SF County Recorder: Search Deeds, Recorded Documents & Office Records
Looking for a grant deed, mortgage document, reconveyance or property lien in San Francisco? The official recording authority is the San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder, located inside City Hall.
There is an important improvement to the county’s online system: millions of recorded documents from 1990 onward are available for free online viewing through the city’s record-access services. You can search by parties or recording details and use the newer document-viewing option for available images.
This guide shows where to search, how to locate deeds with an Assessor’s block and lot number, where to obtain official copies, and how to record a new deed without overlooking transfer-tax or recording requirements.
Where to Search San Francisco County Recorded Deeds
San Francisco is both a city and a county. You do not need to choose between a separate city recorder and county recorder: property records for locations within San Francisco are handled by the same Assessor-Recorder’s Office.
Search the Recorder Index
Find deed and mortgage records using names, document dates, recording references, or block-and-lot information when the search interface supports it.
Open official search →View a Digitized Document
For records available from 1990 onward, use the city’s updated recorded-document viewing service. Registration may be required to open and download available documents.
Copy and viewing options →Research Older Deeds
For pre-1990 records, City Hall’s public terminals, historical indexes and microfilm or microfiche resources may be necessary.
Historical records →How to Search SF County Recorder Deeds Online
Open the Official Public Search
Visit recorder.sfgov.org, the city’s recorded-document index portal.
Review the disclaimer, then use the Simple Search option or the search controls offered by the site.
Enter a Name or Recording Reference
Try the recorded grantor or grantee name. For a property transfer, search both the person conveying the interest and the person receiving it.
If you know an instrument number from a title report or closing papers, use the document-number search instead.
Try Block and Lot When Available
San Francisco properties commonly use Assessor’s block and lot identifiers. If the search interface offers those fields, enter the correct numbers to narrow the results.
Confirm the parcel matches your property, particularly if it is a condominium or multi-unit building.
Filter by Date and Document Type
When available, use the recording date and document-title filter to distinguish grant deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, notices and liens.
The date on a deed and its official recording date can differ.
Confirm the Correct Index Entry
Compare the document number, recorded date, parties and document type. Do not assume that two people with matching names relate to the same property.
Open the Available Recorded Image
Use the city’s recorded-document copy and viewing service. Register or sign in when required, and follow the displayed steps to access an available digitized image.
Document availability and certification options can differ, especially for historical records.
Save the Document and Recording Details
Keep the instrument number, recording date and complete downloaded image. If your lender, court or other recipient requires an official certified copy, order the proper certification instead of relying only on a standard download.
How to Find a San Francisco Deed by Address, Block or Lot
A street address alone can be insufficient for an older recorded deed. San Francisco’s Assessor uses block and lot numbers to identify parcels, and these can help narrow record searches.
Start With the Parcel
- Gather your street address, including the unit number.
- Open the city’s Assessor-Recorder service directory.
- Choose the property or parcel-information service.
- Identify the relevant block and lot.
- Return to the recorded-document index and use block/lot or party search when supported.
Why Block and Lot Matters
San Francisco often identifies property by block and lot, while a recorded legal instrument identifies the legal interest being transferred or encumbered.
For condominiums, multiple lots can exist at one street address. Verify the specific parcel rather than assuming the building’s address identifies your individual unit.
Searching San Francisco Deeds Recorded Before 1990
Older land transactions may require City Hall’s historical records, grantor-grantee indexes or microfilm and microfiche. This is especially important when researching a long ownership history, inherited property, historical easements or restrictions recorded decades ago.
Bring These Details
- Current and previous owner names.
- Approximate years of ownership or transfer.
- Any old document, reel/image or book/page reference.
- Street address and block/lot information.
- Known title-company or closing-document references.
Use the City Hall Record Room
Visit City Hall, Room 190 to ask about accessing historical indexes and older recorded images.
Explain the approximate date range and which legal instrument you need. Older records may be indexed differently from newer digital documents.
Common Documents in the SF County Recorder’s Records
Grant Deed
A common California conveyance document. Review both parties, the legal description and the recorded date.
Quitclaim Deed
Transfers whatever interest the grantor may have without the ordinary warranties associated with a grant deed.
Deed of Trust
Generally secures a real-estate loan. It is different from the ownership conveyance deed.
Reconveyance
May document the release of a deed of trust following satisfaction of the secured obligation.
Property Liens
Recorded claims that may affect title. Their enforceability requires legal and factual review.
Restrictions and Maps
Recorded CC&Rs, easements and maps can affect the use or description of a property.
How to Get a San Francisco Recorded Deed Copy
Online Document Access
- Search the recorded-document index.
- Save the instrument number.
- Visit the official copy service.
- Sign in or register if required.
- View or download the available record.
- Select certification only if the recipient requires it.
In-Person or Mail Request
San Francisco Assessor-Recorder
City Hall, Room 190
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Provide the document number, recording date or party names. Confirm the current ordering requirements, page charges and certification method before sending money or visiting.
San Francisco County Recorder Fees: What to Check Before Paying
San Francisco’s recording schedule includes a first-page charge, additional-page fees and certain statutory surcharges. The city also adjusts some records-copy fees by fiscal year, so older printed amounts may not match the current counter or checkout price.
| Fee Item | Published Reference | Important Note |
|---|---|---|
| Basic document recording, first title page | $14 in the May 2024 county schedule | Confirm current schedule and applicable statutory surcharges |
| First page of certain fraud-fee documents | $17 in the May 2024 schedule | Includes the listed $3 real-estate fraud fee |
| Additional standard recorded page | $3 in the published schedule | Document formatting and other charges may alter total |
| Building Homes and Jobs Act (SB 2) | $75 per applicable document/parcel; up to $225 per transaction | Statutory exemptions may apply |
| Survey monument fee | $10 in the published schedule | Applies to certain deeds subject to transfer tax |
| Staff-provided recorded-document copies | Variable current fee | San Francisco Administrative Code §8.33.2 provides annual inflation adjustment |
| Certified-copy endorsement | Additional certification fee | Confirm current fiscal-year price |
| Documentary transfer tax | Depends on consideration and exemptions | Separate from recording charges; city tier rules can apply |
How to Record a Grant Deed or Quitclaim Deed in San Francisco
Prepare the Correct Document
Use a legally appropriate deed or other recordable instrument. The Assessor-Recorder is not responsible for choosing the correct form of transfer or drafting your deed.
Check Signatures and Acknowledgment
Make sure execution and acknowledgment meet the legal requirements for the instrument. The legal description must correspond to the real property involved.
Prepare Transfer Forms
The city’s property-transfer guidance calls for a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) and a Transfer Tax Affidavit with deeds transferring ownership. Check statutory exemptions and the applicable document instructions.
Check Recording and Transfer-Tax Charges
Review the document’s page count, first-page title charges, SB 2 exemptions and the City and County of San Francisco transfer-tax rules. Do not assume that the basic recording fee represents the total cost of a transaction.
Submit the Recordable Instrument
Visit the recording counter at City Hall, Room 190, during the recording window of 8 AM–4 PM on regular weekdays, or follow the office’s current accepted mail or electronic-submission instructions.
Save the Recording Reference
Retain the document reference and verify the recording in the official search. Keep any returned original or electronic confirmation in your property records.
SF County Recorder Office Address, Hours and Directions
San Francisco Assessor-Recorder
San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 190
San Francisco, CA 94102
Information: (415) 554-5596
Main office: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM.
Document recording counter: Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4 PM.
Observed holidays and temporary service changes may affect access.
Directions to City Hall ↗Before You Go
- Bring the instrument number or relevant owner names.
- For older deeds, note the approximate transfer year.
- Bring block and lot information when available.
- Check current copy or recording fees.
- For recording, arrive within the 8 AM–4 PM counter window.
- Confirm holidays and any appointment or service changes.
City Hall is a public government building. Check the city’s accessibility and entry instructions if you have specific access needs.
What if Your San Francisco Deed Search Finds Nothing?
Name Search Returns No Results
- Try the former owner’s name.
- Check the exact trust or business name.
- Broaden the recording period.
- Use a recorded document number if known.
- Try block and lot where supported.
The Property Is a Condominium
Confirm the individual unit’s Assessor lot number, rather than relying only on the building’s street address. The same building may contain multiple independently assessed legal parcels.
The Image Is Not Available
Use the city’s recorded-copy service or visit City Hall. Some older and specialized documents may not be included in online downloadable-image coverage.
Found a Deed of Trust but No Reconveyance
Search for the later reconveyance using the borrower, lender or document reference. Follow up with the loan servicer if an expected release has not been recorded.
San Francisco County Recorder Search and Service Links
1. Official Recorded Document Index
Party, date, document and block/lot searches.
- Open Simple Search.
- Enter a party name or recording reference.
- Check date and document type.
- Save the matching instrument number.
2. Recorded Document Copies
Online image access, digital downloads and certified-copy requests.
- Identify the recorded document.
- Use the online access process.
- Register when required.
- Choose a regular image or certified-copy service.
3. Assessor-Recorder Office
Official office, assessment and recording functions.
- Read the department responsibilities.
- Confirm whether your issue concerns assessment or recording.
- Use the relevant official service or contact channel.
4. Restrictive Covenant Modification
For certain historically recorded unlawful property restrictions.
- Locate the recorded document containing the restriction.
- Review the city’s restrictive-covenant procedure.
- Complete the proper form and redactions.
- Submit for the required legal review.
SF County Recorder FAQs
1. What is the official San Francisco County Recorder office?
The San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder performs county recording functions. Its public office is at City Hall, Room 190, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102.
2. Can I search San Francisco deeds online for free?
Yes. The city’s official recorded-document search provides online index access, and its newer records-viewing service makes millions of digitized documents from 1990 onward available for free online viewing. Registration may be required for images.
3. What is the SF Recorder search website?
The official recorded-document index is at recorder.sfgov.org. The city also offers recorded-document copy and viewing services through sf.gov.
4. Can I search a San Francisco deed by block and lot?
The city’s recording search has supported Assessor’s block-and-lot searches. Use the corresponding fields when available, and verify the exact parcel, especially for condominium units.
5. Where can I find San Francisco deeds recorded before 1990?
Older deeds may require historical index, microfilm or microfiche research at the Assessor-Recorder’s City Hall office. Bring owner names, approximate recording dates and any document references.
6. How do I order a certified SF County deed copy?
Identify the recorded instrument through the official index, then follow the city’s recorded-document copies service or contact City Hall Room 190. Certification is separate from an ordinary downloaded image.
7. What are the San Francisco County Recorder office hours?
The main office lists Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, excluding holidays. The document recording counter’s regular hours are 8 AM to 4 PM.
8. How much does it cost to record a deed in San Francisco?
The published May 2024 fee schedule lists a $14 basic first-title-page charge and $3 per additional standard page. Statutory fees, SB 2 charges and documentary transfer taxes may apply separately. Verify the current fee schedule before recording.
9. Do I need a PCOR when recording a grant deed?
San Francisco’s property-transfer guidance calls for a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report and Transfer Tax Affidavit with deeds transferring ownership. Check applicable legal requirements and exemptions for the particular transaction.
10. Is the SF County Recorder the same as the Assessor?
The functions are handled by the same Assessor-Recorder department but serve different purposes. Assessment involves property valuation and taxation; recording involves preserving deeds, deeds of trust, liens, reconveyances and other public instruments.