Yolo County Recorder: Deeds & Records

Official Yolo County Recorder Visitor Information

Yolo County’s online public-record system allows users to locate deeds, deeds of trust, lis pendens and other recorded instruments using indexed information.

The county maintains modern official-record indexes and selected historical collections dating back to 1850.

1. Open the official county search page.

   Use the Clerk-Recorder’s recorded-document search service.

   Open Yolo County Recorded Records Search

   After opening: find the “Recorded Documents” section and choose the official property-record search option.
2. Search by a party’s name.

   The county indexes recorded property documents primarily using grantor and grantee names.

   Search the person or entity named on the deed, mortgage or other recorded instrument.

3. Use the document number when available.

   If you have an older deed, title report or transaction paperwork, use the recording reference to narrow the results.

4. Review the matching document index.

   Confirm the recording date, document type, grantor, grantee and document number.

5. Choose the appropriate copy.

   Add the record to the online order queue if you need a regular or certified copy.

Historical document search

Yolo County provides online index access to historical books of deeds, deeds of trust, lis pendens and miscellaneous documents dating from 1850.

However, historical bonds, leases, liens, mortgages and maps may require an in-person search at the Recorder’s Office.

The county’s search system also provides Advanced Search instructions for historical records.

If you know the street address but do not know the owner’s name, start with the Yolo County Assessor.

The Assessor maintains property characteristics, assessment information and ownership-related assessment records.

The Yolo County Recorder accepts prepared documents that meet California’s recording standards and the county’s applicable fee requirements.

Recorder staff review documents for recordability. They do not prepare deeds or provide legal advice about ownership transfers.

1. Prepare the deed.

   Confirm the names of all parties, legal property description, required signatures and proper notarization.

2. Check California recording requirements.

   Ensure the document is legible and includes the correct recording-request and return-mailing information.

3. Review property transfer forms.

   Determine whether a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is required and whether the transfer qualifies for any reassessment exclusion.

4. Determine documentary transfer tax.

   The amount depends on the taxable transaction and any valid exemption.

5. Check all recording fees.

   Include the base recording charge and any applicable additional-page, SB 2 or AB 1466 fees.

6. Submit the prepared document.

   Deliver the document in person, mail it to the Clerk-Recorder or use an authorized eRecording service if eligible.

7. Keep the recording reference.

   Retain the instrument number, payment information and recorded document for future reference.

Official Yolo County Basic Recording Requirements

Yolo County Recording Services

Where to Obtain Deed Forms

The Recorder directs users seeking fillable property-document forms toward resources such as the Sacramento Law Library.

A deed form must match the transaction. Adding a spouse, transferring inherited property and removing a co-owner can have different legal consequences.

Yolo County publishes separate fee schedules for recording instruments, maps, recorded-document copies and other Clerk-Recorder services.

The county’s current recording-fee materials identify a $15 first-page charge per title and $3 for additional pages in the standard recording schedule.

Additional statutory fees can increase the total.

California SB 2 fee

California Government Code section 27388.1 imposes a $75 fee on many real-property instruments, up to the applicable $225 cap per transaction and parcel.

Some instruments are exempt, including qualifying transfers connected to documentary transfer tax or owner-occupied residential property.

An exemption must be supported by the transaction and properly declared when required.

AB 1466 fee

Yolo County’s fee materials also identify a $2 restrictive covenant program fee for certain recorded documents.

Documents qualifying for specified SB 2 exemptions may also be exempt from this additional fee.

Potential January 2027 fee changes

Yolo County announced that legislation may lead to recording-fee changes beginning January 1, 2027, subject to county approval and other conditions.

The county notice discusses a possible $20 first-page fee and $4 additional-page fee.

Official Recording Services and Fee Information

Official Recorder Notices and Future Fee Updates

Once you identify the recorded deed, the Clerk-Recorder provides a self-service process for ordering regular and certified copies.

The county asks customers to locate the document themselves before requesting copies.

1. Find the recorded document.

   Search the county’s public document index using a party name, document number, type or recording date.

2. Add the document to your cart.

   Choose the correct record in the online self-service queue.

3. Provide your requester information.

   Enter the name and other information required by the ordering system.

4. Contact the Clerk-Recorder to complete payment.

   The county instructs customers to call 530-666-8130 or contact the office about payment and delivery charges.

5. Receive the copy.

   Regular copies may be emailed as PDFs. Certified copies are delivered by mail.

Official Yolo County Order Documents Online

Copy request processing times

The county says orders of up to four documents received before noon are generally processed the same day.

Similar orders received after noon are generally processed the next business day.

Orders of five or more documents may take up to two business days.

Processing time does not include shipping or delivery time.

Recording by mail

Yolo County accepts prepared documents through the mail when the required forms, signatures and fees are included.

The county states that mailed requests are generally processed within one to three business days after receipt.

Recording fees must be correct. Contact the Recorder before mailing if the document involves multiple titles, transfer tax or uncertain exemptions.

Official Printable Forms and Mailing Instructions

Electronic recording

Yolo County participates in California’s electronic recording framework through authorized agents and submitters.

The county identifies services such as CSC, eRecording Partners Network, Indecomm, Nationwide Title Clearing, Simplifile and ValueCheck.

eRecording is primarily designed for authorized businesses such as title companies, attorneys and lending institutions.

Official Yolo County eRecording Information

Easements

Yolo County’s public search page includes a resource explaining how easements are searched in recorded-document indexes.

Easement searches may require examining deeds, separate easement instruments and the surrounding chain of recorded documents.

Use the Recorder’s easement-search guidance rather than assuming a single document establishes every right of access.

Restrictive covenant modifications

California law provides a process for addressing certain unlawful discriminatory restrictions contained in recorded property documents.

Yolo County provides forms and guidance for eligible restrictive covenant modifications.

County Counsel may review the proposed modification before recording.

Military discharge records

The Clerk-Recorder maintains eligible military discharge filings.

These records have privacy restrictions and cannot be searched in the same way as ordinary public deed records.

Fictitious business names and other filings

The department also maintains fictitious business name statements, CEQA and Fish & Wildlife filings, and Form 700 statements.

These records use separate search categories and are not interchangeable with real-property deed indexes.

Birth, death and marriage certificates

The County Clerk-Recorder also provides eligible vital-record copies.

Birth, death and marriage records are not publicly searchable through the real-property document index.

Divorce or marriage-dissolution court records are held separately by the Yolo County Superior Court.

Official Search Categories and Historical Record Guidance

Property owners can periodically search the Recorder’s public index to identify unfamiliar documents recorded under their names.

The county also publishes guidance about property ownership verification and fraudulent real-estate recordings.

1. Search your name.

   Use the official recorded-document index to check recent documents associated with your name.

2. Review unexpected entries.

   Check the document type, recording date, parties and recording reference.

3. Request a copy.

   Obtain the recorded document if the indexed information suggests an unauthorized transaction.

4. Seek appropriate assistance.

   Contact the Recorder about the document record and consult law enforcement or a qualified attorney when fraud is suspected.

Yolo County Recorder Property Ownership Notices

• Only know the address? Start with the Assessor to identify the parcel and available owner information.
• Need an older deed? Use historical search instructions and check the records available from 1850.
• Online result has no document image? Use the office kiosk or the copy-order service.
• Need staff to research the property? County personnel do not perform index searches for customers.
• Want an official copy by email? Order a regular recorded-document copy through the self-service queue.
• Need a certified document? Request a certified copy and provide a secure mailing address.
• Recording fee unclear? Ask a recording specialist to determine the amount before mailing.
• Document contains an error after recording? Some corrections require a properly prepared corrective document or re-recording.
• Planning a deed transfer? Check PCOR, documentary transfer tax, SB 2 and acknowledgment requirements.
• Need legal advice? Contact a California attorney or title professional rather than relying on Recorder staff to select a deed.

This is an independent informational guide. County-appraisal-district.org is not the official Yolo County government website and is not affiliated with the Yolo County Clerk-Recorder or Assessor.

Recorder searches and recorded deeds provide useful public information, but a recorded document is not a complete title examination or legal opinion.

Consult a qualified California attorney or title professional for deed preparation, title disputes, ownership changes, inheritance or complex property transfers.

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

Fees, recording procedures, office hours and online access may change. Confirm current information with the responsible Yolo County office before submitting documents or payment.