San Mateo County Recorder Office: Address, Deed Search, Recording Fees & Public Records
The San Mateo County Assessor–County Clerk–Recorder records, preserves and provides access to deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, maps and other real-property instruments. Its County Clerk-Recorder Division operates from 555 County Center in Redwood City.
If you need a copy of a property deed, start with the county’s Online Grantor/Grantee Index. The searchable database contains recording information but deliberately excludes document images for privacy reasons. You can then order a regular or certified copy from the Recorder.
This guide explains the office’s address and hours, deed-search steps, document-copy fees, recording requirements, California SB 2 charges, Preliminary Change of Ownership Report rules, and the important distinction between San Mateo County and City of San Mateo conveyance taxes.
Official county research • Updated October 2026 • California recording guidance
What Does the San Mateo County Recorder Office Handle?
San Mateo County combines the offices of Assessor, County Clerk and Recorder into one elected department, but the divisions provide different services. Choose the correct division before researching property.
Recorder Division
Use for recorded legal instruments.
- Grant deeds and quitclaim deeds
- Deeds of trust and releases
- Recorded liens
- Subdivision and other maps
- Official document copies
Assessor Division
Use for property assessment matters.
- Assessor’s Parcel Number
- Assessed property values
- Property identification
- Change-in-ownership questions
- Reassessment exclusions
Treasurer–Tax Collector
Use for tax collection matters.
- Property-tax bills
- Payments and receipts
- Delinquent tax questions
- Tax balances
- Tax collection assistance
San Mateo County Recorder Office Address, Phone and Hours
The County Clerk-Recorder office is at County Center in downtown Redwood City. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments are optional; the county cautions that walk-in service depends on available space and time.
San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder Division
Office:
555 County Center, 1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Document recording and deed copies:
(650) 363-4500
Appointments:
(650) 599-1713
Recorder email:
recorder@smcacre.gov
County Clerk email:
countyclerk@smcacre.gov
Office hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Closed on county holidays
How to Search San Mateo County Deeds Online
The county’s Online Grantor/Grantee Index is the starting point for researching recorded deeds, liens and reconveyances. It provides searchable index data only; deed images are not included in the public online database for privacy reasons.
Open the Official Grantor/Grantee Index
Start on the San Mateo County Recorder’s official Search Grantor-Grantee Information page and select the linked index search.
Open Official Index ↗Collect Names and Transaction Clues
Gather the current owner, former owner, business or trust name, approximate recording date, document type and any available recording number.
Search the Relevant Party
Enter grantor or grantee information using the available online search fields. Use variations of business or personal names when necessary and compare the recording year against the property transaction history.
Identify the Right Instrument
Distinguish the deed transferring ownership from a deed of trust securing a loan, a reconveyance releasing security, or a recorded lien. Matching names alone does not prove the result relates to the intended parcel.
Save the Recording Information
The county’s copy-request instructions ask for the parties’ names, document type, date recorded and document recording number. Write these down and note the page count where shown.
Request or Inspect the Document
Once you identify the document, use the official copy-ordering procedure or the public terminals at the Recorder office. If a certified document is needed, specify certification rather than ordering only a regular copy.
Common San Mateo County Deeds and Recorded Document Types
| Document | What It Generally Means | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Deed | Transfers a real-property interest with California statutory implications. | Grantor, grantee, legal description and later deeds. |
| Quitclaim Deed | Transfers whatever interest the grantor may hold. | Whether the grantor actually owned the interest claimed. |
| Deed of Trust | Secures a real-estate loan or other obligation. | Borrower, beneficiary and later reconveyance. |
| Full Reconveyance | Generally releases a deed of trust’s security interest. | Reference to the original deed of trust. |
| Substitution of Trustee | Changes the trustee named under a deed of trust. | Whether a later reconveyance also exists. |
| Mechanic’s Lien | Documents a claim connected to eligible labor or improvements. | Related releases and possible court proceedings. |
| Recorded Map | Depicts a surveyed subdivision or other recorded land configuration. | Parcel boundaries, subsequent maps and legal description. |
How to Obtain a San Mateo County Recorded Deed Copy
You can request a recorded document copy by mail or through the county’s in-person services. Start with the online index so you can supply the recording number and other identifying details.
Details Required for a Copy Request
- Grantor and grantee names
- Document type
- Recording date
- Recording number
- Page count, if available
- Regular, certified or conformed copy choice
Mailing Address for Copies
San Mateo County Assessor Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Customer Service Desk
555 County Center, 1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Include the written request, payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Checks should be payable to San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder.
| Copy Type | Cost | What You Receive |
|---|---|---|
| Regular copy | $5 first page + $1 each additional page | Photocopy of a recorded instrument. |
| Certified copy | Regular copy fee + $5 certification | Copy certified by the Recorder as a true and correct copy. |
| Conformed copy | $10 per copy | Recorder-affixed conformed label on a duplicate document that the requester provides. |
How to Record a Deed in San Mateo County, California
The Recorder reviews whether a document meets statutory recording requirements, not whether its contents are legally sufficient. The county does not prepare deeds or select the correct instrument for a property transaction.
Confirm the Property Is Located in San Mateo County
A deed or other land instrument generally belongs in the recorder’s office of the county where the affected real property is located. Check the legal description, not only a postal address.
Prepare the Legal Document
Identify the parties, property and type of transaction accurately. Use required original signatures and proper acknowledgment or verification. Names to be indexed must be legible.
Check Page Format and Return Address
Standard paper is 8½ × 11 inches. Reserve the top 2½ inches of the first page, with the right 5 inches for the Recorder and the left portion for the recording requester and return mailing address. The county also requires side margins of at least ½ inch.
If the first page does not provide the required area, a recording cover sheet may be necessary and is counted as the first page.
Prepare PCOR and Documentary Transfer Tax Documents
San Mateo County requires a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (BOE-502-A) with conveyance documents, subject to stated exceptions. A Documentary Transfer Tax Affidavit and a signed transfer-tax declaration may also be required.
Evaluate SB 2, Special Fees and City Conveyance Tax
Some instruments require the $75 Building Homes and Jobs Act fee, the $6 real estate fraud prosecution fee or other surcharges. If the property is within the City of San Mateo, a separate city conveyance-tax declaration may also be required.
Submit in Person or by Mail
In-person documents meeting requirements and accompanied by payment may be recorded while you wait. For mail, include the document with a preprinted check or money order and use the official Recorder address.
The county anticipates returning the recorded original in approximately four to six weeks.
San Mateo County Documentary Transfer Tax and City Conveyance Tax
San Mateo County’s Documentary Transfer Tax generally applies to taxable conveyances where consideration or qualifying property value exceeds $100. The published county rate is $0.55 per $500 or fraction thereof, equivalent to $1.10 per $1,000.
County Example: $600,000 Transfer
Taxable consideration: $600,000
Units: 1,200 increments of $500
County documentary transfer tax: $660
Example assumes a taxable conveyance, no applicable exemption, and no additional municipal tax.
City of San Mateo Example
The Recorder’s FAQ states the City of San Mateo conveyance tax is $5 per $1,000 based on purchase price or fair market value of the interest conveyed, unless exempt.
For a $600,000 taxable city transaction, that corresponds to an illustrative additional $3,000.
County and city exemptions are separate. Verify actual liability before recording.
Required declarations: The county requires a signed documentary transfer-tax declaration on conveyance instruments. Where an exemption applies, the instrument should state $0 or none and identify the appropriate legal exemption. The county also requires a Documentary Transfer Tax Affidavit as applicable.
PCOR: The county states that the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report must accompany conveyance documents, except certain specified transaction types such as easements and trustee’s deeds upon sale. When the required PCOR is missing, an additional $20 fee applies.
San Mateo County Recorder Fees and Certified Copy Costs
The Recorder’s published fee schedule includes standard recording charges, statutory real-property fees, copies and special-document costs. Amounts can change; confirm the current fee schedule when submitting a document.
| Item | Published Charge | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Standard first page | $14 | Basic recording first page/title. |
| Additional page | $3 | Each additional standard page. |
| Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Fee | $6 per applicable title | Fee increase effective January 21, 2025, as shown in the county fee schedule. |
| SB 2 – Building Homes and Jobs Act | $75 when applicable | Subject to statutory exemptions and limits. |
| Survey Monument Preservation Fee | $10 | Applicable grant deeds with qualifying legal descriptions. |
| Nonstandard page surcharge | $3 per page | When any page is not standard 8½ × 11 inches. |
| Undersized print penalty | $1 per page | When statutory minimum print requirements are not met. |
| Required PCOR missing | $20 | Applicable conveyance submitted without PCOR. |
| County documentary transfer tax | $0.55 per $500 or fraction | Qualifying taxable conveyance. |
| City of San Mateo conveyance tax | $5 per $1,000 | Applicable qualifying city transactions, subject to exemptions. |
| Regular copy | $5 first page + $1 additional | Standard recorded-document copy. |
| Certification | $5 additional | Recorder-certified document copy. |
| Conformed copy | $10 | Recorder labels a requester-provided duplicate. |
San Mateo County Recorder Recording Fee Calculator
Estimate the fee for one document with one recordable title. Select only the additional fees that apply. The tool includes county documentary transfer tax but does not calculate the separate City of San Mateo conveyance tax or determine legal exemptions.
Formula: $14 first page plus $3 per additional page; county documentary transfer tax calculated at $0.55 per $500 or fraction when consideration exceeds $100; selected statutory and copy fees added separately. Excludes City of San Mateo conveyance tax, additional recordable titles, special filing fees and unusual exemptions.
Mailing a Deed to San Mateo County Recorder
Recording Documents by Mail
San Mateo County Recorder
Recorder Division
555 County Center, 1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063-1665
Include the original recordable document with a preprinted check or money order for the correct amount.
For a conformed proof-of-recording copy, include an exact duplicate and stamped self-addressed envelope.
What Happens Next?
- The Recorder examines the document for recordability.
- Accepted instruments become part of the county’s public recording archive.
- The original is mailed to the first-page return address.
- The county anticipates return in approximately four to six weeks.
- Rejected instruments and payment are returned with an explanation.
Three San Mateo County Recorder Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming the Index Displays Deeds
The county deliberately excludes deed images from the public online Grantor/Grantee database. Use the search to identify a document; then request the actual copy.
Confusing the City and County
City of San Mateo conveyance tax does not apply countywide. Check the parcel’s municipal jurisdiction before calculating a transfer.
Confusing a Deed with Mortgage Release
A mortgage payoff typically results in a reconveyance or related release—not a brand-new ownership deed. Match the correct document to the original deed of trust.
San Mateo County Recorder Office Links and Action Guides
1. County Clerk-Recorder Office
Official address, hours, phone and available services.
- Confirm the Redwood City location.
- Review service availability and hours.
- Use document-recording or copy contact information.
- Arrange an appointment if preferred.
2. Grantor/Grantee Index Search
Identify the recording number and document type.
- Open the official index search link.
- Search relevant parties using available fields.
- Match the date and document type.
- Save the recording number for a copy order.
3. Obtain a Copy of Recorded Documents
Mailing instructions and recording details required for copies.
- Collect party names, date and recording number.
- Identify the number of pages.
- Choose regular or certified copy.
- Include payment and return envelope for mail requests.
4. Recording Requirements
Paper dimensions, margins, signatures, notarial details and returns.
- Confirm the document is recordable in the county.
- Check first-page space and document title.
- Review signatures and acknowledgment.
- Check page size and legibility before submission.
5. Official Recording Fee Schedule
Recording, SB 2, fraud, survey and copy fees.
- Find the fee for the instrument.
- Count standard pages and recordable titles.
- Evaluate all applicable additional charges.
- Confirm the final total with the Recorder.
6. Documentary Transfer Tax
County rate, exemptions and City of San Mateo distinction.
- Read the county transfer-tax rules.
- Evaluate consideration and any lien adjustments.
- Check whether the property lies within the City of San Mateo.
- Prepare the correct declarations and exemption support.
7. Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
Form BOE-502-A and county filing exceptions.
- Check whether your conveyance requires a PCOR.
- Open the current form.
- Complete and sign the applicable information.
- Submit it with the deed or follow county filing directions.
Which San Mateo County Service Should You Use Next?
| Your Situation | Recommended Action | Where to Go |
|---|---|---|
| Find a deed reference | Search grantor or grantee information. | Online Grantor/Grantee Index |
| Get a certified deed copy | Identify the recording number, then order certification. | Recorder Copy Services |
| Record a transfer deed | Prepare deed, PCOR and tax declarations. | County Recorder |
| Identify an APN | Research the parcel and assessment information. | County Assessor |
| Pay property tax | Review the bill and payment options. | Treasurer–Tax Collector |
| Confirm a mortgage payoff | Find the associated full reconveyance. | Recorder / Title Professional |
| Resolve a title dispute | Obtain a professional examination of the property record. | California Attorney / Title Company |
San Mateo County Recorder Office FAQs
Where is the San Mateo County Recorder Office?
The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder Division is located at 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063.
What is the San Mateo County Recorder phone number?
The Recorder’s document recording and deed-copy information number is (650) 363-4500. The county also lists (650) 599-1713 for in-person appointment services.
What are the Recorder Office hours?
The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder office lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays. Walk-ins are welcome subject to available space and time.
Can I search San Mateo County deeds online?
Yes. The county provides an Online Grantor/Grantee Index. Search results supply recording information, but document images are excluded from the public database for privacy reasons.
How much does it cost to record a deed in San Mateo County?
The published basic recording fee is $14 for the first page and $3 for each additional standard page. Additional fees, documentary transfer tax and applicable statutory charges may increase the total.
How much is a certified San Mateo County deed copy?
A regular recorded-document copy costs $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Certification adds $5 to the regular copy cost.
Is a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report required?
The county generally requires a signed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report with conveyance documents, subject to specified exceptions. Missing a required PCOR adds a $20 recording fee.
What is San Mateo County documentary transfer tax?
The county’s published documentary transfer tax is $0.55 per $500 or fraction of taxable consideration when the applicable threshold is exceeded, unless an exemption applies.
Does the City of San Mateo have an additional transfer tax?
Yes. The county’s FAQ lists a City of San Mateo conveyance tax of $5 per $1,000 for applicable transactions. It does not apply automatically to every property in San Mateo County, and its exemptions may differ from county documentary transfer-tax exemptions.
Can the Recorder prepare a deed or verify clear title?
No. The Recorder reviews documents for recording requirements but cannot provide legal advice, select deed forms or determine whether title is clear. Consult a qualified California attorney or title professional for those matters.
Sources, Verification and Important Notices
This guide uses official San Mateo County Assessor–County Clerk–Recorder pages covering office contact details, the Grantor/Grantee Index, recorded-document copies, recording requirements, current fee schedules, PCOR and documentary transfer tax.
Recording rules, fees, tax requirements and office procedures may change. Always confirm current requirements with the official Recorder before submitting an instrument.
This article is not legal, tax or title advice. A deed search is not a title opinion. Public property information should not be used for regulated consumer eligibility screening.