You can calculate your recording fees based on the guidelines below: 

• Base Recording Fee - $14.00 for the first page and title of your document and $3.00 for each additional page.  If additional titles apply, add $14.00 per title.

• Survey Monument Fee - $10.00 fee applied to any grant deed for property in the unincorporated area of the county when the legal description contains any of the following:  Township and Range, County Parcel Map (CO), Record of License Survey, Portion of lots on a Tract Map or Tract Map was recorded prior to August 24, 1929 (Book 5, Page 10)

• Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Fee - $7.00 for any document on the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Fee List unless the document is presented concurrently with a deed on which documentary transfer tax is collected.
• Documentary Transfer Tax - Tax at the rate of .55 cents per $500 of value being transferred, unless exempt.  For exemptions see Revenue and Taxation Code 11921 et seq.

• Lien Notice Fee - $17.00 per judgment debtor for whom an address is provided on any lien (abstract of judgment, notice of delinquent assessment, etc.) unless a proof of service of the lien is included with the document.

• Senate Bill 2 - Building Homes and Jobs Act - $75.00 per real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to be recorded, except those expressly exempted from payment of recording fees, per each single transaction per parcel of real property. See the Senate Bill 2 - Building Homes and Jobs Act information page for more details.

• Restrictive Covenant Program Fee (RCP Fee)- $2 per real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to be recorded, except those expressly exempted from payment of recording fees, per each transaction per parcel of real property. See the Restrictive Covenant Program folder for more information. Restrictive Covenant Program (RCP) Information

Each document presented for recording MUST include or comply with the following general requirements.   There may be additional requirements depending on the document.

1. The property must be located in San Luis Obispo County.  (CC 1169)


2. The document must be authorized or required by law to be recorded.  (GC 27201)


3. Signatures must be original unless the document is a certified copy issued by the appropriate custodian of the public record.  (GC 27201b, GC 27279, Evid Code 1530)


4. The legibility of a document is important to the quality of the permanent record.  Documents must be clearly legible in order to produce a readable photographic record.  This pertains to the document text, notary seals, certificates and other attachments, such as legal descriptions.  (Gov. 27361.7)


5. Include the name of the party requesting the recording and a name and address where the document can be returned.  (GC 27361.6)


6. The document must be properly acknowledged, unless exempt.  California requires an all-purpose acknowledgement. (GC 27201 , 27289 , 27285 , 27287 , 27288 , CC 1189)


7. The Assessor's Parcel Number is required on deeds, trust deeds and mortgages.  (GC 27297.6)


8. When recording documents affecting a change in the ownership of real property, include a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.  


9. Standard page size is 8-1/2" by 11"; other page sizes incur additional recording fees.


10. The first page of the document must reserve a minimum of 2-1/2" down from the top of the page, of which the left 3-1/2" across is used by the party requesting recording to enter name and address to which the document is to be returned following recording.  The remainder of this space is reserved for use by the Registrar-Recorder to enter the official recording information. A minimum of 1/2" must be left blank on each side of the document.  If the first page of a document does not comply with these legal requirements, attach a Face page for a recorded document to the front of the document which meets the spacing criteria and which includes the title or titles of the document.


11. Include the recording fees, see FAQs "How do I calculate recording fees?".


12. Payment can be made by cash, personal check, cashier's check, money order, and credit or debit cards.  Make checks payable to:  San Luis Obispo (or SLO) Clerk-Recorder


13. Mail to:  1055 Monterey St. D120, San Luis Obispo CA. 93408 

If you have any questions regarding fees, timelines or the general recording process, you may call (805) 781-5080 and one of our staff can assist you.

IMPORTANT:  Our staff cannot assist you in determining what form to complete or how to complete the form.

To tell you what documents need to be completed and recorded to transfer your property is considered legal advice. California Government Code § 24004 and California Business and Professions Code § 6125 expressly prohibit the County Clerk-Recorder and deputies from the practice of law.

The California Supreme Court has defined “the practice of law” to include legal advice and the preparation of legal instruments. (Baron v. Los Angeles (1970) 2 Cal.3d 535, 542-543.)

Please do not think that we are being uncooperative when we suggest that you either make your own decisions about legal instruments or consult an attorney.

If you recently refinanced your home or paid off your mortgage, you are receiving this Official Record because your lender recorded this document to give public notice that the Deed of Trust recorded against your property is satisfied. Additionally, when you paid off your home, you do not receive a new deed.