Long Beach Deed Records
Deed records for Long Beach properties are managed by the Los Angeles County Recorder office in Norwalk. Long Beach does not have its own recorder. All property transfers in Long Beach go through the LA County system at 12400 East Imperial Highway. The online database lets you search deeds from 1977 forward. You can look up ownership records, mortgages, and other real estate documents that affect Long Beach properties. Long Beach is the second largest city in LA County with nearly half a million people so the volume of deeds recorded each year is substantial.
Long Beach Quick Facts
LA County Recorder
Los Angeles County Recorder handles all deed filings for Long Beach. The office is at 12400 East Imperial Highway, Room 1002, Norwalk CA 90650. This is about 12 miles northwest of downtown Long Beach. Phone is (800) 201-8999. Email is recorder@rrcc.lacounty.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm.
Long Beach is one of 88 cities in LA County. All use the same county recorder system. When you buy a house in Long Beach, your deed goes to Norwalk to be recorded. The county stamps it, assigns a document number, and enters it in the public index where anyone can search for it.
You can file deeds in person at the Norwalk office, by mail, or electronically. Most real estate transactions now use eRecording through certified vendors. This speeds up the process. Electronic filings often get recorded the same day. Paper deeds can take several days or longer depending on how busy the office is.
For complete information about LA County recording services including detailed fee schedules, online databases, and filing instructions, visit the Los Angeles County deed records page which covers all aspects of the recorder office, hours, contact details, and how to search or file property documents throughout the county.
Search Long Beach Deeds
LA County uses LexisNexis for online deed searches. The portal covers all cities in the county including Long Beach. You can search by name, document number, or legal description. The database goes back to 1977. Older records are on file at the Norwalk office but not digitized.
To search by grantor or grantee name, enter the last name first. The system shows all matching deeds. Click on one to see basic info like the recording date and document number. If you want the full deed image, you must pay. Fees are per document. Certified copies cost more than plain copies.
Most Long Beach home sales involve grant deeds. This is the standard type for California real estate. The seller grants the property to the buyer. Under state law, this implies the seller has not sold it to anyone else and there are no hidden liens beyond what is disclosed. Quitclaim deeds are also used for family transfers or to fix title issues.
When you search, you may see deeds for properties all over LA County if the person you are searching for owns land in multiple cities. Pay attention to the address or legal description to make sure you have the right property. Long Beach addresses typically include the city name and ZIP codes starting with 908.
Transfer Tax
LA County charges a documentary transfer tax of 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. Long Beach does not add any city transfer tax on top of the county rate. This is different from the city of Los Angeles which has additional city taxes including Measure ULA for expensive properties.
The transfer tax applies to most sales. Some transfers are exempt such as gifts between spouses or transfers to secure a loan. The deed must state the sale price or declare the exemption with the reason. The recorder will not accept a deed without proper transfer tax documentation.
This tax is usually paid by the seller but parties can agree otherwise in the purchase contract. It gets paid when the deed is recorded along with the recording fees. Make sure to budget for it when calculating your closing costs.
Recording Fees
LA County charges $95 to record the first page of a deed. This includes the base fee of $15, SB2 housing fee of $75, and fraud prevention fee of $5. Each additional page costs $3. Most deeds are two or three pages so expect to pay around $98 to $101 total.
These fees apply to all deeds in LA County whether the property is in Long Beach or any other city. The county sets the fees. Cities do not charge separate recording fees. Transfer taxes are different and based on sale price rather than page count.
If you need a certified copy of a deed, the fee is $6 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Certification includes the county seal and a signed statement. Courts and lenders require certified copies. Plain copies cost $5 for the first page but do not have the seal.
Other Coastal Cities
Long Beach is on the coast in southern LA County. Nearby cities also use the LA County recorder. Here are links to other coastal cities:
All LA County cities use the recorder in Norwalk. No city in the county maintains its own deed records.