Palmdale Property Deeds
Palmdale deed records are maintained by the Los Angeles County Recorder in Norwalk. The city does not keep its own deed files. All property transfers in Palmdale go through the county system. You can search these records online back to 1977 or visit the recorder for older documents. Palmdale is in the Antelope Valley in northern LA County with about 169,000 residents. The city has grown rapidly with new housing developments in recent decades. This creates lots of deed recording activity as properties change hands.
Palmdale Quick Facts
County Recorder Office
Los Angeles County Recorder handles all deed filings for Palmdale. The main office is at 12400 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. That is about 70 miles south of Palmdale. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. You can call (800) 201-8999 or email recorder@rrcc.lacounty.gov.
Palmdale does not have a local recorder. All 88 cities in LA County use the same county office. When you buy a home in Palmdale, your title company sends the deed to Norwalk. The county records it and adds it to the public index. Then anyone can search for it.
For complete 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 obtain certified copies of deeds for properties in Palmdale 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 Palmdale Deeds Online
LA County uses LexisNexis for online deed searches. Go to the county's search portal and pick your search method. You can search by name, document number, or legal description. The database goes back to 1977. Older deeds are on file in Norwalk but not online.
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 basic details 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 Palmdale. When someone buys a house, the seller signs a grant deed. This transfers ownership to the buyer. California law implies two covenants in every grant deed. First, the seller has not already sold to someone else. Second, there are no hidden encumbrances except what the deed discloses. These protections apply even if the deed does not state them.
You might also see quitclaim deeds. 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 usually 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 Rates
Palmdale 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 $400,000 home, that is 800 times 0.55, which equals $440. The seller usually 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, ask your title company or lawyer. You may need to submit documentation to the county to prove the exemption.
Recording Fee Schedule
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. Most deeds are two or three pages. A two-page deed costs $98. A three-page deed costs $101.
These fees apply to all LA County cities. Palmdale 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 additional 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 and get mailed to you.
Other LA County Cities
Palmdale is in northern LA County in the Antelope Valley. The nearby city of Lancaster also uses the LA County Recorder. Below are other major cities in the 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.