What is the address of the Sonoma County Recorder Office?

The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder Office is at 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

How do I search Sonoma County deed records?

Use the official Sonoma County Document Records Search. Search by the names of parties to the document and verify the recording date, document type and document number before ordering a copy.

Can I search Sonoma County Recorder records by property address?

Recorded land records are primarily indexed by names and recording information rather than being a complete property-address history. If you only have an address, use Sonoma County's Property GIS Hub or Assessor resources to identify the parcel and useful owner information, then search the Recorder index.

How much is a Sonoma County deed copy?

County-published copy guidance lists online official-record downloads at $4 per document plus the applicable online transaction charge, and printed copies at $5 per page. Certification carries an additional charge. Verify current fees before ordering.

Does the Sonoma County Recorder provide title searches?

No. Recorder staff maintain and provide access to recorded documents but do not perform title research or provide legal advice. A complete title examination may require a title company, attorney or other qualified professional.

Can I record a deed in person in Sonoma County?

Yes. The County accepts eligible documents in person and also accepts recordings by mail, secured drop box and approved electronic recording channels. In-person recording hours are shorter than the office's general public hours.

Does the Sonoma County Recorder have birth, death and marriage certificates?

The Clerk-Recorder handles certified copies of qualifying Sonoma County birth, death and marriage records. Eligibility rules differ for authorized and informational copies.

Does the Sonoma County Recorder have divorce records?

No. Divorce and other family court case records are handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, not the Clerk-Recorder.

Sonoma County, California · Office address, recorded documents, copies and recording

Sonoma County Recorder Office: Address, Hours, Records & Copies

Q: How far back do Sonoma County Recorder records go?

The Recorder reports land records dating to before California statehood. Documents from January 1964 forward are indexed and imaged in the current computerized system, while older records rely on historic grantor-grantee index books and digitized or microfilmed records.

If you need a recorded deed, deed of trust, lien, reconveyance, recorded map, official copy or document recording in Sonoma County, the correct starting point is the Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder Office at 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

This guide is built around the tasks people usually need to complete: finding the office, checking hours before driving there, searching the official records index, identifying a deed, ordering a certified copy, submitting a document for recording, finding older records and knowing when another Sonoma County office—not the Recorder—holds the record.

Search official Recorder records Check recording requirements Office address & hours

The Recorder is not the property-tax office. The Clerk-Recorder records and preserves land documents. The Assessor handles assessed value and parcel information, while the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector handles property-tax bills and payments. Using the correct office can save an unnecessary trip.

Office

585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

Main phone

707-565-3800. County phone service is listed Monday–Friday, 9 AM–4 PM.

General hours

8 AM–5 PM except Wednesday, when the office closes at 4 PM.

Online search

Use the County’s self-service public-record index before ordering a document.

Guide reviewed

Office procedures and public links checked October 19, 2026.

Go directly to your task

Sonoma County Recorder Office guide

Use these links to jump directly to the record or service you need.

Choose the right record

What does the Sonoma County Recorder Office handle?

The Recorder’s core job is to accept eligible documents for recording, index them so the public can locate them, preserve the document images and provide access or copies. Real-property records are one of the office’s most common functions, but the combined Clerk-Recorder office also handles several non-land-record services.

REAL PROPERTY Deeds and transfers

Grant deeds, quitclaim deeds and other recordable documents transferring or affecting title.

FINANCING Deeds of trust and releases

Recorded financing documents, reconveyances, notices and other instruments affecting real property.

LIENS Recorded lien documents

Mechanics’ liens, tax-related liens, releases and other recordable lien instruments.

MAPS Recorded maps

Subdivision, parcel and survey-related maps that have been formally recorded or filed.

VITAL RECORDS Birth, death and marriage copies

The Clerk-Recorder issues qualifying certified and informational copies under California rules.

CLERK SERVICES FBNs and registrations

Fictitious business names, certain professional registrations, notary filings and related Clerk services.

Important limitation: Recorder employees cannot perform legal research for you, choose a deed form for you, determine how you should hold title or give legal advice. Their role is to record qualifying documents and provide access to the public record.

Before driving to Santa Rosa

Sonoma County Recorder Office address, phone and hours

County Clerk-Recorder Office

Address 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Phone 707-565-3800

24-hour info 707-565-3700

Email ClerkRecorder@sonomacounty.gov

Fax 707-565-3905

Official Clerk-Recorder website Directions to 585 Fiscal Drive

Public counter schedule

Day	General office hours	In-person recording
Monday	8:00 AM–5:00 PM	8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Tuesday	8:00 AM–5:00 PM	8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Wednesday	8:00 AM–4:00 PM	8:00 AM–3:00 PM
Thursday	8:00 AM–5:00 PM	8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Friday	8:00 AM–5:00 PM	8:00 AM–4:00 PM

The County states that fee transactions and document processing are not performed during the final 30 minutes before general closing. Recording submissions have their own earlier cutoff shown above.

Room-number note: Sonoma County’s own Clerk-Recorder pages generally list Room 103. Some government directories display the same office as Room 103-F. Both refer to the Clerk-Recorder location at 585 Fiscal Drive in Santa Rosa.

Official online index

How to search Sonoma County Recorder records online

For most deed or lien requests, do not begin by mailing a copy request. First use the official County search to identify the exact document. That gives you the recording information the Copy Desk needs and reduces the chance of paying for the wrong record.

Open the official Sonoma County Document Records Search Go to the County’s self-service system at crarecords.sonomacounty.ca.gov. This is the County-hosted records index, not a commercial records broker.

Read and accept the search disclaimer The County describes the online index as a guide—similar to a library card catalog—to the documents it references. A search-result entry should not be treated as a substitute for reading the underlying recorded document.

Search the names likely to appear on the document For a deed, search the grantor or grantee. For a lien, search the affected party name. The County specifically recommends trying possible spelling variations when the first search does not return the expected record.

Use fewer assumptions when results are missing Try a surname, business name variation, former owner, alternate spelling or different recording period. For older records, abbreviations and historic indexing practices can matter.

Verify the recording before buying it Compare the indexed names, document type, recording date and related entries. Write down the document or instrument number. For older material, the identifying reference may instead be a book and page.

Order only after identifying the document Use the online purchase option when available or take the document number to the Recorder’s Copy Desk. Recorder staff generally cannot research an unknown property history and choose documents for you.

Best search habit: when researching ownership history, work backward from a deed you can positively identify. Use the grantor named on the current deed as a possible grantee in an earlier transaction, then continue the chain cautiously.

An online index result is not a title report. A complete title examination can involve multiple document types, spelling variants, court matters and other records. If the result will affect a purchase, loan, ownership dispute or legal right, consider a title company or qualified attorney rather than relying only on a public-index search.

When you only know the property location

Can you search Sonoma County Recorder records by address?

A street address is often how a homeowner thinks about a property, but Recorder indexes are built around recorded documents and indexed parties. The Recorder does not maintain a simple, complete ownership history organized solely by street address.

If all you have is an address, use this two-system workflow:

1. Start with the address Enter the property location in Sonoma County’s property mapping tools.

2. Confirm the parcel Identify the correct APN and available property characteristics.

3. Find a useful name Use available Assessor/property information or documents you already possess.

4. Search Recorder index Search grantor/grantee names and verify the actual recorded document.

Micro guide: start from a street address

Open the official Sonoma County Property GIS Hub.
Use the My Property tools to locate the parcel associated with the street address.
Confirm the APN and property location so you do not research a neighboring parcel by mistake.
Move to the Recorder’s official records index.
Search the relevant owner, former owner or other party name.
Open multiple plausible results and compare dates and document types before ordering a copy.

Do not treat an APN as a guaranteed title-search key. APNs may appear on recorded documents, but a parcel number does not replace a grantor/grantee search and should not be assumed to reveal every transaction affecting title.

Deed and document copies

How to get a Sonoma County deed or recorded-document copy

Once you know the exact document number, you can choose the copy method that fits your purpose. A downloadable copy is useful for ordinary research. A certified copy is a copy formally certified by the Recorder and may be required by another agency, financial institution, court or legal process.

Sonoma County published copy options
Method	Useful for	County-published fee information	What to prepare
Online	Fast research and downloadable official records	$4 per document plus the applicable online transaction charge in the County’s published guidance	Exact indexed document
In person	Paper copies and certified copies	$5 per printed page; certification listed as an additional $4 per document	Document number or book/page
By mail	Paper or certified copies when you cannot visit	County guidance lists the same $5 per-page printed-copy charge plus certification when requested	Request form, payment and mailing information

Fees can change. The amounts above reflect fee information published by Sonoma County and available during this guide’s October 2026 review. Confirm the amount on the official County site before mailing payment, especially for certified copies or unusual document formats.

What information should you have before requesting a copy?

Document or instrument number for records from 1964 forward

Book and page when working with older records

Names shown on the recorded document

Document type, such as grant deed, lien or deed of trust

Approximate recording date if known

Whether you need an ordinary or certified copy

Find the document number Official County copy guidance

Be cautious with deed-copy solicitations. Sonoma County has warned residents about private companies charging much higher prices for grant deed copies and other property-record products that may be available directly from the County for substantially less.

Submit a document

How to record a deed or other document in Sonoma County

Recording is different from searching. When recording a document, you are asking the County Recorder to accept a legally prepared instrument into the official public record. The Recorder checks statutory recording requirements but does not determine whether the document accomplishes your intended legal result.

Micro step-by-step recording checklist

Determine which document you actually need A grant deed, quitclaim deed, affidavit of death, deed of trust and reconveyance serve different purposes. Recorder staff cannot choose the proper legal document for your situation or advise how title should be held.

Review Sonoma County’s official recording requirements Open the County Recording Requirements page before signing or mailing anything.

Check the document’s basic recording elements The County lists requirements including legibility, document title, names of parties to be indexed, printed or typed names beneath signatures, appropriate acknowledgments and a return address.

For a title transfer, check the APN and PCOR Sonoma County states that documents transferring title must contain the Assessor’s Parcel Number and be accompanied by a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report when required.

Check transfer tax and additional recording fees A deed may involve documentary transfer tax, standard recording charges and potentially the Building Homes and Jobs Act fee unless an exemption applies. Review the County’s current fee information before preparing payment.

Submit the original signed document Sonoma County says a photocopy is not accepted as the document to be recorded. Include payment and a separate contact sheet containing your name, phone number and email address.

Choose in-person, mail, drop box or eligible e-recording For mail, send recording submissions to County Clerk-Recorder, 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. If visiting, use the shorter recording-counter hours rather than assuming the general office closing time applies.

Want a free conformed copy? Sonoma County’s recording instructions state that you can include a photocopy of the document and a self-addressed stamped envelope with the recording submission to receive a conformed copy after recording.

Common reasons a deed needs extra attention

Issue	Why it matters	What to check before submission
Missing APN	The County requires an APN on title-transfer documents	Place the correct Assessor Parcel Number where required on the first page
No PCOR	A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report commonly accompanies a deed or affidavit of death	Complete the applicable Assessor form before recording
Signature issue	Documents affecting title generally require proper acknowledgment	Verify signatures, printed names and notarial acknowledgment
Transfer-tax statement	Transfer tax or an exemption may need to be declared on the document	Review the County’s current transfer-tax guidance
Insufficient fee	Recording costs vary by document and exemptions	Use the current official Recorder fee schedule instead of an old third-party fee list

Official recording requirements Official deed guidance

Historic deeds and land records

How far back do Sonoma County Recorder records go?

Sonoma County reports that its Recorder records extend back to the period before California statehood. The research method changes depending on the age of the document.

Record period	How records are organized	Best starting point
January 1964–present	Indexed and imaged in the Recorder’s computerized system	Official online records search
Before January 1964	Older documents are preserved through microfilm/digitization, with historic handwritten grantor-grantee indexes	Historic index first, then book/page reference
Property-history research	May require deeds plus Assessor, tax, map, probate and historical sources	Build a timeline instead of expecting one database to contain the complete history

A practical way to research an older ownership chain

Begin with the newest deed you can confidently identify.
Write down the grantor, grantee, recording date, legal description and any referenced prior recording.
Search the earlier owner as a grantee in an older period.
For pre-1964 material, use the grantor-grantee index to obtain the book and page reference.
Retrieve the underlying document rather than relying only on the index entry.
Compare the legal description as you move backward; similar names do not prove that two recordings involve the same property.

Sonoma County also publishes a property-history research guide that explains how deeds can be combined with mortgages, assessment lists, probate material, maps, photographs and historical collections when researching an older building or parcel.

Clerk-Recorder services beyond deeds

Birth, death, marriage and other Sonoma County records

The combined Clerk-Recorder office is also a common destination for vital records and County Clerk filings. These services use different applications and eligibility rules from recorded real-property documents.

Record or service	Correct office	Important point
Birth certificate	Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder	The County states it holds birth certificates for Sonoma County events from October 14, 1855 to the present
Death certificate	Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder / applicable vital-record process	Authorized and informational-copy rules apply
Marriage certificate	Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder	Public and confidential marriage records have different access rules
Marriage license	County Clerk	This is a Clerk service, not a land-record search
Fictitious business name	County Clerk	FBN records can also be searched through the County public-record index
Divorce decree/case file	Sonoma County Superior Court	The Clerk-Recorder specifically directs divorce-record requests to the court

Birth certificate: quick official workflow

Open the County’s official Birth Certificates page.
Confirm that the birth occurred in Sonoma County.
Choose online, mail or in-person ordering.
Determine whether you qualify for an authorized certified copy or need a certified informational copy.
For a mailed authorized-copy request, follow the County’s sworn-statement and notarization instructions.
Use the current fee shown by the County when you submit the application.

Need to amend a birth or death record? The County’s Vital Records FAQ says the Clerk-Recorder cannot make those amendments; corrections are handled through the California Department of Public Health process.

Official vital-record FAQs Fictitious business names

Avoid the wrong counter

Recorder vs. Assessor, Tax Collector and Superior Court

Several Sonoma County offices work with property or public records, but they do not maintain the same information. Use the question you are trying to answer—not simply the word “property”—to decide where to go.

Your question	Correct office/system	Why
Who signed the recorded deed?	Clerk-Recorder	The Recorder preserves the recorded instrument
Is there a recorded lien under a person’s name?	Clerk-Recorder index	Liens and releases may appear as recorded public documents
What is the Assessor Parcel Number?	Assessor / Property GIS Hub	Parcel identification and assessment data are Assessor functions
What is the assessed value?	Assessor	The Recorder does not set property values
How much property tax is due?	Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector	The Tax Collector bills and collects property taxes
Where do I pay the property-tax bill?	Tax Collector	Use the County’s tax-payment system, not the Recorder
Where is a divorce case?	Sonoma County Superior Court	Divorce is a court record, not a Recorder vital record
Who can give me a legal opinion about ownership?	Qualified attorney/title professional	County Recorder staff cannot give legal advice or certify a private conclusion about title

Sonoma Property GIS Hub View or pay property tax Sonoma Superior Court records

Save a second trip

What to bring to the Sonoma County Recorder Office

What you need depends on whether you are researching, buying a copy or submitting a document. Prepare the identifying information before leaving home.

If you are searching for a record

Full names and spelling variations

Approximate recording year

Known document number, if available

Book and page for an older document

Document type you are trying to locate

Notes showing how the parties relate to the property

If you are recording a document

Original signed recordable document

Proper acknowledgment when required

Correct APN for a title-transfer document

PCOR when applicable

Payment for applicable recording fees and taxes

Separate contact information sheet

Do not arrive at 4:55 PM expecting a deed to be recorded. General counter hours and recording-submission hours are not the same. Sonoma County lists in-person recording through 4:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and through 3:00 PM on Wednesday.

Troubleshooting

What to do when you cannot find the record

Problem	Likely reason	Next step
No deed appears under the current owner	The name may be indexed differently, title may be held through another party/entity, or the relevant transfer may be older	Try surname/business variations and earlier owners
You only have a street address	Recorder indexing is not a complete address-based property-history system	Identify the parcel through the Property GIS Hub, then search party names
Older name search fails	Historic indexing and abbreviations differ from modern data	Use older grantor-grantee indexes and book/page references
Document number is known but copy is not online	Online availability or format can vary	Use the Recorder Copy Desk or official request process
Owner name on property data looks outdated	Assessor displays and recorded documents serve different functions and updates may occur on different schedules	Confirm the recorded deed first, then contact the appropriate Assessor division about assessment records
You need a complete ownership/title guarantee	A public records search is not title insurance or a legal opinion	Use a qualified title company or attorney

When calling the Recorder: have the document number ready whenever possible. The office can answer procedural questions much more efficiently when you can identify the exact recording you are asking about.

Official action links

Sonoma County Recorder official resources

SEARCH Document Records Search

Search the County’s official public-record index.

Open records search →

RECORD Recording Requirements

Check document formatting, submission methods and general requirements.

Review requirements →

DEEDS Updating Deeds

Review County guidance about PCOR, transfer tax and deed-recording elements.

Open deed guidance →

PROPERTY Property GIS Hub

Use an address or map when you need parcel information before a Recorder search.

Open GIS Hub →

VITAL RECORDS Birth Certificate Service

Review eligibility, applications and ordering methods.

Birth certificate instructions →

COURT RECORDS Superior Court Records

Use the court for divorce, probate and other court-case records.

Open court records →

Frequently asked questions

Sonoma County Recorder Office FAQs

What is the Sonoma County Recorder Office address?

The Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder Office is located at 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Sonoma County pages use Room 103; some government directories display the office as Room 103-F.

What are the Sonoma County Recorder Office hours?

General business hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The County says fee transactions and document processing stop 30 minutes before closing. In-person document recording ends at 4:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 3:00 PM Wednesday.

What is the Sonoma County Recorder phone number?

The Clerk-Recorder’s main phone number is 707-565-3800. County phone support is listed Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A 24-hour information line is available at 707-565-3700.

Can I search Sonoma County deeds online for free?

You can use the County’s online index to search recorded-document information. Start at the official Document Records Search. Charges may apply when purchasing or downloading document copies.

Can I search Recorder records with only a property address?

An address is not the strongest key for a complete Recorder search. Start with the Sonoma County Property GIS Hub to confirm the parcel and available property information, then use relevant names and recording information in the Recorder’s index.

How much does a Sonoma County deed copy cost?

Sonoma County’s published deed-copy guidance lists online official-record downloads at $4 per document plus the applicable online transaction charge. Printed copies are listed at $5 per page, with an additional certification fee when a certified copy is requested. Verify the County’s current fee before submitting payment because fee schedules can change.

Can the Recorder tell me which deed form to use?

No. Recorder staff cannot provide legal advice, select a document for your circumstances or advise how you should hold title. The office can explain recording procedures and whether a submitted document satisfies recording requirements, but legal-document selection should be handled independently.

How old are Sonoma County Recorder records?

Sonoma County states that Recorder records date to before California statehood. Records from January 1964 forward are indexed and imaged in the current computerized system. Earlier records rely on historic grantor-grantee index books and preserved document images.

Does the Recorder handle property taxes?

No. Property-tax bills and payments are handled by the Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector. Use the Recorder for recorded documents and the Assessor for parcel and assessed-value questions.

Where do I get Sonoma County divorce records?

Divorce records are court records. Use the Sonoma County Superior Court Family Law Division or the Court’s records-request services rather than the Clerk-Recorder.

Bottom line

Use the Recorder for the recorded document—not every property question

The Sonoma County Recorder Office is the right place when your task involves a deed, deed of trust, lien, reconveyance, recorded map, official copy or a document that needs to be placed in the public record. The office is at 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, and the most efficient workflow is usually to search the County’s official records index before requesting a copy or visiting the counter.

If your real question is the parcel number or assessed value, start with the Assessor or Property GIS Hub. If it is a property-tax bill, use the Tax Collector. If it is a divorce or court-case record, use Superior Court. Matching the task to the correct office is the simplest way to get the record you actually need without paying a commercial middleman or making an unnecessary trip.

Search Sonoma County records Visit official Recorder website Read the Sonoma County deed-record guide