Base Recording Fee
$12–$15 + $3/pageCovers recording, indexing, and storing your document. Each county sets its first-page rate within state limits: LA charges $15, Orange $12, and Ventura $14. Every additional page is $3 in all three counties.
RESOURCE · UPDATED EVERY 4 MONTHS
California County Recording Fees 2026 — LA, Orange & Ventura
Complete 2026 recording fee schedule with every statutory line item — SB2, both real estate fraud fees, AB 1466, FBN filings, and certified copies. Use the calculator below to price any recordable document in Los Angeles, Orange, or Ventura county.
Fees verified: · Sources: LA County Registrar-Recorder, OC Clerk-Recorder, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder
Fee Calculator
Estimates total recording fees for property deeds, FBN/DBA filings, and certified copies. Final amount is always confirmed with the county recorder at the time of filing.
Count every page including exhibits and attachments.
Estimated Fees — LA County
Estimated Total
$0
Final amount confirmed with recorder at filing. Some fees vary by document specifics.
Recording Fee Reference — All Three Counties
Every statutory line item, county by county. Amounts current for 2026 fiscal year.
| Fee | Statutory Basis | LA County | Orange County | Ventura County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Recording (first page) | Gov. Code § 27361 | $15 | $12 | $14 |
| Each Additional Page | Gov. Code § 27361 | $3 | $3 | $3 |
| SB2 Building Homes & Jobs Act | Gov. Code § 27388.1 | $75 | $75 | $75 |
| SB2 Cap (per transaction) | Gov. Code § 27388.1(a)(2) | $225 | $225 | $225 |
| Real Estate Fraud Notification Fee Grant deeds & quitclaim deeds |
Gov. Code §§ 27297.6, 27387.1 | $7 | Verify at filing | Verify at filing |
| Real Estate Fraud Fee (District Attorney) Other recordings, TOD deeds, involuntary liens |
Gov. Code § 27388 | $10 | $10 | $10 |
| AB 1466 Restrictive Covenant Fee | Gov. Code § 27388.2 | $2 | $2 | $2 |
| FBN / DBA First Name | Bus. & Prof. Code § 17929 | $26 | $26 | $59 |
| FBN Each Additional Name | Bus. & Prof. Code § 17929 | Included | Included | $10 |
| Certified Copy — first page | Gov. Code § 27366 | $6 | $1 + $1 cert. | $2 + $1 cert. |
| Certified Copy — each additional page | Gov. Code § 27366 | $3 | $1 | $1 |
| Plain (Uncertified) Copy — first page | Gov. Code § 27366 | $5 | $1 | $2 |
| Index Search (per name, per year) | Gov. Code § 27366 | $0.50 ($1 min) | Not offered | Not offered |
| Public Marriage License | Fam. Code § 350 | $91 | $61 | $106 |
Fees verified August 2026 from official county recorder fee schedules. LA County’s $7 fraud notification fee and $10 District Attorney fraud fee are separate line items with different triggers — see the explanation below. Orange and Ventura amounts for the notification fee are not separately published and are confirmed at filing. Recording fees can change with new legislation — this page is updated every four months (February, June, October) via our automated County Recorder monitor.
Fee breakdown
How California Recording Fees Are Calculated
Every recording fee in California is set by state law, not by county choice. The recorder collects each one for a specific program — from affordable housing (SB2) to fraud prosecution to restrictive covenant research (AB 1466).
Gov. Code § 27361
SB2 Building Homes & Jobs Act
$75 per titleEnacted in 2017 to fund affordable housing. Applies to most documents that transfer or affect title to real property, including deeds. Capped at $225 per transaction (up to 3 fees).
It does not apply to documents recorded with a sale that is subject to documentary transfer tax, so buyer-financed home purchases are typically exempt.
The Two Real Estate Fraud Fees — They Are Not the Same
This is the most common source of quoting errors. Los Angeles County collects two separate fraud-related fees under different statutes, and the instrument decides which one applies.
Fraud Notification Fee — $7
Gov. Code §§ 27297.6, 27387.1. Applies to grant deeds and quitclaim deeds. Pays for the notice the recorder mails to the owner of record when a document affecting title is recorded.
Real Estate Fraud Fee — $10
Gov. Code § 27388. The District Attorney fee for fraud investigation and prosecution. Applies to other recordings, including transfer-on-death deeds, involuntary liens, and quitclaim deeds not subject to transfer tax. LA raised it from $5 to $10 on June 1, 2026.
A quitclaim deed that is exempt from documentary transfer tax can carry both fees. Because the combination depends on how the instrument is classified at intake, confirm the total at the counter before committing to a fixed quote.
AB 1466 Restrictive Covenant Fee
$2 per documentEnacted in 2021. Funds county programs that find and redact unlawful restrictive covenants (racial, ethnic, or religious restrictions in historical deeds). Applies to almost every recordable document.
Certified Copies
Per pageNeeded for courts, insurers, and lenders. Charged per page, not per document.
- LA: $6 first page, $3 each additional (plain copy $5 + $3)
- Orange: $1 per page + $1 to certify
- Ventura: $2 first page, $1 each additional, + $1 to certify
A three-page certified grant deed costs $12 in LA, $4 in Orange, and $5 in Ventura. Recorders sell the complete document only, never a single page. LA charges a non-refundable $0.50 per name, per year index search ($1 minimum); Orange and Ventura staff do not search for the public, so bring the document number or book and page. Need it picked up? See our real estate records retrieval service.
What Isn't Included in Recording Fees
- Documentary transfer tax — typically $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration on property sales.
- Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) — free, but required with most deeds.
- Notary fees — $15 per signature under Gov. Code § 8211, plus travel and handling for a mobile Notary visit.
Worked example
3-page grant deed, Los Angeles County
County fees only, for a deed not recorded with a taxable sale. A mobile recording service adds its trip and handling fee on top.
| First page | $15 |
| 2 additional pages × $3 | $6 |
| SB2 | $75 |
| Fraud Notification Fee | $7 |
| AB 1466 | $2 |
| County total | $105 |
Common questions
California Recording Fees FAQ
Why is my recording bill higher than the base fee?
Because a single recording includes several fees set by state law. A 3-page grant deed in LA County breaks down as $15 first page + $6 additional pages + $75 SB2 + $7 fraud notification fee + $2 AB 1466 = $105. That covers county fees only — a mobile document recording service adds a trip and handling fee on top.
How much does it cost to record a grant deed in Los Angeles County?
For a 3-page grant deed that is not part of a sale, LA County fees total $105: $15 first page, $6 for two more pages, $75 SB2, $7 Real Estate Fraud Notification Fee, and $2 AB 1466. Use the calculator above to price your exact page count and document type.
What is the SB2 fee?
SB2, the Building Homes and Jobs Act (Gov. Code § 27388.1), is a $75 fee per title on most documents that transfer or affect title to real property. It is capped at $225 per transaction and does not apply to documents recorded with a sale that is subject to documentary transfer tax.
What is the difference between the two real estate fraud fees?
The $7 Real Estate Fraud Notification Fee (Gov. Code §§ 27297.6, 27387.1) applies to grant and quitclaim deeds and pays for the notice mailed to the owner of record. The $10 Real Estate Fraud Fee (Gov. Code § 27388) funds District Attorney fraud prosecution and applies to other recordings, such as transfer-on-death deeds and involuntary liens. A quitclaim deed exempt from transfer tax can carry both.
How much is a certified copy of a recorded deed?
Copies are priced per page. A three-page certified grant deed costs $12 in Los Angeles County, $4 in Orange County, and $5 in Ventura County. LA also charges a non-refundable $0.50 per name, per year index search fee ($1 minimum) if you do not have the document number.
Are recording fees the same for e-recording?
Yes. Electronic recording through approved submitters uses the same fee schedule. E-recording can save 2–4 business days on turnaround, especially in Los Angeles County, where in-person queues can run 90+ minutes.
Can I e-record without an approved submitter account?
No. All three counties require submitters to be pre-approved e-recording partners. Individuals and one-time customers file over the counter or by mail. Mobile American Notary is an approved e-recording submitter and handles the entire chain — notarization, submission, tracking, and delivery of the file-stamped recorded document.
What if my document is missing a required disclosure or exhibit?
The recorder rejects the document and mails it back, which costs 5–10 business days plus return postage. Common rejection reasons are a missing legal description, a missing PCOR on a deed, an incorrect APN, or unpaid transfer tax. A pre-filing review catches these before submission.
Do recording fees include transfer tax or notary fees?
No. Recording fees do not include documentary transfer tax (typically $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration on property sales), the PCOR form (free but required), or notary fees. Notarization is $15 per signature under Gov. Code § 8211, plus travel for a mobile Notary visit.
How is this fee list kept up to date?
Our system checks all three county recorder fee schedules every four months (February, June, and October). When a fee changes — as with LA’s June 2026 Real Estate Fraud Fee increase — this page and the calculator are updated within days of the effective date.
Need a document recorded?
We record deeds, FBN filings, TOD deeds, and Affidavits of Death across LA, Orange, and Ventura Counties.