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Recording a deed in San Diego County, California

Everything you need to get a deed on file in San Diego County. The office that records it, the formatting it checks, what it costs, and the three ways to submit.

Reviewed July 28, 2026
Create a deed for San Diego County
Recording office
County Recorder (Clerk-Recorder)
Witnesses
Notary only
Transfer tax
$0.55 per $500 of consideration
First-page margin
2.5″ top
Recording fee
~$25 first page
E-recording
Generally available

Recording a deed in San Diego County

Deeds affecting property in San Diego County, California are recorded with the County Recorder. Recording is what puts the world on notice of your ownership and fixes the priority date. An unrecorded deed can still transfer title between the parties, but it leaves you exposed to anyone who records first.

What to bring

  • The original signed and notarized deed. Recorders do not record photocopies handed over the counter.
  • A completed notarial acknowledgment, with the date, county, and commission expiry all filled in.
  • Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR); documentary transfer tax declaration on the face of the deed, which California requires alongside the deed.
  • Payment for the recording fee, about $25 for the first page and roughly $3 per additional page. Many offices do not take personal checks.

Formatting the office will check

  • 8.5 × 11 inch paper, printed on one side.
  • A 2.5-inch blank margin at the top of page one for the recording stamp.
  • 0.5-inch margins on the other edges and on later pages.
  • Type no smaller than 10 point, in black ink that will scan cleanly.
  • A legal description. A street address alone is not enough.
  • A 'when recorded, return to' block so the stamped original comes back to you.

How to file

  1. In personTake the original to the County Recorder in San Diego. This is the fastest route. You usually walk out with the recording information the same day.
  2. By mailSend the original with a check or money order for the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to three weeks for the stamped original to come back.
  3. E-recordingSubmit through a service such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. Usually same-day, with a small submitter fee on top of the recording fee. You keep the paper original.

Confirm the address before you post anything

Offices move and hours change. Search for "San Diego County California County Recorder" and use the official county website, not a directory listing, which is often years out of date.

Create a deed for San Diego County

Formatted to California requirements, with San Diego County filing instructions included.

Common questions

With the County Recorder, located in San Diego. Deeds are always recorded in the county where the property sits, not where the owner lives.

Around $25 for the first page plus about $3 per additional page. California also charges documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of consideration ($1.10 per $1,000) at the county level, though family transfers and gifts are often exempt. Confirm current fees with the office. They are set locally and change.

Usually yes, through an e-recording service such as Simplifile, CSC, or ePN. You submit a scan, the office records it electronically, and you keep the paper original. It is normally same-day.

Keep reading

Deedly is not a law firm

We provide self-help software and state-specific statutory forms; you make your own decisions about your property. Using Deedly does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. If your situation is complex or contested, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.