El Cajon Property Deeds
Deed records for El Cajon are maintained by San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. The city does not keep its own deed files. All property transfers in El Cajon go through the county system in downtown San Diego. You can search many records online or visit the county office in person. El Cajon is an inland city in east San Diego County with over 106,000 residents. The county has an online database that covers many years of records but recently removed APN search functionality due to state law AB 1785. You can still search by name or document number online.
El Cajon Quick Facts
San Diego County Recorder
San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk handles all deed filings for El Cajon. The office is in downtown San Diego at 1600 Pacific Highway. Call (619) 237-0502 or email ARCCRecorderCountyClerk.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov with questions. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal business times.
El Cajon residents can file deeds by mail, in person, or through electronic recording. Most title companies use eRecording for speed. Documents submitted online typically get recorded within one or two business days. Paper documents take longer depending on volume. The county assigns a document number to each recorded deed and adds it to the searchable index.
For more information about San Diego County's deed recording services, visit the San Diego County deed records page where you can find detailed information about the recorder office, fees, online databases, and how to search for property documents throughout the county including El Cajon and all other San Diego County cities.
Search El Cajon Deeds Online
San Diego County offers online deed searches at arcc-acclaim.sdcounty.ca.gov where you can look up records by name, document type, or date. The database covers many years of records. Due to AB 1785, APN search functionality is no longer available online. APN searches remain available only at in-person kiosks at the county office.
To find an El Cajon deed, enter the property owner name. Results show all matching documents in San Diego County. Click on one to see details like the recording date, document type, and number of pages. If you need a certified copy, you must request it from the county and pay the certification fee.
Grant deeds are the most common type in El Cajon home sales. A grant deed transfers ownership with implied promises that the seller has not sold the property to anyone else and there are no hidden liens. Quitclaim deeds also appear for transfers between family members or to clear title issues. Deeds of trust are used for mortgages and refinancing.
The online system covers all San Diego County cities including El Cajon, San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, and others. Make sure to verify the property address when you search. A person may own land in multiple cities so you want to confirm you have the right parcel.
Recording Fees and Transfer Tax
San Diego County charges standard California recording fees. The first page of a deed costs more than additional pages due to base fees and state mandates. Each extra page costs $3. Most deeds are two or three pages. Add the SB2 fee of $75 for real estate transactions.
If you need a certified copy of a deed, San Diego County charges $2 for the first page and 5 cents for each additional page. Certification adds $1. This is one of the lowest copy fees in California. Courts and lenders require certified copies. Plain copies without the seal cost less but are not accepted for legal matters.
Documentary transfer tax in San Diego County is 55 cents per $500 of the purchase price. This is the standard California rate. The city of El Cajon does not charge an additional city transfer tax. You only pay the county rate. This makes El Cajon less expensive for closing costs compared to cities with their own transfer taxes.
California Deed Laws
All deeds in California must follow state law. The main rule is in Civil Code Section 1091 which says real property transfers must be in writing and signed by the person transferring the property. You cannot transfer land with a verbal agreement in California.
Grant deeds in El Cajon include implied covenants under Civil Code Section 1113 which says the seller promises they have not sold the property to anyone else and the property is free from liens except those disclosed. These promises are automatic when you use the word grant in the deed.
The county recorder must accept your deed if it meets legal requirements and you pay the fees. This rule comes from Government Code Section 27201 which lists the duties of county recorders. The recorder cannot give legal advice or tell you if your deed is valid. They only check format and signatures.
Recording a deed gives constructive notice under Civil Code Sections 1213-1214 which establish California's race-notice recording system. The first buyer to record usually wins if there are competing claims. Always record your deed as soon as possible after closing to protect your ownership rights.
Other San Diego County Cities
San Diego County has several cities over 100,000 population. All use the same county recorder. Nearby cities include:
All San Diego County residents file deeds at the same county office regardless of which city they live in. Recording fees and transfer tax rates are the same throughout the county. No San Diego County cities charge additional city transfer taxes.