San Diego County, California • Recorder deeds and official records guide • reviewed September 2026
San Diego County CA Recorder: Search Deeds, Order Records, Record Documents and Find Office Locations
The San Diego County Recorder is part of the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk office.
Use this office for recorded deeds, deeds of trust, releases, liens, maps, official record copies, certified copies, recording requirements and Owner Alert.
Use the Assessor when you need APN, assessed value, property characteristics, exemptions or parcel information.
Fast answer
What the San Diego County Recorder Does
Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92101.
Use this number for Recorder/County Clerk public service questions.
The recording page lists this number for Recorder staff help.
The online index can search and request copies of recorded real-property documents.
California AB 1785 removed APN search from the online Official Record Search.
Official record copies are listed at $2 first page and $0.05 each additional page.
The Recorder’s online search is for recorded documents. The Assessor search is for parcel, APN, value, map and ownership-display information.
Office details
San Diego County Recorder Office, Branches and Contacts
San Diego Recorder / County Clerk Main Office
Office: County Administration Center
Address: 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92101
Recorder / Clerk: 619-237-0502
Assessor: 619-236-3771
General help: ARCCHELP@sdcounty.ca.gov
Elected official: Jordan Z. Marks, Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Other Recorder / Clerk service offices
Chula Vista: 590 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910
East County / Santee: 10144 Mission Gorge Rd, Santee, CA 92071
San Marcos: 141 E. Carmel St, San Marcos, CA 92078
Kearny Mesa: 9225 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92123
Kearny Mesa currently lists Assessor services, but Recorder/Clerk services are not available there.
Map and visit planning
Map to the San Diego Recorder / County Clerk Main Office
1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92101
This is the downtown Recorder/Clerk main office inside the County Administration Center.
The official locations page says free underground parking is available for up to 3 hours while on county business during business hours.
Bring document number, recording year, party names, document type, ID, payment method and return-mailing details when needed.
Search records
How to Search San Diego County Deeds and Official Records
The Recorder’s online Official Record Search lets you search indexed information for recorded real-property documents from 1970 to the present.
You cannot view document images directly online. To view images, purchase a mailed copy or visit an office kiosk.
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Start with names if you need a recorded deed.
Search by grantor or grantee name, because APN search is no longer available online.
Open Official Record SearchAfter opening: search by party name, document type or date range. Confirm document number, recording year, party names and instrument type before ordering copies. -
Use the Assessor first when you only know the property address.
The Assessor maintains property records, maps and APN-related information.
Open Assessor Property InformationAfter opening: use the property information links to find APN, assessed value, ownership display and map details. Then return to Recorder search with the owner names and document clues. -
Use an in-person kiosk for APN searching.
San Diego County says APN searches remain available at in-person kiosks at county offices.
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Watch for name-format differences.
Search with full name, last name only, trust name, business name and previous owner name if the first search fails.
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Do not treat an index result as a title report.
A recorded document index helps identify records, but it is not a title insurance policy or legal ownership opinion.
Search troubleshooting tips
No result by APN online? That is expected. APN search was removed from the online Official Record Search.
No result by name? Try alternate spellings, trust names, business names, prior owners and shorter date ranges.
Need the image? Purchase a copy to be mailed or visit an office kiosk to view documents in person.
Need a chain of title? Ask a title company or real-estate attorney to review multiple documents and liens.
Record decoder
How to Read a San Diego County Recorder Search Result
Document number: the main recording reference needed for copy orders and follow-up searches.
Recording year: required for many mail copy requests and useful for narrowing search results.
Grantor: the person or entity giving, signing, mortgaging or releasing an interest.
Grantee: the person or entity receiving the interest or benefit.
Document type: deed, deed of trust, reconveyance, assignment, lien, map, notice or other recorded instrument.
Recording date: the date the document became part of the official county record.
APN: useful for property matching, but not searchable in the online official-record index.
Legal description: the property description used in the document. Do not replace it with a short assessor summary when preparing a deed.
The Recorder records documents that meet recording requirements. It does not decide ownership disputes, guarantee title or prepare legal documents for the public.
Copies
How to Order San Diego County Recorded Document Copies
You can order copies online after searching the Official Records Index, by mail, or in person at an available office location.
Online copy orders are printed the next business day and mailed by regular USPS. The county says to allow 3 to 5 business days for delivery.
For document copies up to and including 11 by 17 inches.
Charged for each additional page in the same copy request.
Certification is charged per document when an official certified copy is required.
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Search the Official Records Index first.
Find the document number, recording year, party name and document type.
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Create or check your online account address.
The county warns that the account-profile mailing address matters, not only the billing address.
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For mail orders, include required details.
Provide document number, recording year, at least one party name and document type.
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Mail copy requests to Real Estate Records.
Use P.O. Box 121750, San Diego, CA 92112-1750, with check or money order payable to San Diego Recorder/County Clerk.
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Use certification only when required.
Ask the receiving agency, court, lender or title company whether a certified copy is required before paying for certification.
Recording documents
How to Record a Deed or Real-Estate Document in San Diego County
The Recorder accepts documents that California law allows or requires to be recorded, if the proper fees and taxes are paid and the document meets recording rules.
The office cannot prepare deeds, choose the correct deed type, fill out legal forms or provide legal advice.
Property location
The property must be located in San Diego County.
Return information
Include the person requesting recording and a return-mail address.
Margins
Leave the top 2.5 inches of the first page for Recorder information and keep at least 0.5-inch side margins.
Legibility
Use original documents, white paper, black ink, clear print and no fasteners.
Signature and acknowledgment
Original signatures and proper notary acknowledgment are required unless the document is exempt.
APN and PCOR
Deeds require Assessor Parcel Number, and property transfers generally require a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.
Adding someone to title, removing an owner, transferring to a trust, filing an affidavit of death, using a transfer-on-death deed or correcting a deed can change legal rights. Consider legal or title help before recording.
Fees and tax
2026 San Diego County Recorder Fees and Transfer Tax
The official Recorder/County Clerk fee schedule effective January 1, 2026 lists different fees depending on document type, fraud-fee category, maps, copies and certificates.
Many real-estate recordings may also involve Documentary Transfer Tax, PCOR rules and the SB2 Atkins recording fee unless an exemption applies.
Standard first-page fee for titles not associated with the real estate fraud fee.
Applies to listed titles such as deed of trust, reconveyance, notice of default and related documents.
$2 first page and $0.05 for each additional page.
Certification fee per document.
Collected on taxable conveyances over $100, excluding existing liens or encumbrances.
Can apply when a required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is not submitted.
Open simple recording fee estimator
Recording estimate: $14.00
PCOR estimate: $0.00
SB2 estimate: $0.00
Estimated total before transfer tax: $14.00
Fraud prevention
San Diego County Owner Alert and Recording Notification
San Diego County offers Owner Alert as a free real-estate fraud notification service.
An alert does not stop a recording. It helps you notice suspicious activity involving monitored names or property information.
Open Owner Alert / Recording Notification ServiceThe ARCC homepage states that a $5 fee increase for deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages and deeds of trust will take effect on the first business day of January 2027 for the Recorder Notification Program.
Recorder / Clerk services
Birth, Death, Marriage, FBN, Notary and Other Clerk Services
The Recorder/County Clerk also maintains birth, death and marriage records and indices for San Diego County.
These services are related to the same office, but they are not the same as deed recording or official land-record searching.
2026 fee for general public birth certificate/search.
2026 fee for death certificate/search.
2026 fee for general public marriage certificate/search.
Original or renewal filing including spouse.
Filing fee before separate recording/copy charges.
Handled by the California Secretary of State, with occasional local pop-up events.
Wrong-office prevention
What the San Diego County Recorder Does Not Handle
Property taxes: tax bills and payments are handled by the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector.
Assessed value: values, parcel maps, APN and property characteristics are handled by the Assessor.
Legal document preparation: the Recorder cannot prepare deeds or advise you which document to record.
Divorce, wills and adoptions: the Recorder/Clerk page directs users to Superior Court for those records if filed in San Diego.
Notary at most branch offices: the recording page says most ARCC offices do not provide notary services.
Title insurance or title opinion: use a title company or real-estate attorney for title status, liens and ownership risk.
Avoid delays
Common San Diego County Recorder Search and Recording Mistakes
Trying to search APN online: APN searching is no longer available in the online Official Record Search.
Ordering a copy without checking the mailing profile: the county says online copy orders use the account-profile mailing address.
Expecting online document images: online search shows indexed information, not the image itself.
Missing PCOR: property transfers generally require a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.
Forgetting SB2 exemption wording: if no valid exemption is declared, the SB2 fee may be assessed.
Using poor print quality: documents must be legible enough to create a readable photographic record.
Using the Recorder for legal advice: California law prevents the office from helping prepare legal documents.
Decision path
What Should You Do Next?
I need a deed copy: search the Official Records Index, then order online, by mail or in person.
I need APN or parcel details: start with the Assessor property information service.
I need to record a deed: review formatting, acknowledgment, PCOR, transfer tax and SB2 rules first.
I need to view an image today: visit an office kiosk instead of relying only on the online index.
I suspect title theft: register for Owner Alert and contact a title professional or attorney if a suspicious document appears.
I need a vital record: use the birth, death or marriage certificate pages, not the deed search.
Important notice
Independent Information, Legal Caution and Public-Records Notice
This page is independent informational content. It is not the official website of San Diego County, the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, the Treasurer-Tax Collector or any California government office.
It is not legal advice, title advice, tax advice, recording approval or an official fee quote.
Deed preparation, ownership transfers, trusts, estates, divorce transfers, affidavits of death, transfer-on-death deeds and title disputes should be reviewed by a qualified attorney or title professional.
Public deed and property records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any other FCRA-regulated consumer decision.
FAQs
San Diego County Recorder FAQs
Where is the San Diego County Recorder located?
The main Recorder/County Clerk office is at 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92101.
What is the San Diego County Recorder phone number?
The Recorder/County Clerk phone number is 619-237-0502. The recording page also lists 619-238-8158 for Recorder staff.
Can I search San Diego County deeds online by APN?
No. San Diego County says APN search is no longer available in the online Official Record Search due to California AB 1785. APN searches remain available at in-person kiosks.
How do I search San Diego County recorded documents online?
Use the Official Records Index and search by grantor or grantee name, document type, document number or date range. The online system shows index information, not document images.
How do I get a copy of a San Diego County deed?
Search the Official Records Index, then order a copy online, by mail or in person. Mail requests should include document number, recording year, party name and document type.
How much is a San Diego County recorded document copy?
The Recorder fee schedule lists $2 for the first page, $0.05 for each additional page and $1 for certification per document.
What is the San Diego County Documentary Transfer Tax rate?
The recording page lists Documentary Transfer Tax at $0.55 per $500, or fraction thereof, of real property value excluding existing liens or encumbrances.
What is the SB2 Atkins recording fee?
SB2 can add $75 per real-estate instrument, paper or notice per transaction per parcel, up to $225, unless a valid exemption applies.
Can the Recorder prepare a deed for me?
No. State law prevents the Recorder from helping prepare legal documents. Use a legal advisor, title professional or qualified document-preparation resource.
What is San Diego County Owner Alert?
Owner Alert is a free recording notification service that can alert property owners to recorded activity. It does not block recordings, but it can help identify suspicious documents sooner.
Official resources