Oakland Deed Records Search
Oakland deed records are kept by the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder office at 1106 Madison Street in downtown Oakland. The city does not maintain its own recording office. All real estate transactions in Oakland go through the county system. You can search these records online from 1969 to now. Oakland has its own city transfer tax in addition to the county tax with rates that go from 1.0% to 2.5% depending on property value which makes it one of the more expensive cities for closing costs in Alameda County.
Oakland Quick Facts
Alameda County Recorder
Alameda County Auditor-Controller/Clerk-Recorder manages all deed filings for Oakland. The office is at 1106 Madison Street, Oakland CA 94607. This is downtown near Lake Merritt. Phone is (510) 272-6362. Email is CROCustomerService@acgov.org. Hours are Monday through Friday with some variation.
Oakland is the largest city in Alameda County. The recorder office is actually in Oakland which makes it convenient for city residents. Other cities in the county also use this office. When you record a deed for Oakland property, you can drop it off in person, mail it, or use eRecording.
The county accepts eRecording through vendors like Simplifile and Direct Legal. Most title companies and real estate attorneys use electronic filing now. This is faster and more reliable. If you file in person, bring the original signed and notarized deed plus payment for all fees and taxes.
For detailed information about Alameda County recording services including current fee schedules, office hours, and online search instructions, visit the Alameda County deed records page which provides complete contact details, database access, fee calculators, and guidance on filing or requesting copies of property documents.
Search Oakland Property Deeds
Alameda County offers an online search at rechart1.acgov.org/RealEstate/SearchEntry.aspx. The database goes back to 1969. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or document number. The system returns a list of matching records with basic details.
Click on a record to see more information. You can view the recording date, book and page, and parties involved. To get a copy of the full deed image, you may need to pay depending on the county policy. Contact the recorder office for current pricing on document copies.
The database includes grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, and other documents. It updates regularly as new deeds get recorded. Most documents appear in the index within a few business days.
Oakland property deeds typically use grant deeds for home sales. These include implied warranties under California law. The seller promises they have not already transferred the property and there are no undisclosed liens. Quitclaim deeds are also common for transfers between family members or to clear title issues but they provide no warranties.
Oakland Transfer Tax
Oakland has a tiered city transfer tax on top of the county tax. The rates range from 1.0% to 2.5% of the sale price depending on the property value. This is much higher than cities that only charge the standard county rate. Combined with Alameda County fees, closing costs in Oakland can be substantial.
The county documentary transfer tax is 55 cents per $500. Oakland adds its city tax on top of that. For a $500,000 home, you might pay $550 in county tax plus $5,000 to $12,500 in city tax depending on the tier. Always check the current rate schedule before closing.
To learn about Oakland real estate transfer tax rates, tiers, and exemptions, visit the official City of Oakland transfer tax page which explains how the tax is calculated, what sales qualify for exemptions, payment procedures, and where the revenue goes to fund city services and affordable housing programs.
Some transfers are exempt from the tax. Gifts between spouses, transfers to secure a debt, and certain other transactions do not pay transfer tax. The deed must state the exemption and provide the reason. The recorder office checks this before accepting the deed.
Oakland voters approved these high rates to fund city services. The revenue goes to affordable housing, infrastructure, and other programs. Critics say the taxes hurt the housing market. Supporters say they make wealthy property buyers pay their fair share. Either way, factor this into your budget when buying or selling Oakland real estate.
Cost to Record
Alameda County charges $89 for the first page of a deed. This includes the base fee, SB2 housing fee, and fraud prevention fee. Each additional page costs $3. Most deeds are two or three pages so expect to pay around $92 to $95 just for recording fees.
These fees are the same for all cities in Alameda County. The county sets them. Cities do not charge separate recording fees. Transfer taxes are different and cities like Oakland, Berkeley, and Emeryville add their own city taxes on top of the county rate.
If you need certified copies, fees vary. Contact the recorder office for the current copy fee schedule. Certified copies include the official seal and are required for court filings and other legal purposes.
Bay Area Cities
Oakland is in the East Bay. Nearby cities also use Alameda County Recorder. Here are some:
Note: Berkeley, Hayward, and Emeryville have their own city transfer taxes. Check local rates before closing on property in these cities.