Find San Diego Deed Records
San Diego deed records are maintained by the San Diego County Assessor, Recorder, County Clerk office. The city itself does not keep its own property records. All real estate transfers within San Diego go through the county recorder system. This office handles every deed for the entire county including the city of San Diego. You can search these records through the online portal or visit the recorder office in person to access older documents that may not be digitized yet.
San Diego Quick Facts
County Recorder Office
The San Diego County Assessor, Recorder, County Clerk manages all deed filings for the city of San Diego. This office sits in the county administration building downtown. The address is 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260. They also have public counters at other branch locations around the county.
You can reach the recorder by phone at (619) 237-0502 or email at ARCCRecorderCountyClerk.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov. Office hours vary by location. The main office downtown is open Monday through Friday. Call ahead if you plan to visit in person.
San Diego County has been modernizing its records system. Many older deeds are now digitized. However, some very old documents still exist only in paper form. If you need something from before the digital era, you may have to go to the office and request the original book or microfilm.
For full details about the recorder office including all locations, fees, and services, visit the San Diego County deed records page where you will find complete contact information, hours of operation, online search instructions, and guidance on how to file new deeds or request copies of existing property documents.
San Diego Deed Search
San Diego County offers an online search tool at arcc-acclaim.sdcounty.ca.gov. This is the official records index. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or document number. The system returns a list of all matching records.
An important change happened due to state law AB 1785. The online system no longer lets you search by parcel number or APN. This was done to protect privacy. If you need to search by APN, you must visit a public kiosk at one of the recorder offices. These kiosks are available during business hours.
When you find a deed online, you can view basic info like the date recorded and parties involved. To get a copy of the full deed, you will need to pay. Fees are $2 for the first page and five cents for each extra page. Certification adds $1. You can order copies online or in person.
The online database includes deeds, reconveyances, liens, and other documents affecting property. It is updated regularly as new documents are recorded. Most deeds show up in the index within a few business days after recording.
Grant deeds are the most common type of deed in San Diego home sales. These include implied warranties under California law that the seller has not already transferred the property and that there are no undisclosed liens. Quitclaim deeds are also recorded but provide no such warranties, so they are typically used for transfers between family members or to clear title issues.
Documentary Transfer Tax
San Diego County charges a documentary transfer tax of 55 cents per $500 of the property value. This is the standard rate set by California state law. The city of San Diego does not add any extra city transfer tax on top of the county rate.
The transfer tax applies to most sales and transfers. Some transfers are exempt like gifts between spouses or transfers to secure a debt. The tax is usually paid by the seller but sometimes buyers and sellers split it or agree otherwise in the purchase contract.
This tax gets paid when you record the deed. The recorder office collects it along with the recording fees. The deed itself must show the sale price or state that the transfer is exempt. Failing to pay the correct transfer tax can delay recording or result in penalties.
Cost to Record a Deed
Recording fees in San Diego County follow state and county fee schedules. The standard recording fee applies to all deeds regardless of whether the property is in the city of San Diego or elsewhere in the county. Fees are based on the number of pages and type of document.
Most grant deeds cost around $90 to record for the first page when you include the base fee, SB2 housing fee, and fraud prevention fee. Each additional page adds $3. So a typical two-page deed costs about $93 total just for recording fees. This does not include the documentary transfer tax which is calculated separately based on the sale price.
If you are recording a deed to secure a loan like a deed of trust, different fee structures may apply. Contact the recorder office or check their website for the current fee schedule. Fees can change when the state passes new laws that add charges for specific programs or services.
Nearby Cities
Other large cities in San Diego County also use the county recorder system. Below are links to deed information for nearby cities:
All of these cities rely on San Diego County for deed recording. No city in San Diego County maintains its own recorder office.