Napa County, California • Official land records guide • Updated October 24, 2026
Napa County Recorder: Deeds, Property Records, Search, Fees & Office Information
The Napa County Recorder records and preserves deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, easements, maps and other documents affecting real property in Napa County, California.
You can search the county’s official records index online, request copies of recorded documents or visit the Recorder-County Clerk’s Office in downtown Napa.
The public online search displays document index information. It does not provide unrestricted access to recorded document images.
Have the current or former owner’s name ready. The official index primarily uses recorded party names and dates, not a property’s street address.
Start here
Napa County Recorder Quick Facts
The Recorder is also responsible for certain vital records. The combined County Clerk division handles services such as marriage licenses and fictitious business names.
Property assessment, ownership-roll information and property-tax payments are separate services. Use the Assessor or tax collection office for those tasks.
Official document search
How to Search Napa County Deeds and Recorded Documents Online
Napa County operates an official records index at services.napacounty.gov. Public users can search recorded names and optional date ranges.
The searchable record history begins January 1, 1848. The latest available recording date changes as the county updates its index.
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Open the Official Records portal.
Go directly to the county-operated Official Records Search.
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Enter the full name.
The search form requests a name in last, first and middle name order.
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Set a date range when helpful.
If you know the approximate purchase, refinance or recording year, use the optional From Date and To Date fields.
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Open the matching index entry.
Compare the parties, recording date, document title and available recording reference.
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Request the document image when needed.
Public access shows a limited index. Contact the Recorder or review subscription access for document images.
Accept the portal’s notice if prompted. Enter the party name, optionally narrow the dates, then select Search. Try alternative spellings if no matching record appears.
What information can you find?
Deeds: grant deeds, quitclaim deeds and other recorded conveyances.
Financing: deeds of trust, assignments and reconveyances.
Property interests: easements, liens and recorded notices.
Recording history: document dates, parties and recorded instrument references.
What if you only know the property’s address?
Search Napa County’s parcel mapping or Assessor resources first to locate the parcel and associated owner information.
Then return to the Recorder index and search the owner’s name. Remember that older deeds may appear under former owners, family trusts or earlier legal names.
Open Official Napa County GIS Resources ↗Find the public map, parcel lookup or property-search service. Search the parcel or address, record the owner and parcel number, then use those details to investigate recorded documents.
Local office and directions
Napa County Recorder Office: Address, Phone, Hours & Google Map
Napa County Recorder-County Clerk
Recorder-County Clerk: John Tuteur
Physical address: 1127 1st Street, Suite A, Napa, CA 94559
Mailing address: P.O. Box 298, Napa, CA 94559-0298
Recorder telephone: 707-253-4105
County Clerk telephone: 707-253-4247
Recorder-County Clerk John Tuteur: 707-253-4459
Fax: 707-259-8149
Recording hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
Research hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Other purchase transactions: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:45 PM
Verify office details ↗Office visit tip: document recording stops at 3 PM even though records research continues until 5 PM. Plan around the recording cutoff rather than the building’s general office hours.
Bring the original document or legally acceptable certified copy, correct fees, notarization, return address and applicable ownership or tax paperwork.
Document recording
How to Record a Deed in Napa County, California
A deed must meet California law and Napa County’s recording standards before it can be accepted.
The Recorder checks recordability. The office does not prepare legal documents or guarantee that the conveyance establishes valid ownership.
Napa County deed recording checklist
Document title: identify the instrument on the first page.
Original signature: required unless an accepted statutory exception applies.
Notary acknowledgment: use a legally compliant acknowledgment.
Legibility: all pages, exhibits and seals must be readable.
Paper size: 8½ × 11 inches is the standard size.
Side margins: at least ½ inch on each vertical side.
First-page top space: reserve 2½ inches for recording information.
Reference numbers: releases or modifications must identify the earlier recorded document when required.
Return address: include the party requesting recording and where the document should be returned.
Review original signature, acknowledgment, margin, document title and reference-number requirements. Confirm that your deed complies before calculating recording fees.
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)
California generally requires a buyer to provide a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report when a document evidencing a change in ownership is recorded.
The Recorder sends this report to the Assessor. Napa County’s fee schedule lists an additional $20 charge when a document is recorded without the required PCOR.
Read Napa County PCOR Guidance ↗Check when the PCOR applies, who signs it and how it accompanies the deed. Ask the Assessor about complex transfers, trusts or reassessment questions.
Adding a family member, transferring a vineyard property into a trust, removing someone from title or correcting a deed can have legal and tax consequences. Consult an attorney or title professional when needed.
Published county charges
Napa County Recorder Fees for 2026
Napa County’s Recorder-County Clerk fee schedule is effective January 1, 2026.
A basic recording starts at $15 for the first page. Additional pages, extra document titles and applicable taxes can increase the total.
SB 2 housing fee: Check the exemption
California’s Building Homes and Jobs Act may add a $75 housing fee to qualifying recordings.
Napa County’s schedule lists a maximum of $225 per transaction, title and parcel. Certain recordings are exempt under state law.
Do not assume every deed or mortgage automatically owes the fee. Confirm the transaction and exemption status before recording.
Documentary transfer tax
Napa County lists documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of applicable taxable value.
The actual tax may depend on the type of transaction, debts and liens remaining on the property, and available exemptions.
A standard three-page document: $15 first page + $3 second page + $3 third page = $21 basic recording charge.
Housing fees, documentary transfer tax, additional titles, PCOR charges and other applicable costs are separate.Locate the recording-fees section dated January 1, 2026. Check your page count, additional titles, housing-fee exemption and transfer-tax treatment before submitting payment.
Document copies
How to Obtain a Copy of a Napa County Deed
The Recorder preserves official records and provides document copies on request.
The public index helps you identify the deed, but it does not necessarily provide a downloadable image.
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Identify the recorded deed.
Search the online index using the grantor or grantee name and approximate recording date.
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Save the recording reference.
Record the instrument number, date and parties shown in the result.
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Decide whether certification is needed.
An ordinary copy may be enough for research. Legal or lender purposes may require a certified copy.
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Contact the Recorder.
Provide the reference and confirm the copy fee, payment method and delivery options.
A four-page official record copy costs $8. If certification is required, the $5 certification fee brings the listed total to $13.
For copy assistance, call 707-253-4105.
Maps and property location
Napa County Filed Maps, Parcel Maps and GIS Property Search
Napa County provides separate resources for official recorded maps, Assessor parcel maps and GIS property information.
These tools are particularly useful for Napa Valley vineyards, rural parcels, easements and properties with complex boundary descriptions.
Choose the relevant map or parcel viewer. Search by address, parcel number or available map reference. Compare the displayed information with the legal description in the deed.
Parcel maps and GIS layers can be useful references. They do not necessarily establish a legally surveyed boundary or resolve an encroachment dispute.
Newer local service
Free Napa County Guard Dog Property Fraud Alerts
In April 2026, Napa County announced a free recorded-document monitoring service through ParcelQuest’s Guard Dog program.
Property owners can register a name or property information and receive email alerts when a potentially matching deed, lien or other document is recorded.
Many alerts reflect normal activity such as a refinance, property sale or trust transfer. An alert alone does not mean fraud has occurred.
Open Official Guard Dog Information ↗Read the county’s instructions, watch the demonstration if useful and follow its Guard Dog signup link. Register the names or property details you want monitored.
Guard Dog sends notifications. It does not prevent recording, verify legal ownership or automatically remove fraudulent documents.
Choose the correct government service
Recorder, Assessor, Tax Collector and County Clerk: Which Office Do You Need?
Recorder: recorded deeds, deeds of trust, liens, reconveyances, maps and document copies.
Assessor: assessed property value, ownership changes for assessment purposes, parcel data and PCOR questions.
Tax Collector: property-tax bills, payment status and delinquent taxes.
County Clerk: marriage licenses, fictitious business name filings and other non-court filing services.
Surveyor or Public Works: survey maps, land boundaries, map review and related technical records.
The Recorder and Assessor may use the same building, but their records serve different purposes.
A recorded deed confirms that an instrument entered the public record. It does not automatically mean an Assessor record or tax bill has already been updated.
Common problems
Napa County Deed Search and Recording Troubleshooting
No search results: try a previous surname, trust name, alternate spelling or wider date range.
Only have an address: find the owner or parcel using Assessor or GIS tools first.
Cannot view an image: the public records portal offers limited index access. Request a copy or ask about subscription access.
Document rejected: check original signatures, acknowledgment, margins, legibility and recording fees.
Releasing a deed of trust: include the previously recorded document reference when required.
Possible SB 2 overpayment: check whether a statutory housing-fee exemption applies.
PCOR missing: submit the required report or account for the applicable additional charge.
Owner mismatch: compare the recorded deed with the Assessor record and request clarification from the correct office.
Need a deed → Official Records index. Need a certified copy → Recorder. Need parcel ownership or value → Assessor. Need recorded maps → Filed Maps. Suspect deed fraud → Guard Dog and appropriate professional assistance.
Frequently asked questions
Napa County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Napa County Recorder’s Office?
The office is at 1127 1st Street, Suite A, Napa, CA 94559. The mailing address is P.O. Box 298, Napa, CA 94559-0298.
What are Napa County Recorder recording hours?
Recording hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 3 PM, excluding county holidays. Research hours extend to 5 PM.
Can I search Napa County deeds online?
Yes. Use the official county records portal at services.napacounty.gov/OfficialRecords. Public access shows limited document index information.
How old are Napa County’s online records?
The public records search identifies historical coverage beginning January 1, 1848. The latest available recording date changes as the index is updated.
Can I download a deed image directly?
The public portal displays limited index information. Full document images may require copy requests or separate subscription access.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Napa County?
The published 2026 basic recording fee is $15 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Housing fees, transfer tax and other charges may apply.
Does Napa County charge documentary transfer tax?
Yes. The published county rate is $0.55 per $500 of applicable taxable value. The amount depends on transaction details and available exemptions.
How much is a certified copy of a recorded deed?
The county lists $2 per official-record page, plus $5 to certify the entire document.
Who handles Napa County property assessments?
The Napa County Assessor handles assessment records, property valuation and change-of-ownership matters. The Recorder maintains recorded instruments.
Does Napa County offer free property fraud alerts?
Yes. Napa County launched the free ParcelQuest Guard Dog fraud notification service in April 2026 for matching recorded-document activity.
Government references
Official Napa County Recorder Resources
Independent information: This website is not affiliated with Napa County, the Recorder-County Clerk or the State of California.
This guide is for general public-record information. It does not provide legal advice, tax advice or a title opinion.
Recording fees, procedures and office availability may change. Confirm current requirements with Napa County before submitting documents or paying fees.
Do not use public land records for employment, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other FCRA-regulated decisions. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.