Huntington Beach Deed Records
Deed records for Huntington Beach are kept by the Orange County Recorder in Santa Ana. The city does not maintain its own deed files. All property transactions in Huntington Beach must be filed with the county. You can search these records online or visit the county office for copies. Huntington Beach sits on the coast in northwest Orange County. The city has over 198,000 residents. It is known for surf culture and beachfront homes. The mix of beach properties and inland neighborhoods creates steady deed recording activity year round.
Huntington Beach Quick Facts
County Recording Office
Orange County Recorder handles all deed filings for Huntington Beach. The office is at 601 North Ross Street in Santa Ana. That is about 10 miles southeast of Huntington Beach. You can call 714-834-5043 or the toll-free line at 855-886-5400. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Huntington Beach does not have its own recorder. All cities in Orange County use the same county office. When you buy property in Huntington Beach, your deed gets sent to Santa Ana. The county stamps it with the date and time received. Then it assigns a document number and adds it to the public index. Anyone can search for it after that.
For complete information on Orange County deed recording, visit the Orange County deed records page where you will find details about fees, online databases, eRecording options, and how to search for property documents throughout the county including Huntington Beach.
Orange County has recorded over 11 million documents electronically. Most title companies and real estate lawyers use eRecording because it is faster than paper. Documents submitted electronically often record the same day if received before the cutoff time. Paper deeds take longer to process. If you need a deed recorded quickly, ask about eRecording.
Search Property Deeds Online
Orange County uses RecorderWorks for online deed searches. Go to the county's search portal and select your search type. You can search by name, document type, recording date, or legal description. The database goes back many years.
To search by owner name, enter the last name first. Then add the first name. Use wildcards if you are not sure of the spelling. The system shows all matching deeds. Click on one to see details like when it was recorded and what type of document it is. If you need the full deed image, you must pay a fee.
Most Huntington Beach deeds are grant deeds. This is the standard form for home sales in California. The seller grants the property to the buyer. By law, this implies the seller has not sold it to anyone else and there are no surprise liens except what the deed discloses. Grant deeds protect buyers even though they do not have the extensive warranties of a warranty deed.
You may also see trust deeds in your search results. These are not ownership transfers. A trust deed is a loan document that pledges property as security. When you get a mortgage, the lender records a trust deed. When you pay off the loan, the lender records a reconveyance that releases the trust deed. Both documents show up in the deed index.
Documentary Transfer Tax
Huntington Beach does not have a city transfer tax. You only pay the standard Orange County documentary transfer tax. The rate is 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. This is the state minimum. Some California counties charge more, but Orange County keeps it at the base rate.
To calculate the tax, divide the sale price by 500. Then multiply by 0.55. For example, a $700,000 home has a transfer tax of $770. The seller usually pays this at closing. But the buyer and seller can agree to split it or have the buyer pay. Check your purchase contract to see who pays.
Transfer tax applies when consideration exceeds $100. Most home sales trigger the tax. Certain 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 real estate lawyer. You may need to provide documentation to prove the exemption.
Fees for Recording Deeds
Orange County charges $12 for the first page of a deed. Then add $75 for the SB2 housing fee. The maximum SB2 fee is $225, but most single-property deeds only pay $75. Each additional page costs $3. So a two-page deed costs $90 to record. A three-page deed costs $93.
If you need a certified copy of a deed, the county charges $1 per page plus $1 for certification. A certified two-page deed costs $3. Plain copies cost $1 per page without certification. You can order copies online, by mail, or in person at the Santa Ana office. Online orders usually process within a few days.
The county accepts payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Credit card payments may have a processing fee. If you mail a deed for recording, include a check or money order. Do not mail cash. Write your return address clearly so the county can send the recorded deed back to you.
Other Orange County Cities
Huntington Beach is one of many cities in Orange County. All use the same county recorder. Below are other major cities nearby:
If you own property in multiple Orange County cities, all your deeds are in the same county system. This makes title research simpler because you only need to search one database. Orange County has one of the best online deed search systems in California with millions of documents available at no charge for basic searches.