El Dorado County Recorder: Search Deeds & Official Records
Use the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk when you need a recorded deed, deed of trust, lien, reconveyance, easement, map, release or another official land record. The county provides a public Official Records Index that can be searched by name, document number, book and page, document type and advanced criteria.
This guide takes you directly through the county systems, shows exactly how to search the index, explains what each result means, walks through ordering copies and recording a deed, and tells you when the Assessor, Tax Collector, Surveyor or another office—not the Recorder—holds the information you actually need.
Recorder-Clerk Self-Service Official Records Search.
Public index search; order the actual copy separately.
360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, excluding legal holidays.
$10 Survey Monument Fee on qualifying deeds from July 1, 2026.
What are you trying to find?
Someone searching for “El Dorado County Recorder” may actually need five very different records. Start with the task below so you do not spend time searching a deed index for information maintained somewhere else.
Use the Recorder Official Records Search. Search the grantor and grantee history and order the recorded document when needed.
Search walkthroughSearch Recorder records by party name, document number, document type and recording date. Match releases to their referenced recordings.
Research document historyUse the County Assessor property-information system rather than relying on the Recorder index for assessment characteristics.
Go to property informationUse the Treasurer-Tax Collector. A recorded deed does not show your current property-tax balance.
Go to tax recordsRecorder records can contain maps and easements, but legal boundary research may also require Surveyor records and a licensed surveyor.
Understand the distinctionPrepare the completed document, required PCOR and fee information before presenting or mailing it to the Recorder-Clerk.
Follow the recording stepsEl Dorado County Recorder guide
Jump directly to the task that brought you here.
What the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk actually does
The Recorder-Clerk examines and records documents that establish, transfer, secure or otherwise affect interests in real property in El Dorado County. Recorded documents are indexed and preserved so members of the public can research them and obtain copies.
Grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, affidavits affecting title, decrees or other recordable instruments may appear in the official record.
Deeds of trust, mechanics liens, judgments, reconveyances, releases and related documents can help reconstruct recorded encumbrance history.
Easements, certain maps, CC&Rs and other recorded property documents may also be indexed through Recorder systems.
How to search El Dorado County deeds and official records
The official search offers several paths. Use the strongest identifier you already have rather than starting with the broadest possible owner-name search.
Open El Dorado County Official Records Search
Open the official search and copy instructions
Search methods that work best in the El Dorado Recorder index
| What you know | Best search | How to use it | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded document number | Document Number | Enter the recorded instrument/document identifier from a prior record or title document. | Searching a person’s name when a unique document number is already available. |
| Owner or party name | Name / Advanced Search | For individuals, use last name then first name with no comma. | Entering First Last or adding punctuation that prevents an exact match. |
| Older book and page reference | Book/Page | Use the exact reference printed on an older deed, map or document. | Treating book/page as the modern parcel number. |
| Document category | Document Type | Filter to deed, lien, reconveyance, easement or another document category and use a date window. | Searching an extremely broad date range without another filter. |
| Multiple details | Advanced Search | Combine document number, dates, grantor, grantee, document type or section-township-range criteria. | Adding so many exact filters that a small spelling difference removes the correct result. |
When a name search returns nothing
Try the last name plus first initial. Remove middle initials and unnecessary punctuation. Search prior names when the owner changed names during the chain of title.
A deed may be indexed under trustees, a full trust name, LLC, corporation or lender. Search important name variations separately rather than assuming one wording captures every record.
Locate the APN through the Assessor, then use a known deed/document number or recorded ownership reference to reconnect the parcel with Recorder records.
If you know roughly when the purchase, refinance, lien or release occurred, narrow the search around that period and document type.
How to read an El Dorado County Recorder search result
An index entry is a roadmap to a recorded document. It can tell you a great deal about what was recorded, but it does not replace reading the full instrument.
How to order a copy of an El Dorado County deed or recorded document
The online index helps you identify the record, but the county uses a separate order workflow for the actual document copy.
Open Recorder-Clerk forms
Plain copy vs certified copy
Usually appropriate for research, understanding the recorded language, reviewing legal descriptions and keeping an informational file.
Use when an agency, court, lender, title professional or other recipient specifically requires a copy certified by the Recorder. Ask the receiving party what it requires before paying for certification.
How to record a deed or real-property document in El Dorado County
The Recorder-Clerk records documents that meet California and county recording requirements, but the office cannot choose or draft the legal instrument for you. A deed changes legal rights, so distinguish recordability from whether a document accomplishes your intended legal result.
Open the county recording instructions
Open the official PCOR and recording forms page
El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk
360 Fair Lane
Placerville, CA 95667
El Dorado County Recorder fees: what to budget for
Recording costs depend on the number of pages, number of document titles, transfer-tax treatment, SB2 treatment, PCOR status and other document-specific charges. The county’s currently linked published fee schedule is labeled effective January 1, 2023, while the county separately announced the new $10 Survey Monument Fee for qualifying deeds effective July 1, 2026. Confirm the final amount with the Recorder before submitting a time-sensitive document.
| Fee item | Published amount | When it matters | Practical action |
|---|---|---|---|
| First page + first title | $14 | Base recording calculation for many recordable documents. | Do not stop here; add applicable page, title, tax and statutory charges. |
| Each additional page | $3 | Multi-page deeds, affidavits and supporting recorded instruments. | Count the complete recordable document package correctly. |
| Each additional title | $14 | A document containing more than one separately indexable title. | Ask the Recorder how many titles are chargeable if uncertain. |
| Documentary Transfer Tax | $0.55 per $500 | Many transfers of real property unless an acceptable exemption applies. | Use the county exemption guidance and correct statement on the document. |
| SB2 Affordable Housing & Jobs Act fee | $75 per qualifying title; statutory maximum shown as $225 | Certain real-estate recordings when an exemption does not apply. | Do not assume a transaction is exempt; review county guidance. |
| Missing PCOR | $20 additional fee | When a deed or Affidavit of Death requiring a PCOR is submitted without it. | Prepare the PCOR before recording when required. |
| Survey Monument Fee | $10 | Qualifying deeds recorded on or after July 1, 2026. | Check the county’s July 2026 guidance for applicability. |
| Official-record copy | $3 first page + $1 each additional page | Ordering an informational copy of a recorded document. | Confirm the current fee before ordering. |
| Certification | $2 | Added when certification of an official-record copy is required. | Ask the recipient whether certification is actually necessary. |
How to research deed history, liens and releases
If your goal is to understand ownership history rather than simply find one deed, treat the Recorder index as a timeline. One document may transfer property, another may secure a loan, and a later filing may release or modify that interest.
| Document | What it commonly relates to | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Deed | Transfer of an interest from grantor to grantee. | Read the legal description, vesting and later deeds affecting the same parties or parcel. |
| Quitclaim Deed | Transfer of whatever interest the grantor may have, without the same implications as every other deed type. | Review the actual document and surrounding chain before drawing ownership conclusions. |
| Deed of Trust | Real-property security for an obligation or loan. | Search later reconveyance, substitution, assignment or other related recording. |
| Reconveyance / Release | Release or reconveyance connected to an earlier secured interest. | Match the referenced instrument number to the original record. |
| Lien / Judgment | A recorded claim or judgment affecting a party or property interest. | Search later release, satisfaction or expiration-related documentation and obtain legal guidance when significance is unclear. |
| Easement | A recorded right affecting use or access over land. | Read the complete legal description and any referenced map or exhibit. |
| CC&Rs | Recorded covenants, conditions and restrictions affecting a development or parcel. | Look for amendments, supplements and later recorded modifications. |
A practical chain-of-title search
- Start with the most recent deed or known owner.
- Save the document number, recording date, grantor and grantee.
- Search the grantor’s name backward to identify the deed by which that party obtained the property.
- Compare parcel information and legal descriptions rather than names alone.
- Search forward for later deeds, trust transfers, liens, deeds of trust, reconveyances, easements or releases.
- Order the full documents that materially affect your question.
- Do not treat a self-built chain as a professional title opinion when money, ownership rights or litigation depend on the conclusion.
Recorder, Assessor, Tax Collector or Surveyor: which office has your answer?
| Your question | Correct office | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Who is shown in a recorded deed? | Recorder-Clerk | Search the Official Records Index and obtain the deed document. |
| What is the parcel number, assessment value or building data? | Assessor | Use the Assessor’s Maps & Property Information Search. |
| What property taxes are due or already paid? | Treasurer-Tax Collector | Use the official Pay, Print and View Property Taxes service. |
| Where is the parcel on a map? | Assessor / County GIS | Search by parcel number or address in the county’s property and GIS tools. |
| Where is the legal boundary on the ground? | Surveyor / licensed surveyor | Use recorded maps and survey resources, then obtain professional surveying when legal boundary certainty is required. |
| Was a lien released? | Recorder-Clerk | Search the original lien and later release/satisfaction records by parties and recording reference. |
Find an APN or current parcel information
El Dorado County’s Assessor provides an online property-information search with options for assessment number, secured parcel number and street address. It can display current parcel details, assessed values, physical characteristics and Assessor maps.
Find a property-tax bill or payment
The Recorder does not determine the amount of your property-tax bill. Use the El Dorado County Treasurer-Tax Collector to pay, print or view current tax information.
El Dorado County Recorder office locations, hours and contact information
Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 621-5490
Fax: (530) 621-2147
recorderclerk@edcgov.us
Public office: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, excluding legal holidays.
Recording: 8:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Use this address for mailed recordings.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Hours: Thursdays, 9:45 AM–3:30 PM, excluding legal holidays.
Lunch closure: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM.
Service: Appointment only.
No mail is accepted at this office.
How to check your El Dorado County property for suspicious recordings
El Dorado County’s real-estate fraud guidance encourages property owners to review the recorded-document index periodically. A simple name search can help you spot a deed, lien or other recording that you do not recognize.
Why you cannot find the deed—and what to try next
| Problem | Likely reason | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No result for an owner’s full name | Name order, middle initial, trust wording or exact-match behavior may differ. | Use Last First, then try last name + first initial or Advanced Search. |
| Too many results | Common surname or long ownership history. | Add recording-date range, grantor/grantee role or document type. |
| You found an index entry but no deed image | The county’s public system is primarily an index-viewing system. | Use Purchase / Add to Cart and follow the official copy-order process. |
| Address search is missing | Recorder records are indexed primarily by document and parties, not as a modern address-based parcel search. | Find the APN through the Assessor, then connect the parcel to recorded-document references. |
| A current owner’s name is not visible in the Assessor tool | The county limits online publication of ownership information with parcel/address data. | Use Recorder chain-of-title research or the Assessor’s public-inspection/data-request process. |
| You need the balance owed | The Recorder does not maintain the current tax bill. | Use the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Pay, Print and View Property Taxes service. |
| Your mailed deed might be rejected | Missing PCOR, fee, title, tax statement, formatting or another recording requirement. | Email the document to recorderclerk@edcgov.us for pre-recording review and fee calculation. |
Open the exact El Dorado County resource you need
Department overview, current notices and official Recorder-Clerk services.
Open Recorder-ClerkSearch by name, document number, book/page, document type, map reference or advanced fields.
Search recorded documentsCounty instructions for name searching, APN verification and ordering copies.
Open index instructionsReview submission methods, PCOR requirements, fee review and mailing instructions.
Open recording guidePCOR, SB2 sheet, title sheet, acknowledgments, copy forms and fee resources.
Open formsLook up parcel numbers, assessment details, characteristics and Assessor maps.
Open Assessor resourcesView, print and pay El Dorado County property-tax bills through the Tax Collector.
Open tax servicesUse parcel mapping, geospatial resources and County Surveyor information for map-oriented research.
Open Surveyor resourcesRead the Recorder-Clerk’s guidance for periodically checking recorded documents and reporting suspicious activity.
Open fraud guidanceHow this El Dorado County Recorder guide was checked
The workflows in this guide were rebuilt from the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk department pages, live Self-Service Official Records Search, Official Records Index instructions, recording and forms pages, Assessor property-information resources, Treasurer-Tax Collector resources and County Surveyor information.
Review completed October 17, 2026. Search labels, fees, office schedules, forms, vendor charges and recording requirements may change after publication, so use the linked county page for a final check before paying, mailing or travelling.
El Dorado County Recorder FAQs
How do I search El Dorado County deeds online?
Open the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk Official Records Search. You can search by name, document number, book and page, document type, map book/page or advanced criteria. Use document number when you have it because it is more precise than a broad owner-name search.
How should I type a person’s name in the Recorder search?
The county instructs users to enter individual names as Last First with no comma. For example, search Smith James rather than James Smith. If you get no result, try only the surname and first initial or use Advanced Search.
Can I view the full El Dorado County deed online for free?
The county says its public system currently allows users to view the official index rather than unrestricted document images. Once you identify the correct record, use the Purchase or shopping-cart function and follow the Recorder-Clerk’s copy instructions.
How do I get a certified copy of a deed?
Locate the correct instrument in the Official Records Index, begin the county copy order and request certification when required. The county also provides a Copy of Official Records & Maps with Credit Card authorization form for electronic-copy requests. Confirm that the receiving organization actually requires certification before ordering it.
Can I search by parcel number?
The Recorder’s primary public search methods focus on names, recording references and document criteria. The county notes that for records after 2013, an APN may appear under Additional Information and can help verify that you found the correct property. If you need to find the APN first, use the El Dorado County Assessor property-information search.
What are the El Dorado County Recorder office hours?
The Placerville Recorder-Clerk office at 360 Fair Lane is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding legal holidays. Document recording is available from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The South Lake Tahoe office operates on Thursdays from 9:45 AM to 3:30 PM, closes from noon to 1:00 PM and is appointment-only.
Where do I mail a deed for recording?
Mail the completed recording package to El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk, 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667. The South Lake Tahoe office does not accept mail. Before mailing, the county allows you to email a document to recorderclerk@edcgov.us for a recordability and fee review.
Does a deed need a PCOR in El Dorado County?
El Dorado County’s recording guidance states that a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report should accompany a deed or Affidavit of Death when required. If it is omitted when required, the county lists an additional $20 fee. The PCOR form is available on the Recorder-Clerk Forms page.
What is the new 2026 Survey Monument Fee?
El Dorado County announced a $10 Survey Monument Fee on qualifying deeds effective July 1, 2026. Because applicability depends on the deed, check the current county fee guidance or ask the Recorder-Clerk to calculate the fee before submitting the document.
Is the Recorder the same as the Assessor or Tax Collector?
No. The Recorder-Clerk maintains recorded deeds, liens, releases and other official documents. The Assessor maintains parcel and assessment information. The Treasurer-Tax Collector maintains tax bills, amounts due and payment records. Start with the office that controls the record you actually need.
Use the Recorder index as the starting point—not the final answer
For most deed searches, the fastest route is simple: open the official El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk index, search by the strongest identifier available, verify the parties and recording details, and order the actual instrument when the index alone cannot answer your question.
When the task is really about parcel values, an APN, tax bills, GIS mapping or legal boundary location, move directly to the county office that maintains that record. That approach is faster, reduces mistaken matches and keeps your research tied to the controlling official source.