Sierra County Recorder and Deed Transfer Guide for Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Fees come from the Sierra County Schedule of Fees effective January 1, 2026, listed under Sources.

In Sierra County, the Recorder charges $15 for the first page of a document and $3 for each additional page, and the documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000 of property value. The SB 2 fee adds $75 per real estate document unless exempt, with a maximum of $225 per transaction, and a deed recorded without a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report costs $20 more. The county’s own page says the first-page fee rose from $14 to $15 on March 1, 2026.

Sierra County recording fees at a glance

Recording, first page	$15; $3 for each additional page
Documentary transfer tax	$0.55 per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000, of property value
SB 2 housing fee	$75 per real estate document unless exempt; $225 maximum per transaction
Missing Preliminary Change of Ownership Report	$20
Non-conforming page	$3
Combined documents	$14
Additional indexing	$1 for each added reference; $1 for each added group of 10 names
Release of government liens	$20; no fee to record government liens
Recorded document copies	$1 per page; $1.75 for a certified copy
Death record	$26
Office	100 Courthouse Square, Room 11, Downieville, CA 95936; (530) 289-3295; clerk-recorder@sierracounty.ca.gov

What the Sierra County Recorder does in a home sale

The Clerk-Recorder in Downieville records deeds, reconveyances, liens and maps and keeps the index of who owns what. Your grant deed transfers title and counts against the world only once recorded, which escrow normally arranges on the day the sale funds. Sierra is one of the state’s smallest counties, so the office is small and mailed-in documents can take longer to turn around than in a large county.

The county’s schedule states that Clerk-Recorder staff are prohibited from providing legal advice. The office does not price a house or judge whether a deed is legally sound. If a deed has an error, the cure is a corrected or new deed, and any SB 2 exemption must be clearly stated on the document.

How the documentary transfer tax works in Sierra County

Sierra’s schedule lists the tax at $0.55 per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000, of property value. On a $400,000 sale that is $440 either way. The seller usually pays it, although the contract can say otherwise. Cities can add their own tax, so ask escrow whether your property is inside a city that does.

Some transfers are exempt, such as many transfers between spouses or into a trust for no payment, but the exemption has to be stated on the deed. Ask escrow or an attorney first.

The Preliminary Change of Ownership Report

The buyer files the report with the deed so the assessor can update the assessed value. Sierra charges $20 when it is missing. For how a transfer affects the bill that follows, see our Sierra County property tax guide.

Getting copies of recorded documents

Recorded document copies cost $1 per page and a certified copy costs $1.75. The same $1 per page applies to copies from the grantor and grantee index. A death record costs $26, and government agencies are exempt from most fees except photocopying.

How to sell a house in Sierra County when the deed or title is messy

Old names on a deed, an unrecorded deed, a paid loan with no reconveyance, or an owner who has died are all common. None has to stop a sale, but each changes who can sign and what escrow needs.

1. Pull the recorded documents. Ask the Recorder or your title company for the vesting deed and any liens.
2. Match the names. The people on the deed must be the people who sign.
3. Clear old liens. A paid loan with no recorded reconveyance can be cleaned up through the lender.
4. Budget for the fees. Recording, the transfer tax and the SB 2 fee come out of one side of escrow depending on the contract.
5. Choose your route. A cash buyer can often close with these issues in place. A listing may bring a higher price but will not close until title is ready.

We buy houses in Sierra County in any condition. See our Sierra County page.

Want to see the numbers on your house? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Sierra County recorder FAQ

How much does it cost to record a deed in Sierra County?

$15 for the first page and $3 for each additional page, plus the SB 2 fee of $75 per real estate document (maximum $225 per transaction) unless exempt.

What is the transfer tax in Sierra County?

$0.55 per $500, or $1.10 per $1,000, of property value. Cities may charge more.

What happens if there is no Preliminary Change of Ownership Report?

Sierra County charges $20 when it is missing.

How much is a copy of a recorded document in Sierra County?

$1 per page, and $1.75 for a certified copy.

Can I sell a Sierra County house with a title problem?

Often yes. Escrow and the title company need to see what is wrong, and a cash buyer can sometimes close with the problem in place.

Sources

• Sierra County Schedule of Fees (effective January 1, 2026)
• Sierra County Clerk-Recorder Fee Schedule and Forms

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and rates can change; confirm with the Sierra County Recorder.