Riverside County CA Recorder Office: Address & Records

Riverside County provides an official online records index for recorded deeds, liens, mortgages and other documents.

The index supports searches by name, document number, document type, map reference and additional fields.

Search by owner or party name

1. Open the county’s official records search.
2. Choose Name Search.
3. Enter an individual’s name in last-name, first-name order.
4. If results are too broad, enter a middle initial or narrow the recording dates.
5. Review the document type, recorded date and party names.
6. Open the matching document details and note the recording reference.

Exact-match vs. wildcard searching

The county’s search system supports exact and wildcard searches.

Exact matching is useful when you know the full party name. Wildcards help with alternate spellings and incomplete names.

For example, the county’s help documentation describes using an asterisk to search for names beginning with a known group of letters.

Search by document number

This is useful when you have an instrument number from an earlier deed, title report, escrow document or mortgage.

Riverside County’s system expects the recording year followed by a hyphen and the document number.

The system’s instructions note that document numbers changed from six to seven digits in December 2003.

How far back do online records go?

The county’s searchable Recorder index begins January 1, 1974.

For older records, the Gateway office provides additional historical research access.

The county’s copy instructions also note that its office computers generally provide records back to 1975.

Riverside Gateway Main Office, 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside, California 92507.

You do not always need to travel to the Gateway office.

Riverside County operates public-service locations throughout the county for document recording and copies.

The Recorder preserves documents that affect property ownership, financing and certain other legal interests.

What details should you verify?

Check the parties, document type, recording date, document number and legal description.

If a deed references another recorded instrument, research that document as well.

Riverside County offers regular and certified copies of recorded documents.

You can order them online, in person, by mail or through available drop-box services.

Option 1: Order deed copies online

1. Open the official records search.
2. Locate the document by name or instrument number.
3. Add the correct record to your cart.
4. Enter your mailing and contact information.
5. Review the fees and complete payment.
6. Save the order confirmation.

Option 2: Request a copy by mail

Complete the Official Records application and include the document number when possible.

If you do not know the document number, include the document type, party names and estimated recording date.

The county estimates approximately one to two weeks for mailed copy requests, depending on workload.

Option 3: Request a copy in person

Find the document online, add it to your cart and select the in-office payment method.

Keep the order number beginning with SST. It may be needed when scheduling the visit.

Many in-person copy requests can be completed the same day. Older records may require more research.

The Recorder accepts documents authorized or required by California law to be recorded.

Its employees cannot prepare deeds or provide legal advice about which instrument you should use.

1. Prepare the correct deed.

   Confirm the grantor, grantee, property description and intended transfer.

2. Include recording and return information.

   State who is requesting recording and where the recorded document should be returned.

3. Verify the APN and Tax Rate Area.

   Riverside County requires these details on conveyance documents under local requirements.

4. Check signatures and acknowledgment.

   Documents must have proper signatures and notarization when legally required.

5. Prepare transfer-related forms.

   Include the Documentary Transfer Tax Affidavit and Preliminary Change of Ownership Report when applicable.

6. Calculate the full recording fee.

   Include page fees, applicable title charges, statutory surcharges and transfer tax.

7. Submit the document.

   Use an authorized in-person, mail, drop-box or electronic recording method.

8. Retain the recording information.

   Keep the recording date, instrument number and returned document for your records.

Can I record by mail?

Yes. The county accepts recording documents by mail when they meet legal requirements.

Make checks or money orders payable to the Riverside County Recorder. Do not mail cash.

The county asks filers to allow approximately six to eight weeks for return of original recorded documents by mail.

The county’s consolidated Recorder fee schedule was revised in January 2026.

The basic recording charges are straightforward, but certain documents carry additional fees.

Example: Basic three-page recording

The $20 example is only the basic page charge for a single-title document.

It does not include Building Homes and Jobs Act fees, fraud fees, transfer tax or other applicable charges.

What is the SB 2 recording fee?

California’s Building Homes and Jobs Act can add a $75 charge per qualifying title or transaction, subject to statutory rules and a maximum of $225.

Exemptions may apply. Do not assume every deed or title document must pay the surcharge.

Riverside County provides a Recorder cover sheet for applicable exemption statements.

Other possible charges

The calculator provides an estimate and does not cover every type of recordable document.

Documentary Transfer Tax may apply when real property is transferred for taxable consideration exceeding $100.

Riverside County has an important local distinction: the City of Riverside uses a different rate from other areas of the county.

Example: $300,000 taxable transfer

The example assumes $300,000 is the taxable value after applying the relevant legal rules.

The actual tax may differ when existing liens, exemptions or other factors affect the taxable amount.

What if the transfer is exempt?

The county requires a Documentary Transfer Tax Affidavit for specified conveyances, including transfers claiming an exemption.

A family transfer or a deed showing nominal consideration is not automatically exempt.

Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)

California generally requires a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report when an interest in real property is transferred.

Riverside County charges $20 when a required completed PCOR is not filed with the recorded transfer document.

The PCOR helps the Assessor understand ownership changes and is not available for ordinary public inspection.

Documentary Transfer Tax Affidavit

This form reports the documentary transfer tax amount or the claimed exemption reason.

The county requires it for specified transfers, including grant deeds, quitclaim deeds and trust-transfer deeds.

Recorder cover sheet

Certain documents may require an exemption statement or cover sheet to address additional state recording charges.

Check the form instructions carefully rather than assuming an exemption automatically applies.

Can I prepare my own deed?

The county provides sample recording documents, but its employees cannot prepare your deed or select the correct legal instrument.

Adding a spouse, removing an owner, transferring property to a trust or correcting title can have legal and tax consequences.

Riverside County’s Assessor can help identify ownership using a street address or parcel number.

However, the county states that it does not display owner names through its online Assessor search.

Ownership information is available through the Assessor’s public-service offices.

For assessment questions, call 951-955-6200.

For property-tax bills or payment information, use the Riverside County Treasurer-Tax Collector.

If you already submitted a document, keep your receipt and recording information.

Once the document is indexed, you can search for it using the recording date, parties or document number.

Checking a copy order

Riverside County also provides an order-tracking service for Clerk-Recorder requests.

What if my document does not appear?

Check the spelling of names and try a broader date range.

If the recording was recent, confirm the document was accepted and indexed.

Contact the Recorder if a record remains missing after checking the available references.

Riverside County issues courtesy notices after certain deed and deed-of-trust recordings.

The notice helps property owners recognize a newly recorded transaction involving their property.

If you recognize the recording, no action may be needed.

If the recording appears unauthorized, contact the appropriate authorities promptly.

Can a suspicious lien be deleted?

The Recorder cannot simply remove an existing public document because someone disputes its accuracy.

A legally appropriate release, correction, court order or other action may be required.

Contact the creditor, relevant agency or qualified legal professional for help.

Some older property documents contain discriminatory restrictions that cannot legally be enforced.

California law provides procedures to request the modification of qualifying recorded covenants.

Riverside County has a Restrictive Covenant Modification program and states there is no recording fee for qualifying modification requests.

The county’s program also includes requirements related to housing developments under AB 1050, effective January 1, 2026.

County Counsel reviews whether the restriction meets the statutory criteria before a modification is recorded.

This page is an independent informational guide. It is not operated by Riverside County or the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.

This article does not provide legal, tax or title advice. Recording a document does not guarantee that ownership or title is legally correct.

Office hours, recording fees, forms and procedures can change. Confirm important details with the responsible county office.

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

This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.

Use these county-managed resources to verify office information, recording rules, documents and fees.