Butte County Recorder: Search Deeds, Liens & Official Records
Use the Butte County Recorder when you need a recorded deed, deed of trust, reconveyance, lien, release, financing statement, recorded map or another document affecting title to real property. The fastest route depends on what information you already have: a property address, an Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN), an owner name or a document reference number.
This guide connects the official county systems so you can identify the right property, search the Recorder index, locate a document, order a regular or certified copy, understand current fees and prepare a document for recording without depending on a commercial records website.
Which Butte County office has the record you actually need?
Many unsuccessful property searches happen because a user opens the Recorder portal for information maintained by another county department. Use the task below to start in the correct system.
Use the Butte County Recorder. These are recorded instruments in the Official Records system.
Open Recorder searchSearch Recorder records under the relevant person’s or entity’s name to locate the recorded lien or release.
See lien-search stepsStart with the Assessor. Its parcel tool can search by APN or street address and displays parcel and assessed-value information.
Use Assessor parcel searchUse the Treasurer–Tax Collector rather than the Recorder for balances, tax bills and payments.
Open Property TaxesUse Butte County Development Services and parcel tools for zoning, permits, land-use applications and related property information.
Open county map toolsThe Clerk-Recorder also handles vital records, but those records use separate procedures from real-property Official Records.
Open Clerk-Recorder websiteHow to search Butte County deeds and official records online
The Recorder’s online system is an index that points you toward recorded documents. Butte County specifically warns that the index should be treated like a library catalog: it helps locate the underlying record, but the index itself should not replace reviewing the actual document when the legal details matter.
Why a Butte County Recorder search may show no result
A blank result does not automatically mean that no deed or lien exists. Work through these checks before stopping the search.
What records can you find through the Butte County Recorder?
The Recorder maintains documents affecting title to real property when the document is authorized or required by law to be recorded. Common searches include:
| Record | What it can help establish | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Grant deed | Recorded transfer between grantor and grantee. | Read the actual deed for vesting, legal description and reservations. |
| Quitclaim deed | Recorded conveyance of whatever interest the grantor conveys. | The Recorder does not determine the legal effect of the transfer. |
| Deed of trust | Recorded security instrument associated with real-property financing. | Do not assume an old deed of trust remains outstanding without checking later records. |
| Reconveyance | May document the release/reconveyance of a deed of trust interest. | Match the referenced prior instrument carefully. |
| Mechanic’s or tax lien | May show a recorded claim against a person or property interest. | A Recorder index does not tell you by itself whether a lien is legally enforceable today. |
| Lien release | Can show that a previously recorded lien was released. | Confirm that the release corresponds to the correct lien and party. |
| Recorded maps | Subdivision, parcel, survey and other recorded map information. | Assessor parcel maps and recorded survey/subdivision maps serve different purposes. |
| Financing statements | Recorder-maintained filings where applicable. | Additional filing systems can exist for other UCC records. |
The county specifically identifies grant deeds, deeds of trust, mechanic’s liens, tax liens and reconveyances as examples of recordable real-property documents.
How to order a Butte County deed or official record copy
Once you locate the document, decide whether you need an ordinary copy for research or a certified copy for an official transaction. Butte County’s online copy instructions say to have the party name and Document ID number ready.
| Official record copy/service | Published fee |
|---|---|
| Regular copy — first page | $5.00 |
| Regular copy — each additional page | $2.50 |
| Certified copy — first page | $10.00 |
| Certified copy — each additional page | $2.50 |
| Digital format | $12.00 |
Fees can change. Confirm the current amount on the official county page before submitting an order.
Butte County Recorder fees: why the total can exceed the basic page fee
The basic recording charge published by Butte County is $15 for the first page and $3 for each additional page of the same document. That is only the starting point. Depending on the instrument and transaction, additional statutory charges or taxes can apply.
| Charge | Published amount | When it may matter |
|---|---|---|
| Basic recording fee | $15 first page; $3 each additional page | Base Recorder fee for a document. |
| Building Homes & Jobs Act fee | $75 on applicable documents, statutory cap applies | SB 2 / Government Code §27388.1 can add a fee unless an exemption or cap applies. |
| AB 1466 restrictive-covenant fee | $2 on applicable documents | Listed in the current Clerk-Recorder fee schedule. |
| Deed without Preliminary Change of Ownership Report | $20 | County fee schedule lists this charge when a deed is recorded without the PCOR. |
| Documentary transfer tax | $0.55 per $500 of taxable value | Applies to qualifying transfers unless a valid statutory exemption applies. |
Recording a deed in Butte County: practical preflight checklist
Recorder staff can tell you whether a document meets recording requirements, but the office is prohibited from preparing your deed or giving legal advice. If the transfer involves trusts, probate, divorce, business entities, estate planning, disputed ownership or uncertain vesting, legal or title-professional assistance may be appropriate before recording.
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
The county’s PCOR form states that a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is to be completed by the transferee and filed with a conveyance in the Recorder’s office. The current Recorder fee schedule also lists a $20 charge for recording deeds without a PCOR.
How to search Butte County liens and releases
If you are checking whether a lien has been recorded, search the Recorder index under the relevant person’s or entity’s name. Do not stop after finding the original lien—also look for a later release, satisfaction or other instrument that may affect it.
Documentary transfer tax on a Butte County deed
Butte County explains that California Revenue and Taxation Code §11911 permits a county documentary transfer tax on qualifying real-property transfers when the consideration or value exceeds the statutory threshold. The county publishes a rate of $0.55 for each $500 of taxable value, with statutory exemptions available for qualifying transactions.
Do not automatically treat the transfer-tax amount printed on a deed as the exact sale price. Butte County notes that transfer tax is not charged on certain assumed loan amounts, so using tax alone can produce only an estimate rather than a definitive purchase price.
Butte County maps: know which map you are looking for
“Property map” can mean several different records. The correct source depends on what you are trying to establish.
| Need | Best starting source | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Find an APN from an address | Butte County Assessor Parcel Search | Search street address or APN and view parcel/assessed-value information. |
| Assessor parcel map | Butte County Assessor | Assessment and parcel-identification reference. |
| Recorded subdivision, parcel or survey map | Butte County Recorder | Research the official recorded map or request a copy. |
| Zoning, flood or land-use layers | Butte County Interactive Maps | Planning and land-use research rather than proof of title. |
The Assessor explains that its parcel maps support assessment administration and are not a substitute for original recorded records when a legal property determination is required. The Recorder separately makes copies of recorded assessment, survey, parcel and subdivision maps available.
Restrictive covenants in older Butte County property records
Older deeds and recorded instruments can contain discriminatory restrictions that are unlawful and unenforceable but remain visible in historical records. California’s AB 1466 established a process for identifying and modifying unlawfully restrictive covenant language.
Butte County maintains a Restrictive Covenant Modification Program and publishes both its implementation plan and modification form. A property owner who encounters potentially unlawful restrictive language should use that official program rather than altering or annotating the historical record independently.
Open Butte County covenant programButte County Recorder office address, hours and contact details
Oroville, CA 95965
Phone:
530-552-3400, Option 2
Email:
recorders@buttecounty.ca.gov
Office:
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Closed 12–1 p.m.
Recording:
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Closed 12–1 p.m.
Additional monthly closure:
8:30–9 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.
Official Butte County Recorder and property-record resources
Use these county-controlled resources instead of paying a third-party website simply to locate the official portal.
Butte County Recorder FAQs
Where can I search Butte County Recorder records online?
Use the official Butte County Recorder Self Service Web portal. The county recommends trying spelling variations and reminds users that the online index is a guide to the underlying recorded document.
Can I search Butte County deeds by street address?
Recorder records are indexed under party names. If your starting point is a street address or APN, first use the Butte County Assessor parcel search to confirm the parcel information, then use the associated owner or transaction-party name in the Recorder index.
How much does a copy of a Butte County deed cost?
The county currently publishes regular-copy fees of $5 for the first page and $2.50 for each additional page. Certified copies are $10 for the first page and $2.50 for each additional page. Digital format is listed at $12. The Recorder sells complete documents rather than individual selected pages.
What is the basic fee to record a document in Butte County?
Butte County publishes a basic recording fee of $15 for the first page and $3 for each additional page of the same document. Other fees, surcharges and transfer tax can apply, so page count alone may not determine the final total.
Can the Recorder prepare a grant deed or quitclaim deed for me?
No. Butte County states that Recorder staff are prohibited from providing legal advice. They can explain recording requirements but cannot prepare the legal document for you.
How do I find out whether a lien was filed against me?
Search the Recorder Official Records index under your name and review the relevant lien records. Also check for later releases or satisfactions. If necessary, order copies of the underlying documents instead of relying only on the index.
Can the Butte County Recorder remove a lien?
No. The county states that the Recorder cannot remove a lien. You generally need to contact the party that recorded the lien and resolve the underlying matter so the appropriate release can be recorded.
Do I need a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report with a deed?
The county’s PCOR form states that it is to be completed by the transferee and filed with a conveyance. The Clerk-Recorder’s current fee schedule lists a $20 charge for recording deeds without the PCOR. Review the official form and transaction-specific requirements before submitting a deed.
What are the Butte County Recorder’s hours?
General office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., with a noon–1 p.m. closure. Recording hours end at 4 p.m. The office is also closed from 8:30–9 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Verify holiday closures before making a special trip.
How long does the Recorder keep my original document after recording?
The county FAQ states that documents are scanned and archived after recording and that originals are generally returned to the requester in approximately three to four weeks after the images have been checked for accuracy.
The fastest way to get the correct Butte County property record
If you know the name connected to a deed, lien or other recorded instrument, begin with the Butte County Recorder Official Records search. If you know only the property address or APN, begin with the Assessor parcel search, verify the parcel, then move into the Recorder index using the relevant party name.
Once the correct record is located, save its Document ID and order the actual instrument when you need its legal description, vesting, lien language, recording references or other details. Use the Recorder for recorded land documents, the Assessor for parcel and assessed-value data, and the Treasurer–Tax Collector for property-tax bills and payments.