Search El Dorado County Deeds
El Dorado County deed records are kept by the County Recorder office in Placerville. You can search their online database at https://recorderclerkservice.edcgov.us/elweb/ to find property ownership documents and land transfers. The office is at 360 Fair Lane in Placerville. This Sierra Nevada county includes Lake Tahoe communities on the east side and foothill towns like Placerville and Cameron Park on the west slope. Property types range from mountain cabins and vacation homes to suburban developments and rural parcels. Many deeds involve seasonal properties, timberland, and recreational land near ski resorts and the lake.
El Dorado County Quick Facts
County Recorder Office
The El Dorado County Recorder handles all property document recordings. Their office sits at 360 Fair Lane in Placerville. This is where deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and other land documents get filed. When you buy or sell property in El Dorado County, the deed must be recorded here to create a public record of ownership.
Recording a deed involves several steps. Staff check that the document meets California formatting rules. It must have proper margins, clear signatures, and correct notarization as required by California Civil Code Section 1091 which states that an estate in real property can be transferred only by operation of law or by an instrument in writing subscribed by the party disposing of the same. If the deed passes review, they stamp it with the official date and time, assign a document number, and enter it in the public index.
El Dorado County has kept land records for over a century. Early deeds are on paper and stored in bound volumes or on microfiche. Modern records are digital and searchable online. If you need an old deed from before the digital era, you may have to visit the Placerville office in person or request copies by mail. Staff can help locate files but cannot give legal advice about which deed type to use or how to fill out forms.
To learn more about notary requirements that apply to deed recordings in California, visit the California Secretary of State notary page which provides information about notary commissions, rules, and disciplinary actions.
Search Deeds Online
El Dorado County offers an online search tool at https://recorderclerkservice.edcgov.us/elweb/ where you can look up deed records by party names or document numbers. The database shows what documents are on file and when they were recorded. This is the fastest way to find property ownership information without visiting the office.
To search by name, enter the last name first, then the first name. The system returns a list of matching documents with dates and document numbers. Click on a result to see more details like the document type and parties involved. The index may be free to view but you might have to pay to see full document images or order certified copies.
Electronic recording is available in El Dorado County through certified vendors. Title companies and attorneys use eRecording to submit deeds without mailing paper or driving to Placerville. The documents are reviewed by staff just like paper filings and either accepted or rejected based on formatting. Most eRecordings process faster than mail. The state oversees eRecording through the California Attorney General's Electronic Recording Delivery System program which certifies vendors and sets standards.
If you need information about property tax changes when ownership transfers, check the California Board of Equalization FAQs on change in ownership which explain filing requirements for the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.
Recording Fees and Costs
Recording fees in El Dorado County follow the standard California structure. The base fee is set by California Government Code Section 27361 which caps the fee at $10 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Counties may add fees for fraud prevention, affordable housing under SB2, and other programs. Expect to pay around $14 to $20 for the first page plus $3 per extra page.
If your deed involves a real estate transfer with a purchase price, add the $75 SB2 housing fee. This fee funds affordable housing under the Building Homes and Jobs Act. The maximum is $225 per document. Documentary transfer tax is 55 cents per $500 of the sale price or consideration. This is the standard rate set by California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 11911 which requires a tax at the rate of $0.55 for each $500 or fractional part thereof when consideration exceeds $100.
Copy fees are separate. A plain copy costs a few dollars per page. Certified copies cost more because they include the county seal and signed certification. You need certified copies for court cases or loan applications. Plain copies work fine for personal reference.
Types of Recorded Deeds
Grant deeds are the most common type in El Dorado County. When you buy a cabin or home, the seller gives you a grant deed. This type carries implied warranties under California law. The seller promises they own the property, have not sold it to anyone else, and there are no hidden liens besides those mentioned in the deed. These warranties come from California Civil Code Section 1113 which defines what legal promises the word "grant" includes in property transfers.
Quitclaim deeds transfer property with no warranties. The grantor just gives up whatever interest they have, if any. People use these for family transfers, divorce settlements, or fixing title defects. If you inherit property with siblings and want to give them your share, a quitclaim deed handles that. Or if an old deed has your name spelled wrong, you can quitclaim it to yourself with the correct spelling.
Deeds of trust show up when you get a mortgage. This document gives the lender a security interest in your property. If you stop paying, they can foreclose. When you pay off the loan, the lender files a reconveyance deed to release their claim. Both documents are recorded so anyone searching the title can see the loan history.
Other documents include liens from unpaid taxes or contractor bills, easements that let utility companies or neighbors cross your land, and covenants, conditions, and restrictions that tell you what you can and cannot do with your property. All of these affect your title and show up in searches.
California Property Law
Recording protects you from later competing claims. California follows a race-notice system under California Civil Code Sections 1213-1214 which provides that every conveyance recorded is constructive notice to subsequent purchasers and mortgagees. If two people claim to own the same property, the first one to record usually wins. Recording puts the whole world on notice of your ownership.
The recorder must accept documents that meet format rules. California Government Code Section 27201 requires the recorder to accept for recordation any instrument authorized by statute upon payment of proper fees and taxes. They check margins, signatures, notarization, and fees. They do not verify that your deed is valid or wise. That is your job or your attorney's job before recording.
Nearby Counties
If the property you need is not in El Dorado County, try these neighboring counties: