LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA • OFFICIAL RECORDS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2026
Los Angeles County CA Recorder of Deeds: Property Records Search, Copies, Fees & Office
Looking for a deed, mortgage, lien, or other recorded property document in Los Angeles County? The office you need is the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC).
The Recorder maintains land records dating back to 1850. You can request copies online or by mail, or arrange to review records in person at its Norwalk headquarters.
One important difference: Los Angeles County does not offer public internet searches of its Recorder deed indexes or document images. Its online copy-order service is not the same as an online deed-search database.
Independent guide • No government affiliation • Official links open the responsible county agency
START HERE
Los Angeles County Recorder: Quick Facts
Call (800) 201-8999 and select option 2 for recording property documents or option 3 for copies of already recorded real estate records.
Choose the right service
Use the Recorder’s index-viewing or copy-request procedure.
See deed search stepsStart with the County Assessor’s address or AIN lookup.
Search by addressCheck notarization, APN, PCOR, transfer-tax declarations, and recording fees.
See recording requirementsLAND RECORDS SEARCH
How to Search Los Angeles County Recorded Deeds
The Los Angeles County Recorder maintains deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, and other recorded real estate instruments.
Unlike counties that publish document-image search portals, Los Angeles County restricts online access to its Recorder indexes and images.
The Recorder explains that privacy concerns involving protected residential addresses prevent it from publishing these indexes through a public internet search.
Available: Request record copies through the county’s authorized online ordering channel.
Not available: Freely browse the Recorder’s full grantor-grantee index or deed images on a county public website.
Alternative: Review indexes and records through a Norwalk appointment.
Search recorded deeds in person
-
Open the county’s record-viewing instructions.
Use the official viewing page rather than a third-party site advertising unrestricted deed searches.
View official record-search instructions -
Arrange an appointment.
Follow the appointment instructions on the official page. Appointment availability and booking windows can change.
-
Prepare the person’s or entity’s name.
The Recorder’s indexes are organized by the names of the parties and the year the document was recorded.
-
Search the relevant index.
Look for the grantor (person transferring an interest) and grantee (person receiving an interest).
-
Check the recorded document.
Compare the document title, parties, recording information, and legal description before ordering the copy.
The county says records from 1851–1957 can be reviewed in the lower-level records area at Norwalk. Records from 1958 onward are available for review on the second floor.
The Recorder’s broader copy-request collection includes records dating to 1850.
ADDRESS & PARCEL SEARCH
How to Find Los Angeles County Property Records by Address or AIN
If you only have a street address, start with the Los Angeles County Assessor, not the Recorder’s name-based index.
The Assessor’s public portal provides address and Assessor Identification Number (AIN) searches. These records are useful for locating the parcel before researching a deed.
Open Official LA County Assessor Search- Use the Basic Search field labeled for AIN or address.
- Enter the property address or known Assessor Identification Number.
- Select the property matching the correct location.
- Review the parcel identifier and available assessment details.
- Keep the AIN ready for your recording or research request.
What is an AIN?
AIN stands for Assessor Identification Number. It identifies a parcel in Los Angeles County assessment records.
It is useful when checking deed recording requirements, ownership-change forms, assessed values, and property-tax information.
A property appearing under a name in the Assessor’s database does not by itself prove clear legal title. For a transaction or ownership dispute, examine the recorded instruments and obtain qualified title advice when needed.
RECORD COPIES
How to Get a Los Angeles County Deed Copy
You can request a copy of a recorded deed through the Recorder’s online request service, by mail, or at a participating office.
Before ordering, gather as much information as possible about the grantor, grantee, recording year, and document type.
Online copy request
The Recorder directs online requests through its authorized LexisNexis ordering service.
Open online request informationAfter opening: choose Online Request, continue to the linked ordering service, provide document details, review charges, and submit your request.
Mail request
Mail a written request with the document title, names listed on the document, and recording year or years to search.
Open mail-request instructionsAfter opening: confirm the fee, prepare a check or money order payable to the RR/CC, and use the listed Real Estate Records mailing address.
Official mailing address for record copies
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Real Estate RecordsP.O. Box 1130
Norwalk, CA 90651-1130
The county states that online and mailed copy orders are generally processed within 20 working days after receipt. Delivery may take additional time.
Plain copy versus certified copy
Certified copies are often requested for legal, lender, or administrative purposes. Ask the receiving organization which kind of copy it requires.
The Recorder’s FAQ states that a purchaser cannot buy only selected pages of a recorded instrument. Copies are sold as complete documents.
LOCAL OFFICE & GOOGLE MAP
Los Angeles County Recorder Office: Norwalk Headquarters
LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Address: 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Phone: (800) 201-8999
Real Estate Records: Option 3
Property Document Recording: Option 2
Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk: Dean C. Logan
Location tip: The headquarters are near Imperial Highway and Volunteer Avenue.
Beginning October 1, 2026, the county’s in-person records information describes enhanced entrance security, including metal detectors and bag screening.
Before traveling, check appointment requirements and office holidays. Research appointments and document-recording visits may follow different procedures.
Check Official Office Locations & Hours- Find Norwalk (Main Office) in the office-location list.
- Confirm its current weekday schedule.
- Check the observed-holiday information.
- If visiting another branch, confirm that it offers real estate record copies or document recording.
Other offices offering relevant services
The county lists LAX/Courthouse at 11701 S. La Cienega Boulevard, 6th Floor, Los Angeles, and Van Nuys at 14340 W. Sylvan Street, Van Nuys.
Both list weekday service hours of 8:30 AM–4:30 PM and selected real estate recording or copy services. Check the specific branch before visiting.
Historical record research may still require Norwalk. A nearby branch is not necessarily a substitute for the headquarters archives.
PREPARE A RECORDABLE DEED
How to Record a Grant Deed or Quitclaim Deed in Los Angeles County
Recording makes an eligible document part of the county’s official land records. It does not guarantee that the document is legally effective or that the title is free of defects.
California grant deeds and quitclaim deeds have different legal effects. Choose the correct instrument with qualified legal or title guidance when necessary.
-
Prepare the appropriate deed.
Include the parties, legal description, Assessor’s Parcel Number, and other required declarations.
-
Sign and notarize correctly.
The county requires original signatures unless a statutory certified-copy exception applies. A proper acknowledgment is generally required.
-
Prepare the PCOR.
A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report normally accompanies deeds and other documents evidencing a change in ownership.
-
Determine applicable taxes and fees.
Review documentary transfer tax, any city transfer tax, SB 2 fee exemptions, and the required recording charges.
-
Submit the document through an accepted channel.
Follow current Recorder instructions for in-person, mail, drop-off, or authorized professional electronic submission.
-
Keep the recorded reference.
After recording, save the recording date and instrument number for later copies, title research, or lender requests.
- Review the general document-recording requirements.
- Check original-signature and acknowledgment rules.
- Confirm the document includes the APN when required.
- Check page size, readability, first-page reserved space, and return-address requirements.
- Compare your complete package against the official fee schedule before submitting.
Grant deed or quitclaim deed?
A common California property-transfer instrument containing implied warranties about prior conveyances and encumbrances by the grantor.
Transfers whatever interest the grantor may have, if any, without the same warranties. It does not establish that the grantor owns the property.
Review the county’s Grant Deed or Quitclaim Deed section, including notarization, transfer-tax declaration, and PCOR requirements. The correct deed type and legal effect should be determined before recording.
CALIFORNIA OWNERSHIP CHANGE FORM
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)
The PCOR is California Form BOE-502-A. It helps the Assessor evaluate a change in property ownership and whether reassessment or an exclusion may apply.
The buyer or transferee generally completes it for applicable ownership transfers. It is submitted with the recordable document.
For applicable transfers, the county identifies an additional $20 fee when the required PCOR is not submitted with the ownership-change document.
Some document categories are exempt from the PCOR requirement. Check the exact recording type rather than assuming the fee applies to every instrument.
- Find the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report requirement.
- Use the linked county form or obtain the current form from the Assessor.
- Enter the property address, AIN, transferor, and transferee details.
- Complete the applicable ownership-change and exclusion questions.
- Sign and date the form according to its instructions, then include it with the deed package.
COSTS & TRANSFER TAXES
Los Angeles County Recorder Fees in 2026
A deed’s total recording cost may include a base recording fee, additional statutory fees, and documentary transfer tax.
It is important to separate recording charges from transfer taxes. They are different charges and may have different exemptions.
The $15 grant deed base fee is not necessarily the final recording charge. Additional page, statutory, fraud-program, or other charges can apply.
SB 2 generally imposes $75 per applicable real estate instrument, subject to statutory exceptions and a $225 transaction cap.
Transfers subject to documentary transfer tax and qualifying transfers of residential dwellings to owner-occupiers are among the statutory SB 2 exceptions.
Open Full County Recording Fee Schedule- Find the fee section matching your document type.
- Check page-related and additional recording charges.
- Review whether SB 2 applies or an exemption must be declared.
- Check fraud-program and other statutory fees.
- Calculate transfer taxes separately before preparing payment.
Documentary transfer taxes vary by city
The standard county documentary transfer tax is $0.55 for each $500, or fraction of $500, of taxable consideration.
Additional or different local rates apply in Los Angeles, Culver City, Pomona, Redondo Beach, and Santa Monica.
In the City of Los Angeles, the county’s current schedule lists a $2.25 charge per $500 and potential Measure ULA taxes for higher-value transfers.
Effective July 1, 2026, the listed Measure ULA thresholds are above $5.4 million and at or above $10.9 million, with 4% and 5.5% tax rates respectively.
A property in Long Beach, Pasadena, Lancaster, or an unincorporated community can have a different transfer-tax treatment from a property inside the City of Los Angeles.
Identify the property’s actual city, check the standard county rate and any special-city schedule, then review the required declaration on the document. Have the preparer or title professional confirm the correct taxable amount and exemptions.
Illustrative county transfer-tax calculation
$650,000 ÷ $500 = 1,300 increments.
1,300 × $0.55 = $715 in standard county documentary transfer tax.
This excludes city charges, recording fees, exemptions, and any other applicable assessments.
SPECIAL CASES
Lost Deeds, Mortgage Releases, Trust Transfers & Older Records
Lost deed
You usually do not need to create a replacement ownership transfer simply because your paper copy is missing.
Request a copy of the previously recorded deed from the Recorder.
Paid-off mortgage
A deed of trust generally remains a recorded instrument until an appropriate reconveyance or release is recorded.
Ask the lender or title professional about missing reconveyance documents.
Living trust transfer
Trust-related transfers can involve deeds, reassessment exclusions, and reporting requirements.
A recorded document alone does not settle every trust or property-tax question.
Old or difficult-to-find records
Older records may need a broader name-and-year index search at Norwalk.
Try former names, variant spellings, and earlier recording years.
OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES
Recorder vs Assessor vs Treasurer and Tax Collector
Recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, reconveyances, document recording, and certified recorded-document copies.
Parcel information, assessed value, ownership-change assessment review, and property-tax exemption administration.
Property-tax bills, tax payments, delinquent tax questions, and payment records.
Los Angeles County Assessor assistance: (888) 807-2111.
For valuation or property-address data, use the Assessor. For proof of a recorded transaction, use the Recorder.
PROBLEM SOLVER
Common Los Angeles County Deed Search and Recording Problems
Cannot find an online deed database? The RR/CC does not publish its complete deed index or document images for online public searching.
Only have the street address? Search the Assessor’s portal for the property and AIN, then use party names and recording details for Recorder research.
Do not know the recording year? A mail request can identify a range of years to search. Additional name/year search fees may apply.
Need a certified copy? Specify that certification is required and order the entire document.
Deed rejected? Review signatures, acknowledgment, APN, legibility, margins, PCOR, transfer-tax statement, and applicable fees.
Ownership changed but Assessor information is outdated? Contact the Assessor and supply the recorded reference. Recorder filing and assessment-record updates are separate processes.
Unsure whether transfer tax applies? Verify the property’s municipality and the applicable tax or exemption with a qualified document preparer.
NEXT ACTION
What Should You Do Next?
Need a deed for a property you own? Collect the parties’ names and approximate recording year, then request a copy.
Need to research ownership history? Start with the Assessor’s AIN/address lookup, then examine Recorder indexes and instruments.
Recording a new deed? Review the deed requirements, PCOR, transfer-tax declaration, and fee schedule first.
Need historical land records? Review the Norwalk appointment procedures and archive-floor instructions.
Have a title dispute? Obtain qualified legal or title assistance. The Recorder does not adjudicate ownership disputes.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds FAQs
Who is the Recorder of Deeds in Los Angeles County?
The responsible agency is the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, headed by Dean C. Logan.
Can I search Los Angeles County deeds online for free?
The Recorder does not provide public online access to its full real estate records or name indexes. You can follow the county’s in-person viewing procedure or request copies through authorized channels.
Where is the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office?
Its main headquarters is at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, California 90650. Posted regular hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Can I search recorded deeds by street address?
The Recorder indexes documents by party names and recording year. For an address-based starting point, use the Los Angeles County Assessor’s AIN/address portal.
How much is a certified deed copy?
The county’s posted copy fee is $6 for the first certified page and $3 for each additional page. Other ordering or delivery charges may apply.
How long does a mailed deed-copy request take?
The Recorder states that mail and online orders are generally processed within 20 working days after receipt. Shipping or delivery may require additional time.
Is a PCOR required when recording a deed?
A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is generally required with applicable documents transferring property ownership. Certain transactions and document types are excepted.
Does the Los Angeles County Recorder provide a notary?
No. The Recorder’s real estate records FAQ says its offices do not provide notary services.
Can the Recorder fix an incorrect deed?
The Recorder cannot provide legal advice or determine title rights. A correction may require a properly prepared and recorded instrument or legal proceedings.
Does recording a deed update the property-tax assessment?
Recording and property assessment are different functions. The Assessor reviews ownership changes and applicable California reassessment rules.
PRIMARY GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
Official Los Angeles County Recorder Resources
The resources below belong to Los Angeles County government. They are provided for filing, verification, and document requests.