Shasta 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 Shasta County Recorder’s fee page, listed under Sources.

In Shasta County, the Recorder charges $14 to record the first page of a document and $3 for each additional page, and the documentary transfer tax is $0.55 for each $500 of purchase price. Most sellers never pay these fees directly, because escrow records the deed and collects the tax at closing, but knowing the numbers helps you read your settlement statement.

The county’s fee page also carries a banner announcing a fee increase effective January 1, 2027, so check it again if your closing falls near the new year.

Shasta County recording fees at a glance

Recording, first page	$14 (8.5 x 11 inch maximum); $3 for each additional page
Documentary transfer tax	$0.55 per $500 of purchase price
Affordable Housing and Jobs Act fee (SB 2)	$75 unless the document is exempt
Real estate fraud fee	$3 on deeds of trust, reconveyances, notices of default and similar lender documents
Missing Preliminary Change of Ownership Report	$20 penalty
Nonstandard page size	$3 per page, applied to every page of the document
Combined documents	$14 in addition to the regular fee
Release of state or county lien	$20, plus $3 per added page
Copies of recorded documents	$4.60 first page, $0.60 each additional page; $2.60 to certify; conformed copies carry no fee
Certified death record	$26

What the Shasta County Recorder does in a home sale

Your grant deed is what transfers title, and it only counts against the world once the Recorder adds it to the public record. Escrow normally delivers the deed on the day the sale funds. The loan you are paying off is released through a reconveyance, which is also recorded, and Shasta County lists a separate $3 real estate fraud fee for reconveyances and several other lender documents.

The Recorder does not price a house or check that a deed is legally right. It confirms the document meets recording requirements, collects the fees and taxes, and indexes it. If a deed has an error, the cure is a corrected or new deed, not a request to change the record.

How the documentary transfer tax works in Shasta County

Shasta’s fee page lists the documentary transfer tax at $0.55 per $500 of purchase price. On a $400,000 sale that is 800 units of $500, or $440. The seller usually pays it, although the purchase contract can say otherwise. Cities can add their own transfer tax, so ask escrow whether your property sits inside a city that does.

Some transfers are exempt, such as many transfers between spouses or into a trust for no payment. The Recorder cannot decide for you whether an exemption applies, and an exemption has to be stated on the deed. Ask the escrow officer or an attorney before the deed is signed.

The Preliminary Change of Ownership Report

When ownership changes, the buyer files a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report with the deed so the assessor can update the assessed value. Shasta County charges a $20 penalty when the form is not completed or not provided when required. For how a transfer affects the bill that follows, see our Shasta County property tax guide.

Getting copies of recorded documents

If you need proof of a recorded deed or reconveyance, ask the Recorder for a copy. Shasta lists $4.60 for the first page, $0.60 for each added page, and $2.60 to certify. Title companies often want a certified copy when a past lien or deed has to be shown, and a certified death record, which the county lists at $26, is a common request when a house is sold after an owner has died.

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

Plenty of Shasta County homes have a title wrinkle: an old name on the deed, a deed never recorded, a lien paid off but never released, or an owner who has died. None of these has to stop a sale, but they change 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 or reconveyances against the parcel.
2. Match the names. The people on the deed must be the people who sign. A name change or a death needs paperwork first.
3. Clear old liens. A paid loan with no recorded reconveyance can be cleaned up through the lender before or during escrow.
4. Budget for the fees. Recording, the transfer tax and the SB 2 fee come out of the seller’s or buyer’s side of escrow depending on the contract.
5. Choose your route. A cash buyer can often close with these issues in place and take over the clean-up. A listing may bring a higher price but will not close until title is ready.

We buy houses in Shasta County in any condition. See our Shasta 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.

Shasta County recorder FAQ

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

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

What is the transfer tax in Shasta County?

$0.55 per $500 of purchase price. Cities may charge more.

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

Shasta County charges a $20 penalty when the form is not completed or not provided when required.

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

$4.60 for the first page and $0.60 for each additional page, plus $2.60 to certify.

Can I sell a Shasta 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

• Shasta County Recorder: Fees

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