Solano County Deed Records
Solano County deed records are maintained by the County Recorder office in Fairfield. You can search their online database to find property ownership documents and land transfers. The office is located at 675 Texas Street, Suite 2700, in Fairfield. The online search portal at https://recorderonline.solanocounty.gov/search lets you look up deeds by grantor name, grantee name, or document number. This county sits between the Bay Area and Sacramento, with cities like Vallejo, Fairfield, and Vacaville. Property types range from suburban homes to agricultural land and waterfront areas along the Carquinez Strait.
Solano County Quick Facts
County Recorder Office
The Solano County Recorder handles all property document recordings. Their office is at 675 Texas Street, Suite 2700, in Fairfield. This is where deeds, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and other land documents get filed. When you buy or sell property in Solano County, the deed must be recorded here to create a public record of ownership.
Recording a deed involves several steps. First, staff check that the document meets California formatting rules. It must have proper margins, clear signatures, and correct notarization under California Civil Code Section 1091 which requires all real property transfers to be in writing and properly executed. 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. This makes your deed part of the permanent record.
The office keeps files going back many decades. Older records may be on paper or microfiche. Modern records are digital and searchable online. If you need an old deed from before the digital era, you may have to visit in person or request copies by mail. Staff can help locate files but cannot give legal advice about which type of deed to use or how to fill out forms. For legal help, talk to an attorney or title company.
Search Deed Records Online
Solano County offers an online search tool at https://recorderonline.solanocounty.gov/search 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 locate official county resources and guidance on recording documents, visit the California Secretary of State notary page which provides information about notary requirements that apply to deed recordings throughout California including Solano County.
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 is free to view. If you need a copy of the full document, you may have to pay a fee or request it from the office.
Electronic recording is available in Solano County through certified vendors. Title companies and attorneys use eRecording to submit deeds without mailing paper or driving to Fairfield. 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 systems through the Electronic Recording Delivery System program which sets security and certification standards for vendors.
For information about property ownership changes and tax reporting requirements in California, check the Board of Equalization FAQs on change in ownership which explain when you must file a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report along with your deed.
Recording Fees and Transfer Tax
Recording fees in Solano County follow the standard California structure 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. 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, add the $75 SB2 housing fee. This fee was added by the Building Homes and Jobs Act to fund affordable housing. The maximum SB2 fee is $225 per document. So even if you record a large multi-parcel transaction, you do not pay more than $225 for the SB2 portion.
Documentary transfer tax in Solano County 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 requires a tax at the rate of $0.55 for each $500 or fractional part thereof when consideration exceeds $100. Vallejo is a chartered city and charges an additional city transfer tax of $3.30 per $1,000 of value. Other Solano County cities may follow the county rate only.
Copy fees are separate. A plain copy costs a few dollars per page. Certified copies cost more because they include the county seal and a signed statement from the recorder. You need certified copies for legal matters like court cases or loan applications. Plain copies work fine for personal reference.
Types of Deed Documents
Grant deeds are the most common type of property transfer in Solano County. When you buy a home, you get a grant deed from the seller. 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 listed in the deed. These warranties come from California Civil Code Section 1113 which defines the legal meaning of the word "grant."
Quitclaim deeds transfer property with no promises or warranties. The grantor just gives up whatever interest they have, if any. People use quitclaim deeds for family transfers, divorce settlements, or fixing title problems. If your name is misspelled on an old deed, you can quitclaim it to yourself with the correct spelling. Or if you inherit a house with siblings and want to give them your share, a quitclaim deed handles that.
Deeds of trust appear in the index when you take out 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 in the recorder index include liens, easements, and covenants. Liens come from unpaid taxes, contractor bills, or homeowner association dues. Easements let utility companies or neighbors cross your land. Covenants, conditions, and restrictions 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
Recording your deed protects you from later 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 that you own the land.
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 judge whether the deed is valid or wise. That is your job or your attorney's job before recording.
Major Cities in Solano County
Solano County includes several cities where property deeds are recorded at the Fairfield office. Cities over 100,000 population include:
Smaller cities like Vacaville, Suisun City, Benicia, Dixon, and Rio Vista also record deeds through the county recorder. All Solano County property documents go to the same office in Fairfield.
Note: Vallejo charges an additional city transfer tax on top of the county documentary transfer tax.
Nearby Counties
If the property you need is not in Solano County, check these neighboring counties: