Find Butte County Deed Records
Butte County deed records are kept by the County Recorder office at 155 Nelson Avenue in Oroville. The recorder maintains property deeds, transfers, liens, and other land documents for all areas within county boundaries. You can search these files online through their web portal or visit the office in person during business hours. Most people search by grantor or grantee name to find ownership information and property transfer history. The county serves over 220,000 residents across cities like Chico, Oroville, and Paradise. All deed work for properties throughout this northern California county flows through the Oroville office. You can reach them at (530) 552-3400 or by email at recorders@buttecounty.net.
Butte County Quick Facts
County Recorder Office
The Butte County Recorder office operates from 155 Nelson Avenue in Oroville. Phone is (530) 552-3400 and email is recorders@buttecounty.net. This office handles all property deed recordings for Butte County. When you buy or sell real estate anywhere in the county, the deed must be filed here to transfer ownership officially and protect your interest against competing claims.
The county provides online access to deed records at their web search portal where you can look up recorded documents by grantor/grantee names, document numbers, or other search criteria through their public access database system.
When property changes hands, California requires filing a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report with the county assessor. This helps the assessor determine if property tax reassessment is needed. The State Board of Equalization provides guidance on this requirement. For details about when you must file this report and what penalties apply for late filing, visit the BOE change of ownership FAQ page where you can find answers to common questions about property transfers and tax implications.
Recording fees in Butte County follow California state guidelines. The base fee typically ranges from $14 to $20 for the first page depending on document type. Each additional page costs $3. The county also collects state-mandated fees for fraud prevention and affordable housing. Documentary transfer tax is calculated separately based on the property sale price or value.
Electronic recording is listed as coming soon for Butte County. Once implemented, this will allow title companies and attorneys to submit deeds electronically instead of bringing paper to the office or mailing documents. Electronic recording is faster and more reliable than paper submissions.
Search Records Online
The online database lets you search by grantor name, grantee name, document type, or recording date. Type in a last name to see all matching deeds. The system shows who transferred property to whom, when it was recorded, and what type of document it is. Basic index information is available without payment.
Viewing actual document images may require a fee depending on the county's policy. Some counties charge per page for digital copies while others allow free viewing. Contact the recorder office to confirm current fees for online document access.
If you need help using the online system, call the recorder office during business hours. Staff can walk you through the search process but cannot provide legal advice about which type of deed to use or how to fill out forms. For legal questions, consult a real estate attorney or title company.
California law governs how deeds must be recorded. Under Government Code Section 27201, county recorders must accept properly formatted documents and record them in the order received. This protects your interest by establishing the priority of your deed through the recording date and time stamp.
Property Deed Types
Grant deeds transfer property ownership with limited warranties. The grantor promises they have not previously conveyed the property to anyone else and that no hidden encumbrances exist beyond those disclosed. California Civil Code Section 1113 establishes these implied warranties from the use of the word "grant." Most residential real estate sales use grant deeds.
Quitclaim deeds provide no warranties at all. The grantor releases whatever interest they have in the property but makes no promises about title quality. These work well for transfers between family members, clearing title defects, or divorce situations where one spouse transfers their interest to the other. No money typically changes hands with quitclaim deeds.
Deeds of trust secure mortgage loans against real property. When you finance a home purchase, you sign a deed of trust giving the lender a security interest. If you default on payments, they can foreclose. After paying off the loan, the lender files a reconveyance deed releasing their claim. Both documents appear in the public record.
The recorder also files liens. Tax liens from unpaid property or income taxes. Mechanic's liens from contractors seeking payment for work done. Judgment liens from court cases. HOA liens for unpaid homeowner association dues. All of these attach to property and must be cleared before you can sell with clean title.
How to Record Documents
Recording in person lets you complete the process immediately. Visit 155 Nelson Avenue in Oroville with your original document and payment. The clerk checks it for proper formatting, calculates the total fee, and processes it while you wait. You leave with your recorded copy showing the official stamp and recording information.
You can record by mail if you cannot visit in person. Send your original document plus payment to the address above. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the deed returned after recording. Processing takes one to two weeks depending on mail volume and office workload. Use a check or money order made payable to Butte County Recorder. Never send cash in the mail.
Electronic recording is listed as coming soon for Butte County. Once available, this will provide a faster alternative to paper submissions. Documents upload electronically and record within hours rather than days or weeks. Title companies and law firms commonly use this method in counties where it is available.
All documents must meet California recording standards. One-inch margins on sides and bottom, three inches at top for the recorder stamp. Text must be legible in at least 8-point font. Signatures require notarization with the notary's commission number and expiration date shown. Missing any requirement causes rejection and delay until you fix the problems and resubmit.
California law requires property transfers to be in writing. Civil Code Section 1091 states that estates in real property can only transfer by operation of law or by written instrument signed by the person disposing of the interest. Recording provides constructive notice to the world and protects your ownership rights against later claims.
Documentary Transfer Tax
Transfer tax applies when property sells for money or other valuable consideration. California charges 55 cents per $500 of the sale price. If you sell a home for $380,000, the calculation is $380,000 divided by $500, times $0.55, which equals $418 in transfer tax payable at recording.
Certain transfers are exempt from tax. Gifts where no money changes hands. Transfers between spouses due to divorce or legal separation. Transfers to satisfy a debt that existed before the transfer. The deed must declare the exemption reason or state the full cash value. Making false statements about consideration can result in penalties and back taxes.
Butte County does not impose additional city transfer taxes. The standard California rate applies throughout the county. This keeps transaction costs lower compared to coastal urban counties where cities add substantial transfer taxes on top of the basic state and county rates.
Cities in Butte County
Butte County includes several incorporated cities. All property deeds within city limits must be recorded with the Butte County Recorder in Oroville. No cities in Butte County exceed the 100,000 population threshold.
Cities in the county include Chico, Oroville, Paradise, Gridley, and Biggs. Properties within these city limits and throughout unincorporated county areas all require recording with the Butte County Recorder office.
Note: The county serves a region that ranges from Sacramento Valley farmland through foothill communities up to mountain areas in the northern Sierra Nevada.
Adjacent Counties
If your property lies outside Butte County boundaries, check these neighboring counties: