Lancaster Deed Records
Lancaster deed records are kept by the Los Angeles County Recorder in Norwalk. The city does not have its own recorder office. All property transfers in Lancaster must be filed with the county. You can search these records online from 1977 to now or visit the recorder for older documents. Lancaster sits in the Antelope Valley in northern LA County. It has about 174,000 residents. The city has grown rapidly with new housing developments. This creates lots of deed recording activity as people buy and sell homes.
Lancaster Quick Facts
County Recording Office
Los Angeles County Recorder handles all deed filings for Lancaster. The main office is at 12400 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. That is about 75 miles south of Lancaster. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. Call (800) 201-8999 or email recorder@rrcc.lacounty.gov.
Lancaster does not have a local recorder. All 88 cities in LA County use the same county office in Norwalk. When you buy a home in Lancaster, your deed gets sent to Norwalk. The county records it and adds it to the public index. Then anyone can search for it online or in person.
For detailed information about Los Angeles County recording services, visit the Los Angeles County deed records page where you can find information about fees, online search tools, eRecording options, and how to get certified copies of deeds for properties in Lancaster and throughout the county.
Most deeds today get filed electronically. Title companies and real estate lawyers use eRecording vendors certified by the state. Electronic filing is faster than paper. Documents submitted electronically before 3pm often record the same day. Paper deeds can take a week or more during busy periods. If you need fast recording, ask your title company about eRecording.
Search Lancaster Deeds Online
LA County uses LexisNexis for online deed searches. Go to the county's search portal and select your search method. You can search by name, document number, or legal description. The database goes back to 1977. Older deeds are on file at the Norwalk office but not online.
To search by name, enter the last name first. Then add the first name. The system shows matching records. Click on one to see basic information like recording date and document type. If you want the full deed image, you must pay. The county charges per page for copies.
Grant deeds are the most common type in Lancaster. When someone buys a house, the seller signs a grant deed. This transfers ownership. California law implies two covenants in every grant deed. One, the seller has not sold to anyone else. Two, there are no hidden encumbrances except what the deed discloses. These protections apply automatically.
You might also see trust deeds in your search results. These are not ownership transfers. A trust deed is a loan document. When you get a mortgage, the lender records a trust deed. When you pay off the loan, the lender records a reconveyance. Both documents appear in the official records index.
Transfer Tax Rates
Lancaster does not have its own city transfer tax. You only pay the standard LA County documentary transfer tax. The rate is 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. This is the same for all LA County cities except the city of Los Angeles which has an extra city tax.
To calculate the tax, divide the sale price by 500. Then multiply by 0.55. For a $350,000 home, that is 700 times 0.55, which equals $385. The seller usually pays this at closing. But buyers and sellers can negotiate who pays. Check your purchase contract.
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, ask your title company or lawyer. You may need documentation to prove the exemption.
Cost to Record a Deed
LA County charges $95 to record the first page of a deed. This includes the $15 base fee, $75 SB2 housing fee, and $5 fraud prevention fee. Each additional page costs $3. A typical two-page deed costs $98. A three-page deed costs $101.
These fees apply to all LA County cities. Lancaster does not charge separate recording fees. If you need a certified copy of a deed, the county charges $6 for the first page and $3 for each extra page. Certification adds the county seal and a signed statement. Courts and lenders require certified copies.
Plain copies cost $5 for the first page. They do not have the seal. You can use them for your own records but not for submitting to a court or lender. You can order copies online, by mail, or in person at the Norwalk office. Online orders usually process within a few business days.
Other LA County Cities
Lancaster is in northern LA County in the Antelope Valley. The nearby city of Palmdale also uses the LA County Recorder. Below are other major cities in LA County:
All LA 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 than if records were scattered across different offices.