Santa Clara County, California • Clerk-Recorder, deeds and official records • Reviewed September 18, 2026
Santa Clara County CA Recorder: Deeds, Official Records, Copies, Fees and Office Guide
The Santa Clara County Recorder records deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, maps and other official real-estate records for property in Santa Clara County.
The office is formally the County Clerk-Recorder. It records legal documents, maintains official records and provides copies of recorded documents.
If you need a deed copy, first identify the document number or book/page reference. If you need to record a deed, check the PCOR, APN, transfer tax and recording-fee rules before mailing or visiting.
Fast answer
Santa Clara County Recorder Quick Facts
Records real-estate documents, maps and official records for Santa Clara County.
1st Floor, San Jose, CA 95134. Do not use the old 70 W. Hedding address.
Use this number for Clerk-Recorder services, official records and recording questions.
Use the official Clerk-Recorder email for general office questions.
Monday through Friday. Closed Saturday, Sunday and county holidays.
The county says real-estate document research or viewing must be done in person.
Official records cannot be sent electronically; purchased documents are mailed.
Property addresses and APNs are not searchable in the Clerk-Recorder index.
Use the Clerk-Recorder for deeds and recorded documents. Use the Assessor for APN, assessed value and ownership assessment records. Use the Department of Tax and Collections for property tax bills and payments.
Address, phone and map
Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder Office Location
Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder
Address: 110 West Tasman Drive, 1st Floor, San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: 408-299-5688
Fax: 408-280-1768
Email: clerkrecorder@rec.sccgov.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Recorder listed by CDPH: Louis Chiaramonte
Before you visit
Bring the document number, book/page, recording date, names on the document and photo ID if needed.
The county recommends appointments for some services, but in-person customer service is also available without an appointment.
For real-estate recording, bring the original signed document, correct payment, PCOR if required and transfer-tax information.
Map: Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134
After opening: confirm the current address, office hours, appointment options and contact details before visiting or mailing documents.
High-value local details
What Many Santa Clara County Recorder Guides Miss
The office moved: the current Clerk-Recorder address is 110 West Tasman Drive, 1st Floor, San Jose, CA 95134.
In-person research matters: the county says recorded real-estate documents must be researched or viewed in person at the Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
The office does not search for you: if you need a title search, the county directs users to contact a title company.
Property address and APN are not searchable in the Recorder index: use the Assessor to help locate parcel information, then use the document number or party name at the Recorder.
Official records are not delivered electronically: copy requests may be ordered, but official documents are physically mailed.
PCOR is a common delay: many deeds require a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report, and a missing or incomplete PCOR can add a $20 fee.
City transfer taxes can apply: San Jose, Palo Alto and Mountain View can add city conveyance tax on top of county transfer tax.
Originals take time to return: the county states originals of recorded real-estate documents are returned after recording, with average return time of 8–10 weeks.
Researching documents
How to Search Santa Clara County Deeds and Official Records
Santa Clara County does not position its Clerk-Recorder index as a complete online title search.
The county says real-estate documents must be researched or viewed in person, and the office does not provide search service.
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Start with the information you already have.
Useful details include name, document number, recording date, book/page or map reference.
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Use the Assessor if you only have an address or APN.
The Recorder index is not searchable by property address or APN.
Open Santa Clara County Assessor property search -
Visit the Clerk-Recorder to research or view documents.
Bring names, document references and the approximate recording period.
Open real-estate document research instructions -
Use multiple party names.
Search grantor, grantee, trustee, trust name, business name, prior owner and alternate spellings.
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Save the document number.
You will need the document or instrument number, or book/page, to order copies efficiently.
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Use a title company when you need a full title search.
The Clerk-Recorder records and preserves documents, but it does not issue title opinions.
A single property can have deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, releases, easements, maps and court-related recordings under different names. Do not stop after one search result if you need a complete title history.
Copies and certified copies
How to Get a Copy of a Santa Clara County Deed or Recorded Document
Santa Clara County says official documents are not available for purchase online.
Copy requests can be made in person, by email or by mail, but official records cannot be sent electronically.
View and purchase copies at the Clerk-Recorder’s Office during business hours.
Requests can be emailed, but the county mails the documents physically.
Mail the request, payment and document details to the Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
What you need before ordering copies
Document number: use the instrument number if available.
Book and page: needed for older documents or maps when document number is not enough.
Document title: grant deed, deed of trust, reconveyance, lien, release, map or another title.
Name on document: include grantor, grantee, trustee, trust or business name.
Recording date: optional but useful when narrowing records.
Copy type: choose plain or certified copy.
Mailing address: official copies are physically mailed.
Copy fee: $4 first page + $2 each additional page.
Certification fee: $2 per document, in addition to copy fees.
Credit card note: the county lists processing fees for credit-card transactions.
After opening: confirm the current copy fees, choose plain or certified copy, then order in person, by email or by mail. Do not expect official copies to be emailed.
Recording workflow
How to Record a Deed or Real-Estate Document in Santa Clara County
The Clerk-Recorder records legal documents required or authorized by law after payment of proper fees and taxes.
Staff do not provide legal advice, do not carry real-estate recording forms and do not decide whether a private document is legally right for your situation.
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Prepare the original document.
Use a legal document that is signed, notarized when required and photographically reproducible.
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Add the APN when required.
Parcel numbers are required on deeds conveying an interest in real property. The county format is 000-00-000.
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Prepare the PCOR when required.
The Assessor requires a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report for many deeds and indentures.
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Calculate recording fees and taxes.
Include page fees, title fees, SB2 if applicable, AB1466, transfer tax, city conveyance tax and PCOR fees when required.
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Mail or submit the document.
Mailed real-estate documents are reviewed and recorded within ten business days if they meet recording requirements.
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Wait for the original return.
The county says originals are returned after recording, with an average return time of 8–10 weeks.
After opening: review the Real Estate Recording section. Confirm whether you should mail the document, use an appointment or contact the office before submitting.
Fee snapshot
Santa Clara County Recording and Copy Fees
Recording fees can change. Always verify the current fee schedule before mailing a deed or requesting a certified copy.
Includes the $10 Real Estate Fraud Prevention Fee listed by the county.
Added for each additional page in a standard-fee document.
Depends on whether the additional title is subject to the real estate instrument fee.
For an unofficial confirmation copy submitted with the original and sufficient return envelope.
$4 first page plus $2 each additional page for copies made by the office and mailed.
Added when requesting a certified copy of a recorded document.
Charged when a required Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is missing or incomplete.
Applies to many real-estate instruments unless an exemption applies.
Non-standard size fee: $3 per page if any page is not 8½ x 11 or has something glued, taped or stapled to it.
Small print penalty: $1 per page if the print is too dense under the county’s note.
Indexing fee: $1 per group after the first ten names indexed.
AB 1466 fee: $2 per title for the Restrictive Covenant Program Fee.
Survey Monument Preservation fee: can apply to certain grant deeds.
After opening: check basic fees, additional fees, transfer tax, PCOR rules and notes. If mailing and unsure of the amount, the county allows a “not to exceed” amount on the check memo line.
Transfer tax and city tax
County Documentary Transfer Tax and City Conveyance Tax
Deeds and other transfer documents may require documentary transfer tax at recording.
In Santa Clara County, city conveyance tax may also apply when the property is in San Jose, Palo Alto or Mountain View.
Applies per $500 or fraction of consideration or value of interest conveyed.
Applies in San Jose, Palo Alto and Mountain View, in addition to county tax.
San Jose real property transfer tax can apply when consideration meets the city threshold.
The county states that a single deed with multiple properties in various cities with transfer taxes on it is not accepted. Separate handling may be needed when multiple city transfer-tax rules are involved.
After opening: verify whether the property is in San Jose and whether the transfer value meets the current Measure E threshold before calculating the recording payment.
Document requirements
Common Recording Requirements That Can Delay a Deed
Recordable document: the document must be authorized or required by law to be recorded.
Original signatures: deeds usually require original signatures and proper notarization.
Readable format: documents must be photographically reproducible.
APN: deeds conveying an interest in real property must include the Assessor’s Parcel Number.
PCOR: many deeds and indentures require a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.
Document references: later related documents should reference prior recordings by recording date and instrument number.
Page size: nonstandard pages can add fees.
Return address: include where the original should be returned after recording.
After opening: check APN, format, legal description, notary, transfer tax, PCOR and return-address rules before submitting your document.
Avoid the wrong office
Recorder vs Assessor vs Tax Collector in Santa Clara County
Clerk-Recorder
Use for: deeds, official records, recorded maps, certified copies, recording fees and document recording.
Address: 110 West Tasman Drive, 1st Floor, San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: 408-299-5688
Office of the Assessor
Use for: APN lookup, assessed value, ownership assessment records, mailing address changes and property-transfer assessment questions.
Address: 130 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: 408-299-5500
Department of Tax and Collections
Use for: property tax bills, tax payment, tax delinquency and tax collection questions.
Address: 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: 408-808-7900
Superior Court
Use for: divorce records, court records and case filings.
The Clerk-Recorder does not provide divorce certificates; the county directs users to Superior Court for divorce records.
Open Santa Clara Superior CourtReal estate fraud
Property Fraud, Suspicious Documents and Real Estate Fraud Complaints
Santa Clara County’s official real-estate research guidance says to visit the District Attorney’s website if you suspect real estate fraud.
The Recorder records documents that meet recording requirements. Recording does not prove that a private document is legally valid or free from fraud.
If you receive a suspicious document: compare the names, recording date, document title and instrument number.
If you suspect forgery: contact the District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit or a qualified attorney.
If the issue is title ownership: contact a title company or attorney for a title search or title opinion.
If the issue is mailing address: update the Assessor mailing address so future notices reach the right person.
After opening: look for real estate fraud complaint guidance. Save the recorded document number, copy of the suspicious document, proof of identity and property information before contacting the office.
Common mistakes
Common Santa Clara County Recorder Mistakes to Avoid
Going to the old Hedding Street address: the Clerk-Recorder is now at 110 West Tasman Drive.
Expecting online official document delivery: the county says official records cannot be sent electronically.
Searching Recorder records by address: use the Assessor to connect an address/APN to document references.
Skipping PCOR review: missing or incomplete PCOR can create a fee and delay.
Ignoring city transfer tax: San Jose, Palo Alto and Mountain View may add city conveyance tax.
Underpaying mailed recordings: include all recording fees, transfer tax, SB2, AB1466, PCOR and page fees.
Using Recorder staff as legal advisors: the office does not provide legal advice or recording forms.
Assuming recording proves ownership: recording gives public notice, but it is not the same as a title search or court ruling.
Decision path
What Should You Do Next?
Find the document number first. Order in person, by email or by mail, and expect physical delivery.
Use the Assessor property search first because the Recorder index is not searchable by address or APN.
Prepare the signed document, APN, PCOR, transfer-tax declaration, fees and return address.
Contact a title company. The Clerk-Recorder says it does not provide title-search services.
Contact the Department of Tax and Collections, not the Clerk-Recorder.
Save the document number and contact the Santa Clara County District Attorney or legal counsel.
Important notice
Independent Information, Legal Caution and Public-Records Notice
This page is independent informational content. It is not the official website of the County of Santa Clara, the County Clerk-Recorder, the Assessor, the Department of Tax and Collections or any government agency.
This guide is not legal advice, title advice, tax advice or a substitute for a title company, attorney, escrow officer or official county determination.
Fees, office hours, mailing rules, document requirements, transfer-tax rates and copy procedures can change. Verify current requirements directly with the responsible county office before recording, paying or ordering copies.
Public property records should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or any other purpose regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act or similar laws. This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.
FAQs
Santa Clara County Recorder FAQs
Where is the Santa Clara County Recorder office?
The Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder is located at 110 West Tasman Drive, 1st Floor, San Jose, CA 95134.
What is the Santa Clara County Recorder phone number?
The Clerk-Recorder phone number is 408-299-5688.
Can I search Santa Clara County deeds by address?
No. The county says property addresses and APNs are not searchable in the Clerk-Recorder index. Use the Assessor to help locate parcel information first.
Does the Clerk-Recorder perform title searches?
No. The county says the office does not provide search service and directs users who need a title search to contact a title company.
Can I purchase official Santa Clara County recorded documents online?
The county says official documents are not available for purchase online and cannot be sent electronically. Copies can be requested in person, by email or by mail and are physically mailed.
How much does a recorded document copy cost?
The county lists $4 for the first page, $2 for each additional page and $2 per document for certification when a certified copy is requested.
How much is the basic recording fee in Santa Clara County?
The county lists $25 for the first page of standard-fee documents and $3 for each additional page, plus any applicable extra fees and taxes.
Is an APN required on a Santa Clara County deed?
Yes. The county says parcel numbers are required on deeds conveying an interest in real property, using the format 000-00-000.
When is a PCOR required?
The Assessor generally requires a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report for deeds and indentures, with specific exceptions listed by the county.
Which office handles property tax bills?
The Department of Tax and Collections handles property tax bills and payments. The Clerk-Recorder handles recorded documents and official record copies.
Official resources