Santa Barbara County Recorder: Deeds & Records

The county’s Official Records Search provides access to recorded-document indexes and copy ordering.

For modern documents, search by a person’s name, business name, document type or document number.

1. Open the Official Records Search.

   Use the county-operated Clerk-Recorder self-service website.

   Open Official Records Search
   After opening: choose Name Search, Document Type Search, Document Number Search, Map Book/Page Search or Advanced Search.
2. Select the search type.

   A name search works well when you know the buyer, seller, borrower or lender.

   A document-number search is faster when you already have a recording reference.

3. Enter the available information.

   Use a surname and given name, business name, recording date range or document number.

4. Review the matching results.

   Compare parties, document titles and recording dates to identify the correct instrument.

5. Save the recording reference.

   Note the document number or book/page reference before ordering an official copy.

6. Order a copy when required.

   Select the matching result and follow the portal’s purchase instructions.

How the name search works

The portal supports exact-match and wildcard searches.

Exact-match searches use names in the entered order. The county’s instructions recommend surname first for individuals.

Wildcard searches are broader and can help when the exact spelling or name order is uncertain.

Document-number search

Santa Barbara’s current system uses document numbers in a year-and-number format.

For example, a document reference can resemble 2014-0000001. Enter the number exactly as instructed by the portal.

Search by document type

Use Document Type Search when researching a particular category, such as a grant deed, deed of trust or reconveyance.

Narrow the date range whenever possible. A broad countywide search may return many unrelated records.

Santa Barbara County has recorded real-estate documents dating back to 1850.

However, historic documents are not all searchable through the modern Official Records Search portal.

How to search the historical index

1. Open the historical records portal.

   The county operates a dedicated historical index website.

   Open Historical Index
2. Choose grantor or grantee.

   A grantor generally transfers an interest. A grantee generally receives an interest.

3. Choose the correct date range.

   Historical books are divided into 1931–1958 and 1959–1975.

4. Search the surname or organization name.

   The historical system groups names by the first few letters and recording date.

5. Review the index-page images.

   Find the matching name and approximate recording year.

6. Write down the book and page.

   Use this reference to order the associated historical instrument.

The Recorder’s system searches recorded instruments. The Assessor’s parcel system is better for finding a property when you only know its street address.

1. Open the Assessor’s parcel lookup.

   Search the property using a house number, street name or Assessor Parcel Number (APN).

   Open Parcel Details Lookup
2. Identify the parcel.

   Review the APN, parcel details and available map information.

3. Locate the recorded instrument.

   Use the parties’ names, legal description or a known recording reference to search the Clerk-Recorder.

4. Verify the document.

   Compare the legal description and recording date before buying a copy.

Mailing recorded documents

For regular postal mail, use:

Santa Barbara Clerk-Recorder
PO Box 159
Santa Barbara, CA 93102

For express or courier delivery, the county lists:

1100 Anacapa Street
Hall of Records
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Santa Barbara Hall of Records

1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Santa Maria Clerk-Recorder Office

511 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 115, Santa Maria, CA 93455

Office hours and availability may change around holidays. Call 805-568-2250 when traveling for a time-sensitive recording.

California deeds must satisfy legal and recording requirements before they can be accepted by the County Recorder.

The Recorder can explain document-recording standards but cannot prepare legal documents or advise which deed to use.

1. Prepare the appropriate deed.

   Determine whether the transaction requires a grant deed, quitclaim deed, trust transfer deed or another legal instrument.

   An attorney or title professional can help when ownership or inheritance rights are uncertain.

2. Confirm the legal description.

   Make sure the property description matches the intended real estate.

   A street address or APN alone may not provide the complete legal description needed for a particular instrument.

3. Check signatures and acknowledgment.

   Most deeds transferring real-property interests require proper execution and notarized acknowledgment.

4. Prepare required accompanying forms.

   Review the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report and Documentary Transfer Tax Affidavit requirements.

5. Determine applicable taxes and fees.

   Calculate recording charges and any documentary transfer tax.

   Review SB 2 / Building Homes and Jobs Act exemptions where applicable.

6. Submit the document.

   Record in person or send documents using the county’s mailing instructions.

7. Retain the recording reference.

   Keep the assigned document number and any returned recorded document.

Santa Barbara County’s published 2026 fee schedule includes a $14 basic recording fee for a qualifying first page.

Depending on the instrument, additional pages, fraud-prosecution charges and Building Homes and Jobs Act fees may apply.

2027 fee increase

On September 18, 2026, California’s governor approved AB 2224, increasing certain Recorder fees effective January 1, 2027.

The county announcement identifies a $15 first-page charge and $4 for each additional page under the new schedule.

SB 2 / Building Homes and Jobs Act fee

California Government Code §27388.1 imposes an additional $75 on certain recorded real-estate instruments.

Statutory exemptions apply to qualifying transactions, including certain property transfers subject to documentary transfer tax and owner-occupied residential transfers.

A valid exemption must be documented as required. Do not assume the $75 charge is always due or always waived.

Documentary Transfer Tax

Some California real-property transfers are subject to documentary transfer tax.

The correct tax depends on the transaction, consideration, debt treatment and applicable exemptions.

Do not assume a family transfer, trust transfer or no-cash transfer is automatically exempt.

Use the county’s Documentary Transfer Tax Affidavit to provide information supporting the applicable tax treatment.

Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)

The PCOR provides the Assessor with information about a property transfer.

The form can help the Assessor evaluate the change of ownership and applicable exclusions.

California law may impose an additional fee if a required PCOR is not submitted at recording.

The Recorder requires a document number or book/page reference for copy orders.

The office does not perform public research searches on behalf of customers. Find the correct reference before requesting a copy.

Order copies online

1. Find the recorded instrument.

   Use the Official Records Search or Historical Index.

2. Confirm the recording reference.

   Record the document number, date or book/page.

3. Choose the copy type.

   Select an ordinary or certified copy as needed.

4. Complete the order.

   Follow the portal’s payment and delivery instructions.

Current online copy-order charges

The online portal currently lists $10 per document and an additional $2 for certification.

Other copy-request methods may have different charges. Check the county’s full fee schedule.

Can copies be emailed?

Regular copies may be mailed or emailed upon request.

To request email delivery, the county instructs customers to email its help desk within 24 hours after placing the online order.

Certified copies are mailed rather than emailed.

What happens when a mortgage is paid off?

Paying off a mortgage or deed of trust does not usually produce a brand-new deed transferring ownership.

In many California transactions, the relevant document is a reconveyance showing release of the secured interest.

If a release appears missing, contact the lender or title professional and check the recording index.

Can the county determine whether title is clear?

No. An official-record search is not a complete title insurance examination.

A title professional or attorney should evaluate competing instruments, liens, judgments and ownership issues before a transaction.

• Only know the property address? Use the Assessor parcel lookup to identify the APN and related parcel information.
• Cannot find a 1950 deed? Use the historical 1931–1975 index instead of the modern portal.
• Looking for an 1890 deed? Contact the Hall of Records about older kiosk-accessible archives.
• Historical OCR gives conflicting names? Review scanned grantor/grantee index pages.
• Need a certified copy? Find the recording reference before ordering.
• Preparing a deed? Confirm notarization, legal description, PCOR and transfer-tax requirements.
• Recording fee seems too high? Separate the basic recording fee from SB 2 fees, fraud fees and documentary transfer tax.
• Need same-day service? Arrive by 4 PM and confirm whether same-day processing is possible.
• Received an expensive deed-copy solicitation? Compare it with official county copy charges before paying.
• Have a property valuation or homeowner exemption question? Contact the Assessor rather than the Recorder’s document-search service.

Use these official sources for search instructions, fees, copy ordering and document preparation.

Independent Information, Legal Disclaimer and FCRA Notice

This article is an independent public-information guide. It is not the official website of Santa Barbara County, the Clerk-Recorder, the Assessor or any California government agency.

Recording a document does not guarantee clear title or establish the legal validity of the underlying transaction.

For deed preparation, property transfers, title disputes, liens, trusts and estates, contact a qualified California real-estate attorney or title professional.

Fees, online systems, statutory requirements and office hours can change. Verify details directly with the county before recording original instruments.

Do not use public records for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or other decisions governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

This independent website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.