Placer County Property Deeds
Placer County deed records are maintained by the Clerk-Recorder office in Rocklin. You can search their online database at https://countyfusion4.kofiletech.us/countyweb/login.do?countyname=Placer using the KoFile search system. The office sits at 3715 Atherton Road in Rocklin. Call them at 530-886-5600 or email clerk-recorder@placer.ca.gov. This county stretches from the Sierra Nevada foothills to suburbs near Sacramento. Property types include mountain cabins, lake homes at Tahoe, and suburban developments in cities like Roseville and Lincoln. Many deeds involve residential sales, vacation properties, and land parcels in rural areas.
Placer County Quick Facts
Clerk-Recorder Office
The Placer County Clerk-Recorder handles all property document recordings. Their office moved to Rocklin at 3715 Atherton Road even though Auburn is the county seat. Call 530-886-5600 or email clerk-recorder@placer.ca.gov with questions. They process deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and other land documents that affect property ownership. The office keeps regular business hours Monday through Friday.
When you record a deed in Placer County, staff check that it meets California formatting standards. The document must have proper margins, clear signatures, and correct notarization. These rules come from state law under California Government Code Section 27201 which requires the recorder to accept for recordation any instrument authorized by statute upon payment of proper fees and taxes. If your deed passes review, they stamp it with the official date and time, assign a document number, and enter it in the public index.
Placer County has kept land records for many decades. Older documents are stored on paper or microfiche. Modern records are digital and searchable online through the KoFile system. If you need an old deed from before the digital era, you may have to visit the Rocklin 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 complete forms. For legal help, consult an attorney or title company.
Online Deed Database
Placer County uses KoFile to host their online deed database. Access it at https://countyfusion4.kofiletech.us/countyweb/login.do?countyname=Placer where you can search by grantor name, grantee name, or document number. The system 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 results show 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. Check the system for current pricing.
Electronic recording is available in Placer County through certified vendors. Title companies and attorneys use eRecording to submit deeds without driving to Rocklin or mailing paper. The documents are reviewed by staff just like paper filings and either accepted or rejected based on formatting. Most eRecordings process within a day or two. The California Attorney General oversees eRecording through the Electronic Recording Delivery System program which certifies vendors and sets security standards for protecting recorded documents.
Fees and Transfer Tax
Recording fees in Placer County follow the standard California structure set by California Government Code Section 27361 which caps the base 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. A typical deed costs 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 under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 11911 which sets the documentary transfer tax at $0.55 for each $500 or fractional part thereof when consideration exceeds $100.
Copy fees are separate from recording fees. 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 or title research.
Types of Deeds Recorded
Grant deeds are the most common type in Placer County. When you buy a home or cabin, 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 the legal meaning of the word "grant" 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 a spelling error in your name, you can quitclaim it to yourself with the correct spelling.
Deeds of trust appear in the index 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 Deed Law
All real property transfers in California must be in writing. California Civil Code Section 1091 requires 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. Oral agreements do not count. You need a signed, written deed to transfer land.
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.
Major Cities in Placer County
Placer County includes several cities where property deeds are recorded at the Rocklin office. The largest city over 100,000 population is:
Smaller cities like Rocklin, Lincoln, Auburn, and Colfax also record deeds through the county clerk-recorder. All Placer County property documents go to the same office in Rocklin.
Nearby Counties
If the property you need is not in Placer County, check these neighboring counties: