Find Richmond Deed Records
Deed records for Richmond are maintained by Contra Costa County Recorder in Martinez. The city does not keep its own deed files. All property transfers in Richmond go through the county system. You can search these records online or visit the county office in person. Richmond is a Bay Area city with over 116,000 residents. It sits on the east side of San Francisco Bay. The city has a unique four-tier transfer tax system that adds to the county documentary transfer tax. This makes Richmond one of the more expensive cities in California for real estate transfer costs on high-value properties.
Richmond Quick Facts
Contra Costa County Recorder
Contra Costa County Recorder handles all deed filings for Richmond. The office is at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez which is about 15 miles northeast of Richmond. Call (925) 335-7900 with questions. Hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Check their website for exact times and holiday closures.
Richmond residents can file deeds by mail, in person, or through electronic recording. Most real estate professionals use eRecording for speed. Paper documents can take two or more weeks to process. The county assigns a document number to each recorded deed and adds it to the searchable public index. You can then find the deed online or request a copy from the recorder office.
For more information about Contra Costa County's deed recording services, visit the Contra Costa County deed records page where you can find detailed information about the recorder office, fees, online databases, and how to search for property documents throughout the county including Richmond and all other Contra Costa County cities.
Search Richmond Deeds Online
Contra Costa County uses a system called CRIIS for online deed searches. Go to www.criis.com/contracosta.html to access the database. You can search by name, document type, or date. The system covers many years of records. Some older documents may not be online yet.
To find a Richmond deed, enter the property owner name or address. Results show the document type, recording date, and document number. If you need the full deed image, you may have to pay a fee. Check the county website for current pricing. Certified copies always cost more than plain copies because they include the county seal and a certificate of authenticity.
Grant deeds are the most common type in Richmond home sales. A grant deed transfers ownership with implied promises that the seller has not sold the property to anyone else and there are no hidden liens except those listed on the deed. Quitclaim deeds also appear often for transfers between spouses or family members. Deeds of trust are recorded when someone gets a mortgage or refinances their loan.
Richmond City Transfer Tax
Richmond has one of the highest city transfer taxes in California. The city uses a four-tier system that charges more as the property value goes up. Rates range from $7 per $1,000 up to $30 per $1,000 depending on the sale price. This is on top of the county transfer tax.
Contra Costa County charges 55 cents per $500 which is the standard California rate. But Richmond adds its own tax. For example, if you buy a home for $500,000 in Richmond, you pay the county tax plus the Richmond city tax. The city tax alone can be thousands of dollars. Higher value properties pay even more due to the tiered structure.
To learn more about Richmond city transfer tax rates, check the City of Richmond Real Property Transfer Tax page which explains the four tiers, how the tax is calculated, who pays it, exemptions that may apply, and where to get help if you have questions before your closing.
Some transfers are exempt from city transfer tax. Common exemptions include transfers between spouses, parent to child under certain conditions, and transfers to correct title errors. Ask your title company or real estate attorney if you qualify for an exemption. Even if you qualify, you still must record the deed and pay the recording fee. The exemption only applies to the transfer tax, not other fees.
Fees for Recording
Contra Costa County charges standard recording fees. The first page of a deed costs $14 base fee plus a $3 fraud prevention fee. That is $17 total for page one. Each extra page costs $3. Most deeds are two or three pages. Add the SB2 fee of $75 for real estate transactions. The SB2 fee funds affordable housing programs statewide.
If you need a certified copy of a deed, the county charges $4 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. Certification adds $4 to the total. Courts and lenders require certified copies. Plain copies without the seal cost less but are not accepted for legal matters. You can order copies online, by mail, or in person at the Martinez office.
California Deed Laws
All deeds in California must follow state law. The main rule is in Civil Code Section 1091 which says real property transfers must be in writing and signed by the person transferring the property. You cannot transfer land with a verbal agreement in California. It must be written and recorded.
Grant deeds in Richmond include implied covenants under Civil Code Section 1113 which says the seller promises they have not sold the property to anyone else and the property is free from liens except those disclosed. These promises are automatic when you use the word grant in the deed. You do not have to write them out.
The county recorder must accept your deed if it meets legal requirements and you pay the fees. This rule comes from Government Code Section 27201 which lists the duties of county recorders. The recorder cannot give legal advice or tell you if your deed is valid. They only check the format and signatures.
Other Contra Costa Cities
Contra Costa County has several other cities over 100,000 population. All use the same county recorder in Martinez. Nearby cities include:
El Cerrito also has a city transfer tax but its population is under 100,000 so it does not have a page on this site. Check with your title company about local taxes before you close on any Contra Costa County property. Richmond, El Cerrito, and some other cities charge extra transfer taxes while most cities do not.