Elk Grove Property Deeds
Elk Grove property deed records are stored at the Sacramento County Clerk Recorder office. The city does not maintain its own deed files. All real estate transfers in Elk Grove must be recorded with the county. You can search these records online going back to 1849 or visit the county office for copies. Elk Grove is in southern Sacramento County with about 176,000 residents. The city incorporated in 2000 and has grown rapidly with new housing developments. This creates steady deed recording activity as properties change hands.
Elk Grove Quick Facts
Where Deeds Get Filed
Sacramento County Clerk Recorder handles all deed filings for Elk Grove. The office is at 3636 American River Drive in Sacramento. That is about 15 miles north of Elk Grove. You can call (916) 874-6334 or toll-free at (800) 313-7133. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Elk Grove does not have its own recorder. All cities in Sacramento County use the same county office. When you buy a home in Elk Grove, your deed gets sent to Sacramento. The county records it and adds it to the public index. Then anyone can search for it online or in person.
For complete details about Sacramento County recording services, visit the Sacramento County deed records page where you will find information about fees, online databases, eRecording options, and how to search for property documents throughout the county including Elk Grove.
Sacramento County offers same-day recording for documents submitted before 3pm. Most title companies use eRecording through certified vendors. Electronic filing is faster than paper. Documents submitted electronically before the cutoff usually record the same day. Paper deeds can take several days depending on mail delivery and processing time.
Online Deed Database
Sacramento County has an online document index that goes back to 1849. Go to the county's search portal and select your search method. You can search by name, document number, or legal description. The database gets updated daily with new recordings.
To search by name, enter the last name first. Then add the first name if you know it. The system shows matching records. Click on one to see details like recording date and document type. The index is free to search. If you want the full deed image, you must pay a fee.
Most Elk Grove deeds are grant deeds. This is the standard form for home sales. The seller grants the property to the buyer. California law implies two covenants in every grant deed. First, the seller has not sold to anyone else. Second, there are no hidden encumbrances except what the deed discloses. These protections apply automatically even if the deed does not state them.
Quitclaim deeds also appear in search results. These transfer whatever interest the grantor has without any warranty of title. People use quitclaim deeds for family transfers, divorces, or clearing up title issues. Banks will not accept quitclaim deeds for purchase transactions because they provide no title protection. But they work fine for non-sale transfers between people who trust each other.
Transfer Tax Information
Elk Grove does not have its own city transfer tax. You only pay the standard Sacramento County documentary transfer tax. The rate is 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. This is the state minimum rate. Some California counties charge more, but Sacramento County uses the base rate.
To calculate the tax, divide the sale price by 500. Then multiply by 0.55. For a $500,000 home, that is 1,000 times 0.55, which equals $550. The seller typically pays this at closing. But buyers and sellers can negotiate who pays. Check your purchase contract to see what you agreed to.
Transfer tax applies when consideration exceeds $100. Most home sales trigger the tax. Some transfers are exempt. Gifts, inheritances, and transfers between spouses for no consideration may not owe tax. If you think you qualify for an exemption, talk to your title company or lawyer. You may need to submit documentation to the county to prove it.
Recording Fee Schedule
Sacramento County charges $20 for the first page of a deed. Each additional page costs $3. Most residential deeds are two or three pages. A two-page deed costs $23. A three-page deed costs $26. These fees do not include the SB2 housing fee which adds $75 for most single-property transactions.
If you need a certified copy of a deed, the county charges $8 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Certification adds $1. So a certified two-page deed costs $10. Plain copies cost $8 for the first page and $1 for additional pages without certification. You can order copies online, by mail, or in person at the Sacramento office.
The county accepts payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card. If you mail a deed for recording, include a check or money order. Do not send cash. Write your return address clearly so the county can mail the recorded deed back to you after processing.
Other Sacramento County Cities
Elk Grove is in southern Sacramento County. Other cities in the county use the same recorder. Below are nearby cities:
All Sacramento County cities share the same deed index. If you own property in multiple cities in the county, all your deeds are in one system. This makes title research easier because you only need to search one database. Sacramento County has one of the oldest deed indexes in California going back to the Gold Rush era.