San Diego County Property Deeds
San Diego County deed records are maintained by the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk office, which provides access to property documents for the second most populous county in California. You can search deed records online through their official database or visit the office in person to review documents. The county serves over 3.3 million residents and includes 18 incorporated cities. Most deed searches start with grantor or grantee names to find ownership transfers. The office handles all real property recordings for the entire county from downtown San Diego to the eastern rural areas.
San Diego County Quick Facts
Recorder Office Information
The San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk office handles all property deed recordings for the county. You can reach them at (619) 237-0502 or email ARCCRecorderCountyClerk.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov with questions about recording documents or ordering copies. Staff can answer basic questions but cannot provide legal advice about which type of deed to use or how to fill out forms.
To learn more about services and hours, visit the main recorder page where you can find information about recording requirements, fees, and access to the online search system for San Diego County property documents.
This office processes thousands of deeds each month. When you record a deed in San Diego County, staff review it for proper formatting and required information. Documents must meet state standards for margins, font size, and legibility. If your deed does not meet these requirements, the recorder will reject it and return it for corrections.
Office hours vary by location. The main office handles in-person services for most of the county. Same-day recording is available for documents submitted before the cutoff time, which is usually a couple hours before closing. Mail submissions take longer to process. Electronic recording through certified vendors is the fastest option and most title companies use this method now.
Online Deed Database
San Diego County maintains an online index of recorded documents. The system uses Acclaim software to search by grantor name, grantee name, or document number. Due to California law AB 1785, you cannot search by assessor parcel number online anymore. APN searches are only available at in-person kiosks at the recorder office.
You can search the index for free. It shows basic info like recording date, document type, and parties involved. To view the actual document images, you may need to pay a fee or visit the office. Some records are available to view online at no cost while others require payment depending on the document type and date.
The database covers decades of property records. Older documents from before computerization may not appear in online searches. For historical deed research, you may need to visit the office and search microfilm or paper records. Staff can help you locate these older documents if you provide the property address or legal description.
eRecording is available through certified vendors in San Diego County. This service lets title companies and attorneys submit deeds electronically instead of in person or by mail. Most professional users choose this option because it is fast and reliable. You get an email confirmation when your document is accepted and recorded.
Deed Recording Costs
Standard recording fees apply in San Diego County based on California law. The documentary transfer tax is 55 cents per $500 of the purchase price or consideration. This is split between the county and any city that has its own transfer tax. Most San Diego County cities do not have additional city transfer taxes, so you only pay the standard rate.
Copy fees are $2 for the first page and 5 cents for each additional page. Certification adds $1 to the total. A certified copy of a three-page deed would cost $2 + $0.10 + $1 = $3.10. Plain copies without certification are cheaper if you just need them for your records and not for official purposes.
Recording fees include the base fee per page plus additional fees required by state law. The SB2 fee of $75 goes to affordable housing programs. Most deeds also include a fraud prevention fee. These add up quickly, so expect to pay around $90 to $100 to record a typical grant deed in San Diego County.
Common Property Documents
Grant deeds are what most people use when buying or selling a home. The seller grants the property to the buyer. Under state law, this type of deed comes with implied warranties. The seller promises they own the property and have not sold it to anyone else. Grant deeds also promise there are no hidden liens except those listed on the deed.
Quitclaim deeds transfer whatever interest the grantor has, if any. There are no promises or warranties. People use quitclaim deeds to fix title problems, transfer property between family members, or remove an ex-spouse from title after divorce. You should get title insurance when accepting a quitclaim deed because you have no protection if problems come up later.
Trust deeds appear in the recorder index when you search for property records. These are not ownership deeds. A deed of trust is a loan document. It gives the lender a security interest in your home. If you stop making payments, the lender can foreclose. When you pay off the loan, the lender files a reconveyance to release their claim.
Other recorded documents include liens, easements, and HOA restrictions. Tax liens from federal or state agencies get recorded here. Mechanic liens from contractors who were not paid. Judgment liens from court cases. All of these affect who can claim an interest in the property. A thorough title search reviews all these documents before a sale closes.
Transfer on death deeds let you name someone to inherit real property without going through probate. You keep full control while alive. You can change or cancel the deed any time. The named beneficiary only gets the property after you die. This tool has become popular for simple estate planning in California.
Important Search Restrictions
California law AB 1785 changed how you can search for deed records online. San Diego County no longer allows assessor parcel number searches through the internet database. This change protects privacy but makes some searches harder. If you need to search by APN, you must go to the recorder office and use their in-person kiosks.
Name searches and document number searches still work online. Most people can find what they need this way. If you know the buyer or seller name, you can locate the deed. If you have a document number from an old title report or escrow document, you can pull up the exact record you need.
Cities in San Diego County
All property deeds for San Diego County cities are recorded at the county level. There is no separate city recorder. Below are the largest cities where you can find more specific local information:
Note: The county documentary transfer tax rate applies to all cities unless the city has adopted its own additional transfer tax.
Nearby Counties
If the property is not in San Diego County, check these neighboring counties: