Elko County Recorder: Deeds & Records

Elko County, Nevada • Deeds & Land Records • October 2026

Elko County Recorder: Deeds, Property Records, Online Search, Fees & Office

The Elko County Recorder maintains recorded deeds, deeds of trust, liens, mining claims, surveys, plats and other public land records in Elko County, Nevada.

You can search documents online through the county’s Landmark records system. Property ownership and parcel details are also available through the Assessor’s separate search portal.

The Recorder’s Office is located at 571 Idaho Street, Room 103, Elko, NV 89801. Mike Smales is listed as the County Recorder.

County RecorderMike Smales
Office address571 Idaho St.
Online index1984 onward

What Can You Do With Elko County Recorder Records?

Recorded land documents and property-assessment records are maintained by different county offices. Choosing the right one will make your search easier.

Find an existing deed

Use the Recorder’s Landmark search system to locate recorded instruments by name or document reference.

See search instructions →
Find a property by address

Start with the Assessor’s property search and obtain the parcel number or available owner information.

Use address search →
Record a new deed

Prepare the document, complete the Declaration of Value and confirm the applicable recording and transfer fees.

Review filing steps →
Get an official copy

Find the instrument number, then request a regular or certified document copy as needed.

See copy instructions →
Elko County is not only the City of Elko.

The Recorder maintains land records for property throughout the county, including areas around Spring Creek, Carlin, Wells, West Wendover and rural unincorporated locations.

How to Find Elko County Property Records by Address

If you only know a street address, the Elko County Assessor is usually the best place to begin. Its records system supports searches by name, location, parcel ID and property-tax information.

Open Official Elko County Assessor Records Search Address, parcel ID, owner name, sales information and tax records

After opening

  1. Select Parcel Records or the advanced parcel search.
  2. Enter the street address, owner name or parcel number.
  3. Open the matching property and confirm its location.
  4. Save the parcel number, owner and available legal description.
  5. Return to Landmark and search by party name, APN or legal description.

Use the interactive parcel map

Elko County also provides an interactive GIS viewer for parcel locations, aerial imagery, subdivision searches and property details.

Open Elko County GIS Parcel Viewer Parcel boundaries, imagery, legal information and location tools

The GIS map supports searches by address, parcel number, owner and Township–Range–Section. You can also select a parcel to open available assessment details.

Important for vacant and rural land

Some Elko County parcels have no street address or established road access. Use the legal description and APN where appropriate.

The GIS map is a reference tool, not a legal boundary survey. It does not establish access rights, water rights or mineral ownership.

How to Record a Deed in Elko County, Nevada

A document presented for recording must meet Nevada’s statutory requirements and Elko County’s formatting and property-identification rules.

A deed conveying real property also generally requires Nevada’s Declaration of Value, which is used to determine the applicability of real property transfer tax and exemptions.

Before submitting the deed

  • Confirm that the property is located in Elko County.
  • Prepare the legally appropriate deed with the required signatures.
  • Include a proper notarial acknowledgment when required.
  • Provide the grantee’s mailing address.
  • Place the Assessor’s Parcel Number in the required location.
  • Provide the property legal description.
  • Include the correct property-tax mailing address.
  • Complete the Declaration of Value when required.
  • Check the recording fee and any real property transfer tax.
  • Arrange for the return of the recorded original.
Official Elko County Recording Requirements (PDF) APN, tax address, legal description and document formatting

Nevada formatting requirements

Elko County’s published recording guidance calls for white 8.5 × 11-inch paper, one-inch margins on the sides and bottom, and a clear 3 × 3-inch recording space in the upper-right corner of the first page.

Subsequent pages generally require a one-inch top margin. Documents must be legible, one-sided and free from problematic attachments, overlapping seals or highlighted text.

These formatting rules have statutory exceptions for certain records, including maps and specified government documents.

What is the Declaration of Value?

Nevada uses a Declaration of Value to describe the transaction, identify the affected parcels and state the consideration or the applicable tax exemption.

The form generally requests the parcel numbers, property type, purchase price or value, buyer and seller information, and any claimed exemption.

Official Elko County Declaration of Value instructions (PDF) ↗
Do not claim a transfer-tax exemption automatically.

Transfers between relatives, trusts, estates or businesses can have different rules. The correct exemption depends on Nevada law and the specific transaction.

Where to submit a deed

Submit the recording instrument and required payment to the Elko County Recorder, 571 Idaho Street, Room 103, Elko, NV 89801.

Contact the office before mailing an original to confirm current payment methods, return-envelope instructions and whether electronic recording is available for your type of submission.

Elko County Recorder Fees and Real Property Transfer Tax

Nevada Revised Statutes §247.305 establishes a $25 base recording fee for most documents, plus separate statutory surcharges where applicable.

State statutory base document recording$25
Statutory copy fee$1/page
Certification, certificate and seal$4
Additional recording surchargesMay apply
Real property transfer taxSeparate

The Elko County fee schedule historically adds several statewide recording surcharges to the $25 base charge. Because the available county PDF is dated January 2020, confirm the current full document-recording total with the Recorder rather than relying on the base fee alone.

Elko County Published Fee Schedule (PDF) Historical county fee breakdown; confirm current totals before filing

Real property transfer tax

Nevada imposes a real property transfer tax on many deed conveyances, subject to exemptions under NRS Chapter 375.

Elko County’s published guidance calculates transfer tax using the taxable value or consideration reported on the Declaration of Value. The applicable rate and exemptions must be confirmed for the transaction.

Do not treat a recording-fee estimate as the full amount due for a property transfer.

What is the cost of a certified deed copy?

Nevada’s statutory schedule lists $1 per page for a copy and $4 for certification. For example, a two-page official copy would ordinarily total $6 before any other applicable charges.

Ask the Elko County Recorder to confirm the total and available delivery methods.

Read Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 247 ↗

How to Obtain an Elko County Deed Copy

Many recorded instruments can be located through Landmark. Some document images may be viewed or printed directly from the online system.

Get a copy online

  1. Open the Landmark Official Records Search.
  2. Search by recorded owner, instrument number or book/page.
  3. Open the matching result and verify the legal description.
  4. Use the available image-viewing or print option.
  5. Save the instrument number and recording date.

If a document image does not display correctly, the Landmark help area provides information about PDF viewing and supported browsers.

Request an official certified copy

If a lender, court, title company or public agency asks for a certified copy, contact the Recorder’s Office directly.

Provide the instrument number or book/page reference, the names on the document and whether certification is required.

Ordinary printout or certified copy?

A copy printed from a records portal may be sufficient for personal research. A legally significant transaction may require an office-certified copy.

Elko County Recorder Office Address, Phone, Hours & Google Map

Elko County Recorder

Recorder
D. Mike Smales

Address
571 Idaho Street
Room 103
Elko, Nevada 89801

Telephone
775-738-6526

Fax
775-738-3299

Email
recorder@elkocountynv.net

Generally published hours
Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM
Excluding county holidays

Official Recorder department website ↗

The Recorder’s office is in the Elko County Courthouse building at the Idaho Street address. Use Room 103 for recording and land-record services.

Before visiting

Bring the document, instrument reference if applicable, required payment and any completed Declaration of Value. Confirm current counter hours and payment methods with the office.

Other Elko County property offices

Free Elko County Recording Activity Notifications

Elko County offers a free Recording Activity Notification service within Landmark. It can send email notifications when a newly recorded document includes a monitored personal or business name.

The registration form supports name monitoring and property parcel information.

Register for Free Elko County Fraud Alerts Official Recorder notification registration

After opening

  1. Choose Personal or Business name monitoring.
  2. Enter the name and confirmation fields.
  3. Provide your email address.
  4. Enter the parcel information when applicable.
  5. Select Send Confirmation Email.
  6. Complete the email confirmation process.
An alert does not prevent a recording.

The service provides notification after a matching document is recorded. Review unfamiliar notifications and contact the Recorder or an attorney if you suspect fraud.

Mining Claims, Surveys, Plats, Homestead Declarations and Marriage Records

Mining claim documents

Elko County records mining claim notices and related instruments. These can include location notices, affidavits of annual labor and other mining documents authorized for recording under Nevada law.

A recorded mining claim does not automatically establish ownership of the underlying surface land or compliance with all federal and state mining requirements.

Surveys and land maps

The Recorder preserves filed survey maps and other mapping records. The county’s historical maps reach back to early county records, and Landmark includes index tools for document and legal-description research.

For a boundary dispute, use a licensed Nevada land surveyor rather than relying solely on an Assessor map.

Nevada Declaration of Homestead

A Declaration of Homestead is a separate recorded document used to claim applicable homestead protection under Nevada law.

It is not the same as a property-tax exemption or a deed transferring ownership. Check statutory eligibility, the form and the recording requirements before filing.

Marriage certificate copies

In Elko County, marriage licenses are issued through the County Clerk, while marriage certificates are recorded by the Recorder after the marriage.

Contact the Recorder for a certified marriage certificate, and contact the Clerk for questions about obtaining a marriage license.

Elko County Deed Search and Recording Troubleshooting

I only have a property address.

Search the Assessor portal first to identify the parcel number and available ownership details, then use Landmark for the recorded instrument.

The name search returns no documents.

Try alternate spelling, a middle initial, former ownership name, business name or a different date range. The county’s search system recommends checking name variations.

I need a deed from before 1984.

Contact the Recorder or examine the available historical Alpha Index. The electronic index does not necessarily provide the same access for older documents.

The parcel has no street address.

Use the APN, Township–Range–Section and legal description through the Assessor or GIS map. Many rural Elko County parcels do not have standard street addressing.

My loan is paid off, but the deed of trust still appears.

Recorded financing instruments remain in the historical record. Search for a later reconveyance or release and contact the lender if the required document is missing.

Can the Recorder prepare or correct a deed?

The Recorder’s role is recording and maintaining documents. Seek a qualified Nevada attorney or title professional for deed preparation, correction or a title dispute.

Does the Assessor map prove legal access?

No. Parcel maps are informational and do not establish title, recorded easements, road access or legal boundary locations.

Elko County Recorder FAQs

Where is the Elko County Recorder located?

The office is at 571 Idaho Street, Room 103, Elko, Nevada 89801.

What is the Elko County Recorder phone number?

The published telephone number is 775-738-6526.

Who is the Elko County Recorder?

The Recorder’s Association of Nevada lists Mike Smales as Elko County Recorder.

Can I search Elko County deeds online?

Yes. The county’s Landmark system supports searches by name, document number, book/page, parcel ID and legal description.

How old are Elko County’s recorded documents?

The county’s historical records date to 1869. Its online recorded-document index generally begins in 1984, while images are available for many records from 1993 onward.

How much does recording a deed cost?

Nevada law lists a $25 base recording fee, plus applicable statutory surcharges. Real property transfer tax is separate. Confirm Elko County’s current complete charge before submitting a deed.

How can I obtain a certified deed copy?

Contact the Recorder with the instrument number or book/page reference. Nevada’s statutory copy fee is $1 per page and certification is $4, subject to applicable charges.

Does Elko County offer property fraud alerts?

Yes. The county’s free Recording Activity Notification service allows users to register for email alerts involving monitored names and property information.

Are mining claims recorded by the Recorder?

Yes. Nevada law provides for recording mining claim notices and related documents with the county recorder.

Official Elko County Recorder Links and Nevada Laws

Elko County Recorder Department — Official department and recording information.

Landmark Official Records Search — Search recorded deeds, liens and property-related instruments.

Historic Alpha Index — Early index books and land-description research.

Elko County Assessor Records Search — Parcel, owner, address, sales and tax account records.

Elko County GIS Viewer — Aerial imagery, parcel maps and property location research.

Recording Activity Notifications — Free official property-record alert registration.

Recorder Requirements (PDF) — Deed, APN and document-formatting requirements.

Declaration of Value Instructions (PDF) — Transfer information and tax-exemption guidance.

County Recorder Fee Schedule (2020 PDF) — Historical fee breakdown; verify the current total with the office.

Recorder’s Association of Nevada — Recorder directory, address and phone.

Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 247 — County Recorder responsibilities, recording rules and statutory fees.

Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 375 — Real property transfer tax rules and exemptions.

Independent Property Records Guide

This article is published by county-appraisal-district.org, an independent informational website. It is not operated or endorsed by Elko County, the Elko County Recorder or the State of Nevada.

This guide is not legal advice, a certified record or a professional title examination. Recording fees, available search tools, office hours and procedures may change. Confirm important requirements directly with the responsible government office.

FCRA notice: Do not use public property records for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other regulated consumer-reporting decisions. This website is not a consumer reporting agency.

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