Costa Mesa Deed Records
Costa Mesa property deeds are filed with Orange County Recorder in Santa Ana. The city does not maintain its own deed office. All real estate documents for Costa Mesa go through the county system. Orange County has recorded over 11 million documents electronically since launching eRecording. You can search the online database for Costa Mesa property records or visit the county office in person. Costa Mesa is located in central Orange County about 3 miles from the Pacific coast. The city has approximately 110,000 residents across 16 square miles. Costa Mesa is known for South Coast Plaza shopping center, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and the Orange County Fair.
Costa Mesa Quick Facts
Orange County Recorder Office
Orange County Recorder handles all deed filings for Costa Mesa. The office is at 601 North Ross Street in Santa Ana, about 5 miles from Costa Mesa. Call 714-834-5043 or the toll-free number 855-886-5400. The office is open during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
You do not need to visit in person for most tasks. The county offers online searching, mail requests, and electronic recording. Most real estate professionals use eRecording for speed and reliability. Electronic submissions often get recorded within hours instead of days.
When a deed is recorded, the county stamps it with the official date and time. This creates a public record that protects your ownership rights. California law gives priority to the first party to record under the race-notice system. Prompt recording protects against competing claims.
For complete details about Orange County recording, visit the Orange County deed records page which covers fee schedules, online search instructions, eRecording vendor information, and how to request certified copies of property documents for Costa Mesa and all other Orange County cities.
Search Costa Mesa Property Records
Orange County provides free online access through RecorderWorks. Go to the Orange County online records portal to search for Costa Mesa deeds. You can search by name, address, or document number. The system covers many years of records.
To search by owner name, enter the last name first. The system shows all matching records. Click a result to see details and view the scanned deed image for free. If you need a certified copy, you must request it from the recorder and pay certification fees.
Most Costa Mesa home sales use grant deeds. These transfer ownership with implied warranties that the seller has not sold the property to anyone else. Quitclaim deeds are used for family transfers or to clear title problems. They provide no warranties about ownership.
The database covers all of Orange County. When you search, you may see results from other cities if someone owns multiple properties. Check the address or legal description to confirm you have the right property in Costa Mesa.
Costa Mesa Recording Costs
Orange County charges $87 for the first page of a deed. This includes the $12 base fee and $75 SB2 housing fee. Each additional page costs $3. A typical two-page deed costs $90 total. These fees apply throughout Orange County including Costa Mesa.
Copy fees are $1 per page for plain copies. Certification adds $1. So a certified copy of a three-page deed costs $6 total. You need certified copies for legal purposes like court filings or mortgage applications. Plain copies work for personal records.
The SB2 fee is mandated by state law to fund affordable housing programs. Every California county collects this $75 fee per transaction. The maximum is $225 for complex transactions involving multiple parcels.
Orange County does not charge extra fees for credit card payments. Some counties add 2% or more but Orange County absorbs this cost. You can also pay by cash or check when visiting in person.
Costa Mesa Transfer Tax
Costa Mesa has no city transfer tax. You pay only the county documentary transfer tax of 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. For a $900,000 home, the transfer tax is $990. This is lower than many California cities that add their own city taxes on top of the county rate.
The seller typically pays transfer tax at closing but this is negotiable. The tax is based on the net purchase price. If a buyer assumes an existing loan, that amount does not count toward the taxable consideration.
The county collects transfer tax when the deed is recorded and stamps the amount on the document. This becomes part of the public record. Anyone can see the transfer tax and estimate the sale price by working backward from the tax calculation.
Transfer tax is different from property tax. Property tax is an annual charge based on assessed value. Transfer tax is a one-time fee charged only when property changes hands. Some transfers may qualify for exemptions.
California Electronic Recording
The state oversees electronic recording systems to ensure security and reliability. Learn more at the California Attorney General certified vendor page which lists approved eRecording providers.
Orange County has recorded over 11 million documents electronically. This system cuts processing time and reduces errors from illegible handwriting or missing pages.
Other Orange County Cities
All Orange County cities record deeds at the same office in Santa Ana. Below are other major cities near Costa Mesa:
Recording fees and transfer tax rates are uniform across Orange County since no city has adopted additional city transfer taxes.