Glenn 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 Glenn County Clerk-Recorder’s Schedule of Fees effective January 1, 2026, listed under Sources.

In Glenn County, the Recorder charges $14 for the first page of a document and $3 for each additional page, and the documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500. A $75 SB 2 fee applies per document when it is not exempt, and a deed recorded without a Preliminary Change in Ownership Report costs $20.

The county also states that, since August 31, 2022, it no longer conforms copies and instead hands back or mails the document the day it records.

Glenn County recording fees at a glance

Recording, first page	$14 (8½ x 11 inch); $3 for each additional page
Documentary transfer tax	$0.55 per $500 (Revenue and Taxation Code 11911)
SB 2 (Atkins) fee	$75 per document if it applies
Missing Preliminary Change in Ownership Report	$20 (Revenue and Taxation Code 480.3(b))
Non-standard form size	$3 per page
Penalty print	$1
Combined documents	$14 for each additional title
Release of state or county tax lien	$12
Additional indexing	$1 per added reference; $1 per added group of 10 names
Fees included in recording	$1 per document for micrographics, $1 per page for modernization, $1 per title e-recording trust, $2 for index within two days
Copies of recorded documents	$1.50 per page; $2 to certify
Death record	$26
Office	516 West Sycamore Street, 2nd Floor, Willows, CA 95988; (530) 934-6412

What the Glenn County Recorder does in a home sale

The Clerk-Recorder’s office in Willows 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. The loan you are paying off is released through a reconveyance that is also recorded.

The Deputy Clerk-Recorders are prohibited from practicing law, so they cannot tell you how to word a deed or whether an exemption applies. If a deed has an error, the cure is a corrected or new deed.

How the documentary transfer tax works in Glenn County

Glenn’s schedule lists the tax at $0.55 per $500 and cites Revenue and Taxation Code 11911. On a $400,000 sale that is 800 units of $500, or $440. 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 in Ownership Report

The buyer files the report with the deed so the assessor can update the assessed value. Glenn charges $20 if it is not submitted with the recording. For how a transfer affects the bill that follows, see our Glenn County property tax guide.

Getting copies of recorded documents

Copies cost $1.50 per page, and certifying a document costs $2. Because the office no longer conforms copies, do not count on a stamped copy from the counter; the original is returned to you the same day it records, either at the counter or by mail.

How to sell a house in Glenn 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 $75 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 Glenn County in any condition. See our Glenn 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.

Glenn County recorder FAQ

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

$14 for the first page and $3 for each additional page, plus the $75 SB 2 fee per document unless exempt.

What is the transfer tax in Glenn County?

$0.55 per $500. Cities may charge more.

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

Glenn County charges $20 if it is not submitted with the recording.

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

$1.50 per page, plus $2 to certify.

Can I sell a Glenn 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

• Glenn County Clerk-Recorder: Schedule of Fees
• Glenn County 2026 Fee Schedule (Word document)

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