: the document should include “Recording Requested By” and “Mail To” information.
Legibility: the document and notary seal must be legible enough for a readable record.
Original signatures: signatures must be original unless the document is a certified public record copy.
Acknowledgment: most documents must be properly acknowledged with a California all-purpose acknowledgment unless exempt.
APN and tax rate area: conveyances require Assessor’s Parcel Number and Tax Rate Area by local ordinance.
Privacy: documents should not display more than the last four digits of a Social Security number unless a law requires it.
After opening: compare your deed or document against each requirement, check the acknowledgment, verify APN/tax rate area, and confirm whether PCOR or transfer tax applies.
After opening: review mail and drop box options, payment instructions, NTE check guidance, return timeline and the warning that the office cannot prepare documents for you.
The county says mail and drop-box recording requests are processed in the order received and to allow six to eight weeks to receive the original recorded document back by mail.
Fees and transfer tax
Riverside County Recorder Fees, PCOR Fee and Documentary Transfer Tax
Recording fees depend on document type, page format, transfer-tax treatment, SB2 exemption, PCOR status and other statutory items.
Use the official fee calculator instead of estimating from memory.
Official record copy first page.
Each additional page of the same document.
Certification of the entire recorded document.
Charged if a required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is not filed at recording.
For taxable conveyances over $100, excluding liens or encumbrances already of record.
Applies to property located within the City of Riverside.
Listed on the copy-order payment process.
County Clerk fee listed for verifying a required translation certification.
After opening: answer each document question carefully, check SB2/Building Homes and Jobs Act exemption status, confirm PCOR requirements and print or save the estimate before sending payment.
The county says checks or money orders should be payable to Riverside County Recorder and that temporary checks or altered money orders are not accepted.
Maps and special filings
Map Recordings, Foreign-Language Documents and Restrictive Covenants
Map filings
Map recordings must be submitted at the Riverside Gateway office.
Most maps, except condominium plans, must be printed on 18 by 26 inch Mylar paper.
Foreign-language documents
If all or part of a document is in another language, California law requires translation steps before recording.
The county describes a translation verification process through the County Clerk.
Restrictive covenant modification
Riverside County provides information for removing unlawful discriminatory covenants from property documents.
Use the official Recorder page for the current process.
After opening: review the links for document recording, restrictive covenant modification, recorder fees, fee calculator and records index search.
Avoid the wrong office
Recorder vs Assessor vs Treasurer-Tax Collector vs Public Records Request
Recorder / County Clerk-Recorder
Use for: deeds, liens, official records, record copies, certified copies, recording services and map recordings.
Phone: 951-486-7000
Open Recorder ServicesAssessor
Use for: property value, assessment roll, APN, maps, ownership/value questions and assessor services.
Phone: 951-955-6200
Open Assessor ServicesTreasurer-Tax Collector
Use for: property tax bills, payments, duplicate bills, tax payment status and tax sales.
Phone: 951-955-3900
Open Treasurer-Tax CollectorPublic Records Request
Use for: CPRA / public records requests that are not routine official record copy orders.
Birth, death, marriage and official recorded document copies have separate request paths.
Open Public Records PageScam and paid notice warning
Verify Property Record Notices Before Paying
Riverside County warns property owners to review mailed notices that request payment for property records, property profiles or copies of recorded deeds.
The county says official copies of recorded documents are available directly from the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.
Check the sender: private companies may send property-record offers that are not official county bills.
Do not rush payment: contact the official ACR office if a mailed notice looks confusing.
Use official copy options: order regular or certified copies directly from the county when you need them.
Protect personal data: do not share personal or payment details until you verify the notice.
After opening: compare the mailed notice to the county’s warning, then call the official office before paying a third party for a property profile or deed copy.
Common mistakes
Riverside County Recorder Mistakes That Delay Users
Searching the wrong system: use official records search for recorded documents, and Assessor services for property value or APN questions.
Ordering without checking: the county warns that no refunds are issued once copies are made.
Using the wrong name order: individual names should be searched last name first.
Skipping older-record limits: records from 1974 and earlier may require Gateway Riverside office research.
Mailing cash: the county says not to send cash by mail for recording or copy requests.
Missing PCOR: if a required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is not filed, a $20 fee can be charged.
Missing transfer tax rules: taxable conveyances require documentary transfer tax, and City of Riverside property uses a higher rate.
Expecting legal advice: the Recorder cannot prepare documents or select the correct deed type for you.
Decision path
What Should You Do Next?
I need a deed copy: search official records, confirm the correct document, then order a regular or certified copy.
I need to record a deed: review recording requirements, PCOR, transfer tax, acknowledgment, APN and fee calculator first.
I only have an address: use Assessor services first to find property details, then return to the Recorder search.
I need tax bill status: use the Treasurer-Tax Collector, not the Recorder.
I received a paid record notice: verify it with the county before paying a third party.
I need legal ownership certainty: contact a title company or attorney for a title search or legal opinion.
Important notice
Independent Information, Legal Caution and Property-Records Notice
This page is independent informational content. It is not the official website of Riverside County, the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder, the Recorder, the Assessor or the Treasurer-Tax Collector.
Recorded documents can affect legal rights. This page is not legal advice, a title opinion, a deed-preparation service or an official determination of ownership.
Do not use property-record information for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any other FCRA-regulated purpose.
Verify fees, forms, office hours, transfer-tax rules, recording requirements and copy procedures directly with official Riverside County sources before acting.
FAQs
Riverside County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Riverside County Recorder main office?
The Riverside Gateway office is at 2724 Gateway Dr., Riverside, CA 92507. It offers document recording services, map recordings and recorded document copies.
What is the Riverside County Recorder phone number?
The County Clerk-Recorder phone number is 951-486-7000. The toll-free number is 800-696-9144.
Who is the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder?
The official office website lists Peter Aldana as the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.
How do I search Riverside County deeds online?
Use the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder self-service official records search. Search options include name, document number, document type, map type and book/page, and advanced search.
How far back does the online Recorder index go?
The self-service search displays Recorder documents indexed from January 1, 1974 forward. The county copy page says records from 1974 and earlier may require Gateway Riverside office research.
How much is a recorded document copy?
The county lists $8 for the first page, $1 for each additional page and $2 for certification of the entire document.
Can I record a deed by mail?
Yes. Riverside County provides mail recording instructions. Standard USPS mail goes to Riverside County Recorder, P.O. Box 751, Riverside, CA 92502-0751, and overnight services go to 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside, CA 92507.
Does the Recorder prepare deeds?
No. The Recorder records documents that meet requirements. The office cannot prepare documents, select forms, give legal advice or notarize documents.
What is the Riverside County documentary transfer tax rate?
The county states documentary transfer tax is generally $0.55 per $500 or fractional portion of real property value for taxable conveyances over $100, excluding liens or encumbrances already of record. Property in the City of Riverside is taxed at $1.10 per $500.
Who handles Riverside County property tax bills?
The Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector handles property tax bills, payments, duplicate bills, payment status and tax sale matters.
Official sources