SL County Recorder: Deeds, Property Records, Fees & Official Search
If you searched for the SL County Recorder, you most likely need the Salt Lake County Recorder’s Office in Utah. This is the county office that records and maintains real-property documents including deeds, trust deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, legal descriptions, subdivision plats and other instruments affecting Salt Lake County land.
The fastest route is usually to identify the property by address or parcel number, search the Recorder’s official property system, open the relevant recorded-document history, and request a standard or certified copy only when you actually need one.
Go directly to your SL County Recorder task
Choose the action that matches why you came to this page.
What Is the SL County Recorder?
In property-record searches, SL County Recorder generally means the Salt Lake County Recorder’s Office. The Recorder is the county custodian for recorded real-property documents and maintains the index that allows a deed, lien, mortgage, release, plat or other recorded instrument to be connected to the affected property.
The Recorder’s job is different from determining a property’s taxable value or collecting property taxes. That distinction matters because many searches fail simply because the user starts with the wrong Salt Lake County office.
Deeds, trust deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, reconveyances, legal descriptions, subdivision plats and recorded property transactions.
Owner-name searching, property characteristics, assessed value, market-value information and finding a parcel number.
Property-tax notices, amounts due, tax payments and tax-payment questions.
How to Search Salt Lake County Recorder Deeds and Property Records
The official Recorder search works best when you already have the property address or parcel number. If all you know is an owner’s name, start with the Assessor to identify the correct parcel, then continue to the Recorder.
What to Do When the Recorder Search Cannot Find the Property
A missing search result does not necessarily mean the property has no recorded documents. Address formatting and parcel identification are common problems.
Salt Lake County’s Property Watch instructions specifically advise users who cannot locate an address to include the directional after the house number, continue typing because only a limited number of suggestions may display initially, and use the property address shown on the tax notice.
What Records Can You Find Through the Salt Lake County Recorder?
| Record | What it generally documents | When it is useful |
|---|---|---|
| Deed | A recorded instrument transferring an ownership interest in real property. | Researching a purchase, transfer, prior owner or recorded ownership instrument. |
| Trust deed / mortgage | A recorded financing or security interest involving the property. | Reviewing financing history or understanding why a lender appears in the record. |
| Reconveyance / release | A document that may show release or satisfaction of a previously recorded interest. | Checking whether a related recorded obligation has a subsequent release document. |
| Lien | A recorded claim or encumbrance associated with property or an owner. | Property research, transaction due diligence or identifying an item that may require professional title review. |
| Legal description | The formal description identifying the land affected by an instrument. | Recording, title research and distinguishing the legal property from a mailing or street address. |
| Subdivision / condominium plat | A recorded map showing lots, units or subdivision-related land information. | Parcel research, development records and understanding recorded plat references. |
| Mining records | Recorded instruments relating to qualifying mining matters. | Specialized land and mineral-record research. |
How to Read a Salt Lake County Recorder Search Result
| Field | Meaning | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel / serial number | The county identifier used to connect a parcel across property systems. | Use it when moving between Recorder, Assessor and Treasurer records. |
| Entry number | A Recorder reference assigned to a recorded document. | One of the most useful identifiers for locating or requesting the exact document. |
| Book and page | A traditional recorded-document reference used heavily in older records. | Useful for historic research and document-copy requests. |
| Document type | Identifies whether the item is a deed, lien, release, trust deed or another instrument. | Prevents confusing financing or lien documents with ownership transfers. |
| Recorded date | The date the Recorder accepted the document into the public record. | Helps place documents in chronological order. |
| Legal description | The formal description of the affected real estate. | Critical when legal identity of the land matters. |
Salt Lake County states that newly recorded document images are typically available through Data Services by the next working day. A document that was just recorded may therefore appear in the index before every digital image is immediately available.
How to Get a Copy of a Salt Lake County Deed
If viewing the index is not enough, use the Recorder’s official Document Copy and Certified Copy request process .
How to Record a Deed or Other Property Document in Salt Lake County
Searching for a deed and recording a deed are different tasks. If you are submitting a new instrument, check the county’s current Recording Requirements & Fees before mailing or presenting the document.
First-page recording space
The county’s published requirements call for a recording space measuring 2½ inches down by 4½ inches across in the upper-right corner of the first page. Succeeding pages require a one-inch top margin, with applicable side and bottom margins described by the county.
Salt Lake County Recorder Fees
The following amounts come from the Recorder’s current online Requirements & Fees page. Fees can change, so recheck the official county page before submitting payment.
| Service | County-listed amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Flat recording fee | $40 per recording | General recorded documents subject to the county’s standard flat recording fee. |
| Additional legal descriptions | $2 each over 10 | Documents containing more than 10 legal descriptions. |
| Subdivision / condominium map | $50 per sheet + $2 per lot or unit | Plat and map recording subject to the county’s plat-specific fee structure. |
| Recorded document copy | $2 per page | Standard printed or electronic recorded-document copy. |
| Vault document copy | $5 per page | Older records held in the Recorder’s vault collection. |
| Ownership & description printout | $1 per page | Recorder ownership and legal-description printouts. |
| Plat / GIS-type printout | $5 per page | Lined parcel plat, subdivision plat or GIS plat copies. |
| Certified copy | $5 certification + $2 per page | When an officially certified copy is required. |
| Data Services temporary access | $5 for up to 150 data units / 24 hours | Short-term deeper access beyond the free property search. |
Do you need paid Data Services?
Best when you only need a quick list of recorded documents connected to an address or parcel number.
The county provides up to 150 data units, with access ending after the units are used or 24 hours has passed.
Designed for users who need ongoing or repeated access to deeper Recorder data. County package purchases are listed as non-refundable and non-transferable.
Salt Lake County states that paid Data Services options use online credit/debit-card payment. For a one-time homeowner search, start with the free system before purchasing access.
Use Salt Lake County Property Watch for New Recorded-Document Alerts
Salt Lake County provides Property Watch free of charge to county residents. After registration, the service can send email alerts—and the county now also supports mobile-number registration for text alerts—when new documents are recorded and attached to a registered property.
Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer or City Recorder: Which Office Do You Need?
| Your task | Correct office | Official starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Find deeds, liens, releases or recorded property documents | Salt Lake County Recorder | Recorder homepage |
| Find a parcel by owner name or property address | Salt Lake County Assessor | Assessor parcel search |
| Check property value or assessment details | Salt Lake County Assessor | Search property |
| Find a tax notice or amount owed | Salt Lake County Treasurer | Find a Tax Notice |
| Research Salt Lake City ordinances, Council records or city GRAMA records | Salt Lake City Recorder | City Recorder |
| Determine whether title is legally clear | Title company or attorney | The County Recorder does not determine clear title. |
How Far Back Do Salt Lake County Recorder Records Go?
Salt Lake County says its current online Recorder searches extend back to Book 262, Page 1, Entry Number 899028, recorded March 1, 1941. The Recorder also maintains older historic material and has been working to digitize the vault collection back to 1850.
That means the correct research method depends on the age of the transaction. A modern deed may be accessible through current Data Services, while an older chain-of-title investigation can require historic indexes, vault material or staff guidance.
Start with Recorder Public Search and Data Services. Save parcel numbers, entry numbers and book/page references as you work backward.
Contact the Recorder when the online database does not reach the period you need. Do not assume an absent online image means the historic record does not exist.
Salt Lake County Recorder Address, Phone and Hours
Suite N1-600
Salt Lake City, Utah 84190
Phone: 385-468-8145
Email: RecorderQ@saltlakecounty.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, except county/state holidays.
- Have the property address ready.
- Include the parcel number when known.
- For a copy request, save entry number or book/page information.
- For recording questions, identify the document type.
- Check the official holiday schedule before making a special trip.
Official Salt Lake County Recorder Resources
Office information, Recorder services, property resources and current county notices.
Open official Recorder website →Start here for a quick list of recorded documents connected to an address or parcel.
Open free Recorder search →Compare free search, temporary access and broader data-package options.
Open Data Services →Request standard or certified copies after identifying the document you need.
Request a document copy →Verify formatting, document-content requirements, current recording fees and copy charges.
Check requirements and fees →Register for free alerts involving newly recorded documents attached to your property.
Open Property Watch →Use this first when you only know an owner name or need to confirm the parcel number.
Search Assessor parcels →Use the Treasurer when your actual goal is a property-tax notice rather than a deed.
Find a tax notice →SL County Recorder FAQs
What does “SL County Recorder” mean?
For deed and real-estate searches, it generally means the Salt Lake County Recorder in Utah. This county office maintains recorded instruments affecting real property throughout Salt Lake County.
Can I search Salt Lake County Recorder records online for free?
Yes. Start with the official free Public Search . It can provide a quick recorded-document list for a property without requiring a paid Data Services account.
Can I search for a deed using only an owner’s name?
The free Recorder property search is designed around an address or parcel number. When you only know the owner, first use the Salt Lake County Assessor parcel search to identify the relevant parcel, then move to the Recorder.
How much does Salt Lake County charge to record a deed?
The Recorder’s current fee page lists a $40 flat fee per recording, plus $2 for each additional legal description over 10. Always verify the amount on the official fee page before submitting payment.
How much does a certified deed copy cost?
Salt Lake County lists a certified copy at $5 for certification plus $2 per page. A standard recorded-document copy is listed at $2 per page.
Is the Salt Lake County Recorder the same as the Salt Lake City Recorder?
No. Use the County Recorder for deeds and county real-property recordings. The Salt Lake City Recorder maintains Salt Lake City government records, ordinances, Council records, elections and municipal public-record functions.
Does the Recorder’s website prove who legally owns a property?
The Recorder’s index is a valuable public-record research tool, but Salt Lake County specifically states that the Recorder does not determine clear title. A title company or attorney performs the title search needed when ownership, lien priority, encumbrances or title defects must be legally established.
Why can’t I find an address in the Recorder search?
Confirm that you are using the property’s physical address, add the correct N/S/E/W directional, continue typing until the matching dropdown suggestion appears, and try the parcel number instead. If necessary, identify the parcel through the Assessor first.
How soon does a newly recorded document appear online?
Salt Lake County says recorded document images are typically available through Data Services by the next working day. The public-search information itself may also be 24 hours old or older.
What is Salt Lake County Property Watch?
Property Watch is a free Recorder service that can notify registered residents when a new recorded document is attached to their property. It can provide useful early warning of unexpected recorded activity, but it is not a substitute for a legal title search.
Use the Recorder Search as Part of a Complete Property-Record Workflow
For most SL County Recorder searches, you do not need to jump between commercial property-record websites. Start with the Salt Lake County government’s own systems. Identify the parcel through the Assessor when necessary, use the Recorder’s free Public Search to find the recorded-document history, move to Data Services only when deeper research is required, and request a standard or certified document directly from the Recorder when you need the actual copy.
If your real goal is a tax balance, use the Treasurer. If you need property value or characteristics, use the Assessor. If you need a deed, lien, release, plat or other recorded property instrument, the Salt Lake County Recorder is the correct office. And when a transaction requires a legal determination of clear title, use a qualified title company or attorney rather than treating an online public-record result as a title opinion.