Norwalk Recorder: Deeds & Records

The official Norwalk headquarters is located at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, California 90650.

The location offers real estate document recording, records research, official copies and several County Clerk services.

Google Map to Norwalk Recorder Office

The Recorder headquarters is on Imperial Highway in Norwalk, near the county government complex.

Los Angeles County maintains historical real estate records going back to the nineteenth century.

The county’s recorded-document indexes are organized primarily by grantor, grantee and the year the instrument was recorded.

The official Recorder does not provide general online access to these indexes.

Step-by-step: Find a Deed at the Norwalk Office

1. Collect the property information.

   Write down the owner’s name, previous owner’s name and approximate recording year.

2. Open the official records-viewing page.

   Review the appointment requirements and follow the scheduling instructions.

3. Visit the appropriate records area.

   The county separates older and newer records by date and office location within its Norwalk headquarters.

4. Search the grantor/grantee index.

   Look for the parties involved in the transfer and the approximate year it was recorded.

5. Identify the recorded document.

   Compare the recording date, document type and other available reference details.

6. Record the reference.

   Save the document number, recording date and relevant names if you need to request a copy.

Where Are Older Los Angeles County Records Located?

The county describes overall recorded-document holdings from approximately 1850 onward. The separate date ranges above describe the public viewing areas.

The Registrar-Recorder accepts legal documents affecting real estate in Los Angeles County.

Recorded-document types include the following.

Recorded Los Angeles County deeds are public records. You do not need to be the property owner to request an ordinary public copy.

Copies can be requested online, in person, by mail or through the county’s available request methods.

Mailing Address for Recorded-Document Copies

Recorded-Document Copy Fees

Example: Certified Three-Page Deed

Additional search, handling, delivery or processing charges may apply depending on the request method.

Los Angeles County accepts legal instruments that meet California’s recording requirements.

A deed must be properly prepared, signed, acknowledged and accompanied by applicable forms, taxes and recording fees.

Step-by-Step Recording Instructions

1. Prepare the correct instrument.

   Confirm whether the intended transaction calls for a grant deed, quitclaim deed or another type of document.

2. Include the legal description and property details.

   For deeds, include the property’s Assessor Identification Number (AIN/APN) and required legal information.

3. Complete the signatures and acknowledgment.

   Documents requiring notarization must satisfy the applicable California acknowledgment requirements.

4. Prepare the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.

   A completed PCOR is generally required when a recorded document evidences a qualifying change in ownership.

5. Determine documentary transfer tax.

   State whether tax is payable or provide an appropriate exemption declaration when applicable.

6. Review the recording fees.

   The total may include the base recording fee, additional-page fees, SB2 charges and other statutory amounts.

7. Submit the document.

   Use the Norwalk recording office or the official mail-in recording process.

Document Requirements Checklist

• Property must be located in Los Angeles County.
• Document must be legally eligible for recording.
• Original signatures are required unless an accepted exception applies.
• Include the recording requester’s information.
• Include a name and address for returning the recorded document.
• Provide a legible notary acknowledgment when required.
• Include the AIN/APN on documents that require it.
• Attach the appropriate PCOR for a qualifying ownership change.
• Use a clear, reproducible legal description.
• Include all applicable recording fees and taxes.

California Recording Format Basics

The county may require a cover page when the first page lacks the appropriate recording area.

You can submit an eligible property document at the Norwalk Recorder headquarters or through the county’s mail-in recording service.

In-person appointment information and mail instructions are available on the official recording requirements page.

Recording Documents by Mail

Accepted Payment Methods

For qualifying counter transactions, the county lists cash, checks, money orders, major credit/debit cards and supported mobile wallet payments.

Card and mobile wallet transactions have a published $1.75 service fee.

Mail submissions generally require a check, cashier’s check or money order payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

The official Los Angeles County recording fee schedule lists a base charge of $15 for many real estate documents.

That is only the starting charge. The final amount depends on document type, page count, tax and applicable statutory fees.

Basic Page-Fee Examples

These examples include the basic page-based fee only. They do not represent the final amount due for a grant deed, quitclaim deed, lien or another particular instrument.

What Is the $75 SB2 Recording Fee?

California’s Building Homes and Jobs Act established an additional recording fee on certain real estate instruments.

The amount is generally $75 per applicable document, subject to statutory exemptions and a $225 maximum for the applicable transaction.

Certain transfers subject to documentary transfer tax and certain residential transfers to owner-occupiers may qualify for exemptions.

Los Angeles County collects documentary transfer tax on qualifying real estate transfers.

The published county rate is $0.55 per $500 of taxable consideration, or fraction thereof, when the applicable taxable amount exceeds $100.

This example assumes $350,000 of taxable consideration and no applicable exemption or adjustment.

Does Norwalk Have the Same Transfer Tax as Los Angeles City?

Not necessarily. The tax depends on where the property is located, not where the Recorder’s headquarters is located.

Los Angeles County publishes additional special municipal transfer-tax rates for Culver City, Los Angeles, Pomona, Redondo Beach and Santa Monica.

A document recorded in Norwalk for property in one of those cities may be subject to additional applicable city taxes.

Documentary Transfer Tax Exemptions

Some real estate transfers may be exempt from documentary transfer tax.

If the transaction is exempt, the county requires an acceptable exemption statement on the document.

Determining the correct exemption is the responsibility of the document preparer.

California generally requires a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report when certain documents changing ownership are recorded.

This report helps the Los Angeles County Assessor determine whether a property ownership change may affect the property’s taxable value.

When Is a PCOR Needed?

A PCOR is generally required with deeds or other documents that evidence qualifying ownership transfers.

Some instruments, including certain deeds of trust, reconveyances and easements, are treated differently.

Check the official filing instructions for your specific transaction before assuming the form is unnecessary.

Several Los Angeles County departments work with property information, but they do not provide the same service.

Choosing the correct office can prevent delays with deed copies, parcel research and tax payments.

Los Angeles County provides a Homeowner Notification Program to help property owners become aware of important recorded activity.

The program can send copies of certain recorded documents by mail and offers optional electronic notifications.

Notifications may involve ownership changes, loan documents, notices of default or notices of sale.

How to Sign Up for Homeowner Alerts

1. Open the official Assessor Portal.

   Use the county’s Homeowner Alert registration service.

2. Create a county account.

   Follow the registration instructions and verify the required contact information.

3. Register your property.

   Use the property’s Assessor Identification Number where requested.

4. Confirm notification preferences.

   Opt into the available e-Notification service.

5. Review future alerts.

   If an unexpected instrument appears, identify the document and seek appropriate assistance.

Where Can Homeowners Get Assistance?

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs provides homeowner assistance and resources.

Phone: 800-593-8222

Email: homehelp@dcba.lacounty.gov

Norwalk is the main headquarters for both the Registrar-Recorder and County Clerk.

Beyond property recording, the office offers vital records, marriage and business-related services.

This article is an independent informational guide. It is not operated by Los Angeles County, the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, the California Department of Justice or any other government agency.

Fees, office procedures, service hours and recording requirements may change. Verify important details with the responsible official agency before submitting legal documents or making payments.

This article does not provide legal advice, a certified title search, a title insurance commitment or a guarantee of ownership.

Public records must not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit eligibility, insurance underwriting or another purpose governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

This website is not a Consumer Reporting Agency.

These official resources provide the office details, records access instructions, recording fees and county services discussed above.

Information reviewed using official Los Angeles County and California government resources: October 27, 2026.