Sunnyvale Property Deeds
Sunnyvale deed records are stored at the Santa Clara County Clerk Recorder office in San Jose. The city does not keep its own property deed files. All real estate transfers in Sunnyvale must be recorded with the county. You can visit the county office for copies or request documents by mail. Sunnyvale is in Santa Clara County with about 155,000 residents. The city sits in the heart of Silicon Valley. Residential properties, tech campuses, and commercial real estate generate steady deed recording activity year round.
Sunnyvale Quick Facts
Recording Office Location
Santa Clara County Clerk Recorder handles all deed filings for Sunnyvale. The office is at 110 West Tasman Drive in San Jose. That is about 10 miles south of Sunnyvale. You can call (408) 299-5688 or email clkmail@rec.sccgov.org. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Sunnyvale does not have its own recorder. All cities in Santa Clara County use the same county office in San Jose. When you buy a home in Sunnyvale, your deed gets sent to San Jose. The county records it and adds it to the public index. Then anyone can request copies.
For complete information about Santa Clara County recording services, visit the Santa Clara County deed records page where you will find information about fees, eRecording options, and how to obtain copies of deeds for properties in Sunnyvale and throughout the county.
Santa Clara County offers eRecording through certified vendors. Most title companies and real estate lawyers use electronic submission because it is faster than paper. Documents submitted electronically often record within one or two business days. Paper deeds take longer depending on mail delivery and processing time.
Access to Deed Records
Santa Clara County no longer provides online access to the official record index. The county stopped public online searches per a County Executive directive. You must visit the San Jose office in person or contact the recorder by phone or email to search for deeds.
When you visit in person, you can search by name, document number, or legal description. Staff can help you locate the record you need. If you want a copy of a deed, the county charges fees based on the number of pages. You can request certified copies or plain copies.
Most Sunnyvale deeds are grant deeds. This is the standard form for home sales in California. The seller grants the property to the buyer. By law, this implies the seller has not sold to anyone else and there are no surprise liens except what the deed discloses. Grant deeds protect buyers even without extensive warranties.
Quitclaim deeds also appear in Santa Clara County records. These transfer whatever interest the grantor has without any warranty. People use quitclaim deeds for family transfers, divorces, or clearing up title problems. Lenders will not accept quitclaim deeds for purchase transactions because they provide no title protection.
Transfer Tax Information
Sunnyvale does not have its own city transfer tax. You only pay the standard Santa Clara County documentary transfer tax. The rate is 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. This is the state minimum rate. Some California counties charge more, but Santa Clara County uses the base rate.
To calculate the tax, divide the sale price by 500. Then multiply by 0.55. For example, a $1,200,000 home has a transfer tax of $1,320. The seller typically 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. Certain transfers are exempt. Gifts, inheritances, and transfers between spouses for no consideration may not owe tax. If you think you qualify for an exemption, talk to your title company or real estate lawyer. You may need to provide documentation to prove it.
Recording Fee Schedule
Santa Clara County charges $25 for the first page of a deed including the fraud prevention fee. Each additional page costs $3. Most residential deeds are two or three pages. A two-page deed costs $28. A three-page deed costs $31. These fees do not include the SB2 housing fee which adds $75 for most single-property transactions.
If you need a certified copy of a deed, the county charges $4 for the first page plus $2 for each additional page. Certification adds $2. So a certified two-page deed costs $8 total. Plain copies cost $4 for the first page and $2 for additional pages without certification. You can order copies in person at the San Jose office.
The county accepts payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card. If you mail a deed for recording, include a check or money order. Do not send cash. Write your return address clearly so the county can mail the recorded deed back to you after processing.
Other Santa Clara County Cities
Sunnyvale is in northern Santa Clara County in Silicon Valley. Other cities in the county use the same recorder in San Jose. Below are nearby cities:
All Santa Clara 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 because you only need to visit one office.
Note: Some Santa Clara County cities like San Jose, Mountain View, and Palo Alto have their own city transfer taxes that add to the total cost at closing.