SERVICE

Recording a document

We record, secure and provide access to documents related to marriage, real property, and business.

What to know

Cost

Please be sure to visit our recording fees page to see how much it will cost to record your document. 

Ways to record a document

Documents can be recorded with our office 2 ways: 

  • In-person 
  • By mail

What to do

Before recording a document

When you record a document with our office, our staff will examine the document to check if it meets specific recording requirements that are outlined by state and local laws. 

It is important to note a few things: 

  1. Recording requirements are different from legal requirements. As such, it is highly recommended that you speak with an attorney, title company representative or other authorized individual for assistance. 
  2. If your document does not meet recording requirements, our office is unable to record it. 
  3. Only documents permitted by law may be recorded.
  4. Be sure to check our recording fees page
  5. Some documents, such as a deed that transfers property, will trigger transfer tax. When you record such documents, you will also need to fill out a transfer tax affidavit and preliminary change of ownership form. You can find these on our transfer tax page

In-person

You can record a document in-person at our office in San Francisco City Hall, Room 190. 

Payment for recording fees and transfer taxes (if applicable) may be made by:

  • Cash
  • Checks (with preprinted name and address)
  • Credit card
  • Money order (payable to SF Assessor-Recorder)

Note that our recording window is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

By mail

You can mail your documents for recording to our office in San Francisco City Hall. 

The mailing address is: 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 190, San Francisco, California 94102.

Payment for recording fees and transfer taxes (if applicable) may be made by cash, checks (with preprinted name and address), or money order payable to SF Assessor-Recorder.

Although we would like to give you as much information as possible, under California law, our document examiners are prohibited from providing legal advice or assisting in document preparation. (Section 6125 of the Business and Professions Code).

Supporting information

Special cases

Electronic recording

Electronic Recording (e-recording) is the process of recording documents via a secure internet portal that would otherwise be sent by mail or courier to our office.

E-recording was previously limited to title companies, title insurers, financial institutions, and government entities. However, the regulations governing e-recording were recently updated in response to AB2143 (2016), which opens up e-recording to entities that can demonstrate at least $1 million in general liability insurance. These new regulations went into effect on January 1, 2020.

Entities that are interested in signing up for e-recording must demonstrate the minimum insurance requirements and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with our office and one of our 9 partner e-recording agents. Our office does not impose a surcharge for e-recording; the fees are the same for paper documents submitted over the counter or by mail as those arriving through e-recording. However, Agents charge Submitters a fee for the convenience of e-recording. Each agent’s fee structure is different, so you are encouraged to inquire with the Agent for pricing.

Here is a list of our partner e-recording agents.

Once recorded, documents are returned to the submitter the same day, usually in less than an hour, and payment of recording fees and taxes are made the following day via ACH wire transfer.

After hours drop box

The Assessor-Recorder drop box is located outside of San Francisco City Hall. Specifically, the box is in the window at the Grove Street entrance. The drop box is checked daily and documents are taken directly back to our staff to process. 

Documents submitted via drop box will be examined and recorded (if acceptable) within 24 hours of receipt. 

Please ensure that your documents are securely packaged with payment. 

Payment for recording fees and transfer taxes (if applicable) may be made by checks (with preprinted name and address), or money order payable to SF Assessor-Recorder.

Get help

Address

Office of the Assessor-RecorderCity Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett, Room 190
San Francisco, CA 94102
Get directions

Our regular office hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 PM. Our in-person document recording hours are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

Email

Office of the Assessor-Recorder

assessor@sfgov.org

Partner agencies