Sacramento County Recorder and Deed Transfer Guide for Home Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Fees and rules come from the Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder; sources are listed at the end.

When you sell a house in Sacramento County, the deed to the buyer is recorded by the County Clerk/Recorder, which also collects the documentary transfer tax at recording. The office publishes a deed checklist, a fee schedule and formatting rules.

A deed that misses an item can be returned, which can push back a closing. Escrow normally handles recording, but the details below help if a family member prepared the deed or you are cleaning up title on an inherited house.

Sacramento County Recorder at a glance

What does the Sacramento County Recorder require on a deed?

The county lists the grant deed and the quitclaim deed as the common transfer documents. A deed should contain:

• The names of the grantors (sellers) and grantees (buyers).
• A description of the property in Sacramento County, such as lot and tract or street address.
• The Assessor’s Parcel Number.
• A documentary transfer tax declaration.
• A "When recorded mail to" address.
• A mailing address for future tax statements.
• The city where the property is located, or the word unincorporated.
• The grantors’ signatures, acknowledged before a notary public.

A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report, Form BOE-502-A, must come with the document. The form is free from the Recorder or from the Assessor’s website. Without it, the county adds a $20.00 recording fee.

Sacramento County formatting rules

The county’s rules for recorded documents say:

• At least a half-inch margin is required on both vertical sides, except in the space reserved for recording information.
• A page is one printed side of paper that is exactly 8.5 by 11 inches. A sheet is a different size, no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches, and pays the standard rate for sheets rather than pages.
• The top 2.5 inches of the first page is reserved for recording information. The left 3.5 inches of that space is for the name of the person requesting recording and the return address.
• The title of the document must be on the first page directly below that reserved space.
• Original signatures are required, though a certified copy is also acceptable.

How much is the transfer tax in Sacramento County?

The county FAQ says the documentary transfer tax is imposed on each recorded document that sells real property, at $0.55 for each $500, or fraction, of value. On a $450,000 sale with no loan assumed, that is about $495.

The county also publishes a list of transfers that are exempt under the Revenue and Taxation Code, and if you claim an exemption you must cite the code section on the deed. Staff cannot say whether your transfer qualifies.

What will it cost to record a sale deed?

A typical Sacramento County sale deed pays the first-page fee, any added page fees and the transfer tax. Documents the housing fee applies to pay up to $75.00 each, and the county’s schedule shows a $95.00 combined line for a first page with the housing fee once the $225.00 cap has been reached. Fees change with state law, so check the current schedule or ask escrow for the exact total.

How to sell a house in Sacramento County when title needs work

A sale closes only when the recorded chain of title is clean. If an owner has died, the seller must show authority, such as a court order or trustee certification. If an old deed was signed but never recorded, record it first. A cash buyer can often close faster than one who needs a lender.

1. Order the vesting deed from the Recorder.
2. Check for liens. Loans, tax liens and judgments are paid from escrow.
3. Decide who pays the transfer tax. Put it in the contract.
4. Bring the PCOR. Form BOE-502-A avoids the $20.00 fee.

See how we buy houses in Sacramento County, or read our Sacramento County probate guide and the California transfer tax report.

Have a Sacramento County house with a title problem? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Sacramento County Recorder FAQ

How much is the transfer tax in Sacramento County?

The county lists the tax at $0.55 for each $500, or fraction, of value when the value exceeds $100, not counting liens that remain.

What does a Sacramento County deed need?

Grantor and grantee names, a property description, the Assessor’s Parcel Number, a transfer tax declaration, a return address, a tax statement address, the city or unincorporated, and notarized signatures.

What if I skip the change of ownership report?

The county adds a $20.00 recording fee when the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is not presented at recording.

Can I get a free copy of my recorded deed?

Conformed copies have no fee. Official copies cost $8.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each added page, plus $1.00 to certify.

Sources

• Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder: Fee Schedule
• Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder: Transferring Ownership of Real Property
• Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder: Rules for Recorded Documents
• Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder: Documentary Transfer Tax FAQ

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and rules can change; confirm them with the Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder.