Monterey County Recorder: Deeds & Records

Official Recorder contact and office-hours page

Monterey County provides two official recorded-document indexes: one for modern records and another for historical records.

The current index covers 1978 to the present. The historical index covers 1850 through 1977.

1. Open the county’s online document-access page.

   Choose the current or historical index based on the approximate recording date.

   Open Official Recorder Online Access

   After opening: select the link marked “1978 to Present” for newer records or “1850 to 1977” for historical documents.
2. Search by recorded party information.

   Enter a grantor, grantee or other indexed party name using the fields supplied by the official search system.

3. Use recording references when available.

   A document number, recording year or older reel-and-page reference can help identify the correct document.

4. Compare search results.

   Review the listed parties, document type, date and recording reference before treating a result as the deed you need.

5. Obtain a copy if required.

   The county provides in-office document viewing and official copies. Contact the Recorder when a certified copy is needed.

Older deeds and historical records

For deeds recorded before 1978, use the separate historical index rather than repeatedly searching the current index.

Older documents may use different indexing methods and reel-and-page references.

If you have a street address but do not know the property owner’s name, the Assessor is usually the better starting point.

Monterey County’s online services include an APN, address and map-page search.

Monterey County Assessor Online Services

This is useful for property in Salinas, Monterey, Seaside, Marina, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Soledad, Greenfield, King City and other Monterey County communities.

The Recorder accepts documents authorized by California law when they meet recording requirements and the correct fees and taxes are paid.

Recorder staff cannot prepare deeds, choose the correct deed type or provide legal advice.

1. Prepare the deed correctly.

   Confirm the parties’ names, legal description, signatures and any required notarization.

2. Check the recording format.

   Use legible documents on standard 8½ × 11-inch paper whenever possible.

   The first page should reserve a 2½ × 4½-inch area at the upper right for recording information.

3. Prepare the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.

   A PCOR is generally required when recording a document that transfers property ownership.

   The Recorder lists an additional $20 fee when a required PCOR is not submitted.

4. Check documentary transfer tax.

   Determine whether the transfer is taxable or qualifies for a valid exemption.

   Include the appropriate tax declaration and required exemption statements.

5. Calculate recording fees.

   Review the current 2026 schedule, including additional pages, fraud fees and the Building Homes & Jobs Act fee when applicable.

6. Submit by an accepted method.

   Record documents in person at the Salinas office or mail them to the Recorder.

   Eligible professional submissions may also use approved electronic recording channels.

Official Monterey County Recording Requirements

Common reasons documents cannot be recorded

• Incorrect or missing recording fees.
• Illegible document or notary seal.
• Missing required acknowledgment.
• Insufficient recording space on page one.
• Missing required ownership-transfer information.
• Incorrect documentary transfer tax declaration.
• Document that does not meet state recording requirements.

Monterey County revised its Recorder fee schedule effective March 3, 2026.

The county announced an increase in the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Fund component from $9 to $10, changing the stated standard recording fee from $22 to $23 per title.

However, the complete payable amount depends on document type, transfer-tax status and applicable additional charges.

Why the first-page fee can be higher

The county’s schedule distinguishes documents paying documentary transfer tax from documents that do not.

For qualifying standard-size documents paying documentary transfer tax, the posted first-page/title rate is $13 before applicable additional fees.

Documents not paying documentary transfer tax can be subject to the Building Homes & Jobs Act fee and other charges.

Documentary transfer tax example

For an illustrative taxable conveyance valued at $500,000, the county’s $0.55 per $500 rate produces a basic documentary transfer tax of $550.

That example does not include recording charges or any additional municipal documentary transfer tax that may apply.

Official Monterey County Recorder Fee Schedule

If your deed was recorded in Monterey County, you may request a copy from the Recorder’s Office.

The county charges $2 per page for recorded-document copies and an additional $2 per document for certification.

Information to include in a copy request

• Document number or older reel-and-page reference.
• Recording year.
• Name of at least one party exactly as it appears on the document.
• Document type, such as Grant Deed, Deed of Trust or Reconveyance.
• Your return mailing address and payment.

Official Record Searches and Copy Requests

Regular copy versus certified copy

A regular copy may be sufficient for personal reference, research or checking recorded information.

A certified copy includes the Recorder’s certification and may be required by a court, title company or government agency.

Mail your documents

Monterey County accepts eligible recording documents by mail with a check, cashier’s check or money order.

Make payment to Monterey County Recorder and send the prepared documents to P.O. Box 29, Salinas, CA 93902.

The county asks filers to allow approximately two to three weeks to receive the original recorded document back by mail.

Official Recording by Mail Instructions

Electronic recording

California’s Electronic Recording Delivery System allows approved participants to submit eligible real-estate documents electronically.

Monterey County publishes electronic recording information and directs filers to its approved eRecording agents.

Official Monterey County Electronic Recording

Preliminary Change of Ownership Report

A PCOR provides ownership-transfer information to the Assessor, including facts relevant to reassessment and possible exclusions.

Monterey County provides the PCOR through its official forms page and Assessor resources.

Monterey County Official Forms

Removal of unlawful restrictive covenants

Monterey County provides a process for modifying recorded property documents containing unlawful discriminatory restrictive language.

Under the AB 1466 process, qualifying Restrictive Covenant Modification documents may be recorded without a recording fee.

County Counsel reviews the proposed modification. The county says this review can take up to 90 days.

Official Restrictive Covenant Modification Instructions

DD214 military discharge records

The Monterey County Recorder also handles eligible military discharge recordings.

DD214 records have special privacy protections and should not be treated as ordinary unrestricted property records.

Birth, death and marriage certificates

The Recorder’s Office also issues eligible certified vital records, but these services are separate from real-estate recording.

Effective January 1, 2026, the county lists these certified-copy fees:

• Birth certificate: $31.
• Death certificate: $26.
• Marriage certificate: $19.

Marriage-license issuance is handled by the County Clerk, which has its own service requirements.

• Only have a street address? Use the Assessor’s APN and address search first.
• Deed recorded before 1978? Use the historical index covering 1850–1977.
• Online search shows only index information? Use the public research area or submit a copy request.
• Need a certified deed? Request Recorder certification rather than relying on a printout.
• Recording fee seems unusually high? Check the 2026 schedule for SB 2, document title, size, PCOR and other charges.
• Missing PCOR? A required but unfiled report adds $20 to the recording cost.
• Recording by mail? Allow extra time for processing and return of originals.
• Wrong legal description or title problem? Contact a qualified California attorney or title company.
• Want to record outside Salinas? Monterey County states that Salinas is the only in-person recording location.

This is an independent informational guide. County-appraisal-district.org is not the official Monterey County government website and is not affiliated with the Monterey County Recorder or Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.

Recorded property documents may establish facts about past transactions, but an individual recorded deed does not provide a complete legal title opinion.

Consult a qualified California attorney or title professional for deed preparation, transfer-tax exemptions, ownership disputes, probate transfers or title defects.

Public property records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, insurance underwriting or other purposes regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Recording fees, deadlines, office hours and online services may change. Verify current procedures and amounts directly with Monterey County before submitting documents or payment.