Riverside County Recorder and Deed Transfer Guide for Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Facts come from the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder; sources are listed at the end. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Selling a house in Riverside County ends with a recorded deed, and the county Recorder sets the rules for that deed. The Recorder’s office requires a legible, properly acknowledged document, the Assessor’s Parcel Number and Tax Rate Area, and payment of the transfer tax at the time of recording. This guide covers those requirements, the documentary transfer tax, and the ownership-change report.

Riverside County recording at a glance

Documentary transfer tax	$0.55 per $500 or fraction of value, excluding liens and encumbrances of record; due on taxable conveyances over $100
City of Riverside rate	$1.10 per $500 or fraction of value, excluding liens and encumbrances of record
Collected	At the time of recording, with a Documentary Transfer Tax Declaration
Ownership-change report	A $20 fee is charged if the completed form is not filed at recording
If no transfer tax is due	Enter 0 on the tax line and give a valid exemption reason; a state fee of up to $225 may apply
Recorder phone	(951) 486-7000 or (800) 696-9144, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
Assessor phone	(951) 955-6200 or (800) 746-1544

What the Riverside County Recorder requires for a deed

• The property must be in Riverside County.
• The document must be authorized or required by law to be recorded.
• The proper fees and taxes must be submitted with it.
• It should name the person requesting recording and a name and address for return.
• The entire document, including the notary seal, must be legible enough to produce a readable photographic record.
• It must be properly acknowledged, unless exempt, using California’s all-purpose acknowledgment.
• The Assessor’s Parcel Number and Tax Rate Area are required on all conveyances by local ordinance.
• A document cannot show more than the last four digits of a Social Security number unless a law requires it.

In a normal sale, your escrow or title officer prepares and records the deed. If you sign a deed on your own, for example to add a family member to title, these are the rules the Recorder applies.

Documentary transfer tax in Riverside County

The county Recorder collects documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of value, or fractional portion, on conveyances over $100, excluding any liens or encumbrances that were already of record. Inside the city of Riverside the rate is $1.10 per $500.

A Documentary Transfer Tax Declaration has to be completed for every conveyance, and if no tax is due you enter 0 and state a valid exemption reason. The form is not required if a government agency is a party to the document. Affidavits are available at Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder branch offices or by calling (951) 486-7000.

Example: on a $600,000 sale with no existing lien counted against the value, $600,000 divided by $500 is 1,200 units. At $0.55 that is $660 county transfer tax. In the city of Riverside at $1.10 it would be $1,320. Other cities may also charge their own transfer tax, so ask your escrow officer for the exact total on your sale.

The Preliminary Change of Ownership Report

The Preliminary Change of Ownership Report goes with the deed so the Assessor can reassess the property. The Recorder charges $20 if the completed form is not filed at the time of recording, and the Assessor then has to mail the owner a further request for the same information.

Filing it with the deed avoids the fee and the follow-up letter. See our Riverside County property tax guide for how reassessment and supplemental bills work after a sale.

How to sell a house in Riverside County: the recording steps

1. Open escrow. The escrow or title officer orders the preliminary title report and drafts the grant deed.
2. Sign before a notary. The deed needs an all-purpose acknowledgment, and a legible notary seal.
3. Complete the tax forms. The Documentary Transfer Tax Declaration and the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report go in with the deed.
4. Pay the taxes and fees. They are collected when the deed is recorded, normally out of the seller’s proceeds at closing.
5. Title transfers. The sale is complete when the deed records. If the house came to you through a death, see our Riverside County probate guide first.

A cash buyer can close and record on your schedule. See how we buy houses in Riverside County.

Questions about selling a Riverside County house? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Riverside County deed and recording FAQ

What is the documentary transfer tax in Riverside County?

$0.55 per $500 or fractional portion of value, excluding liens and encumbrances already of record, and $1.10 per $500 inside the city of Riverside.

When is transfer tax paid?

It is collected when the document is recorded, with a Documentary Transfer Tax Declaration.

What if I forget the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report?

The Recorder charges $20 if the completed form is not filed at the time of recording.

What does the Recorder require on a deed?

A legible, properly acknowledged document, the Assessor’s Parcel Number and Tax Rate Area, a return name and address, and the proper fees and taxes.

Who do I call with questions?

The Recorder at (951) 486-7000 or (800) 696-9144, and the Assessor at (951) 955-6200.

Sources

• Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder: Recording Requirements
• Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder: Preliminary Change of Ownership

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rates and fees change; confirm with the Riverside County Recorder or your escrow officer.