Salt Lake County Recorder: Search Deeds & Property Records
If you landed here because you need a deed, ownership history, lien, trust deed, reconveyance, easement, subdivision plat or other recorded property document, the Salt Lake County Recorder is the correct office.
The fastest route for most people is to identify the property by address or parcel number, open the Recorder’s free official search, locate the exact recorded document, and only pay for deeper Data Services access or a copy when you actually need the document image.
UTAH
Search a property by address or parcel number before purchasing document access.
$40 per recording as currently posted by Salt Lake County.
$2 per page under the Recorder’s current copy-fee schedule.
Recorder Data Services currently reaches back to March 1, 1941.
2001 S State St., Suite N1-600, Salt Lake City, UT 84190.
Which Salt Lake County office or tool do you actually need?
Property research becomes much easier when you begin with the question you are trying to answer. These are the most common routes.
Use the Recorder search to locate the deed entry, then Data Services or the document-copy process to obtain the image.
Search deed recordsUse the Assessor’s owner-name search first, copy the parcel number, then return to the Recorder.
Find a parcel by ownerIdentify the document first so you can request the correct entry rather than ordering blindly.
Order the documentUse the Recorder’s newer interactive Parcel Fabric map for current parcel-map research.
Open mapping guidanceThose records belong to the Assessor and Treasurer rather than the Recorder.
Choose the right officeRegister for the Recorder’s free Property Watch service to receive qualifying recording notifications.
Set up Property WatchHow to search Salt Lake County deeds and recorded documents
Salt Lake County’s free Recorder search is property-centered. For most homeowners, buyers and researchers, the best starting identifier is the property address or parcel number.
Open Salt Lake County Recorder Public Search
How to search Salt Lake County property records by owner name
One of the biggest points of confusion is that the Recorder’s free search expects an address or parcel number. If all you know is the owner’s name, use the county’s Assessor search as a bridge.
Return to Recorder Public Search
What the Salt Lake County Recorder search results mean
The free property result is best treated as a document index and property-research starting point. It helps you connect a parcel to recorded instruments.
| Record field | What it tells you | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Active parcel number | The county identifier associated with the property. | Use it to move between Recorder, Assessor, map and tax systems. |
| Current owner(s) of record | The ownership display associated with the county’s property record. | Compare it with the newest ownership deed rather than treating the display alone as a title opinion. |
| Legal description | The land description associated with the parcel record. | Compare it with the deed or plat when confirming that documents affect the same land. |
| Entry number | A unique recording reference for a document. | Save this number when requesting or retrieving the actual recorded image. |
| Recording date | When the document was officially recorded. | Useful for arranging documents chronologically. |
| Document type | Whether the instrument is a deed, trust deed, reconveyance, lien, easement, plat or something else. | This prevents mistaking a mortgage-related document or amendment for an ownership transfer. |
How to get the actual deed image or a certified copy
Once you have identified the exact deed or recorded document, there are two practical routes: use Recorder Data Services for deeper digital research or submit a copy request.
The Recorder offers a free search plus paid Data Services options. A short-term option currently provides $5 of 24-hour access for up to 150 data units.
This can make sense when you need to examine several records, document images, parcel history or deeper Recorder data in one research session.
Review official Data Services optionsIf you already know which deed or document you need, the copy-request process can be more direct.
Provide accurate document information. If the book and page are unknown, include other identifying details such as names, dates, document type, index information or entry number.
Open official document-copy instructionsCurrent document copy charges
| Copy type | Current posted charge | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded document copy | $2 per page | Ordinary copy of a recorded deed or other modern recorded document. |
| Historical / vault document | $5 per page | Older material requiring retrieval from historical records. |
| Certified copy | $5 certification + $2 per page | When an agency, court, lender or other recipient specifically requires Recorder certification. |
| Ownership & description printout | $1 per page | Basic printed ownership and description information. |
| Parcel / subdivision / GIS plat | $5 per page | Printed parcel-map or plat information. |
How to trace a Salt Lake County property’s deed history
If your goal is to understand who transferred property to whom, do not simply open the first document that contains the word “deed.” Work backward carefully.
Common Salt Lake County Recorder document types
The Recorder maintains a much larger official document-type list, but these are among the terms property owners commonly encounter.
| Abbreviation / type | Meaning | What it usually signals |
|---|---|---|
| WD — Warranty Deed | Ownership conveyance using a warranty deed. | Often relevant when tracing an ordinary ownership transfer. |
| QCD — Quit Claim Deed | A deed transferring whatever interest the grantor has. | Often seen in family, trust, marital or ownership-adjustment situations. |
| SWD — Special Warranty Deed | A deed with more limited warranties than a general warranty deed. | Review the actual document language. |
| TRD — Trust Deed | Security instrument commonly connected with financing. | Do not automatically treat it as a sale. |
| RECON — Reconveyance | Document associated with release or reconveyance of a trust-deed interest. | Useful when researching paid or released financing. |
| LIEN / NT LN | Lien or notice of lien. | May identify a recorded claim affecting property. |
| EASEMT | Easement or grant of easement. | May concern access, utilities or another property interest. |
| PLAT | Recorded plat. | Important for subdivision, lot and map research. |
| R LIEN | Release of lien. | Can indicate that a previously recorded lien was released. |
| TAX D | Tax deed. | Relevant to certain tax-related title events. |
How far back do Salt Lake County Recorder records go?
Salt Lake County states that its current online Recorder searches can reach back to Book 262, Page 1, Entry Number 899028, recorded March 1, 1941.
The Recorder has also been digitizing older historical records with the stated goal of making the vault collection back to 1850 digitally searchable.
Begin with Recorder Data Services and the current digital search tools.
Historical material may require additional index, vault or in-office research while digitization continues.
Use the Salt Lake County interactive parcel map
Salt Lake County’s Recorder GIS/Cadastral Department moved current tax-map data to a newer Parcel Fabric mapping platform. The county has discontinued updates to the older static plat-page maps, although historical versions can remain available through Data Services.
The interactive map is useful when an address is unclear, you need to visually identify a parcel, or you are researching nearby parcel boundaries and parcel numbers.
Salt Lake County deed recording requirements
Searching for a deed and recording a new deed are different tasks. If you are submitting an instrument for recording, Salt Lake County checks whether the document meets Utah recording requirements before accepting it.
Salt Lake County Recorder fees
| Service | Current posted fee | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard document recording | $40 flat fee | Applies to a standard recording under the county’s posted schedule. |
| More than 10 legal descriptions | $2 each additional description | Added after the first 10 descriptions. |
| Subdivision / condominium map | $50 per sheet + $2 per lot or unit | Plat-related procedures can have additional review requirements. |
| Recorded document copy | $2 per page | For an ordinary copy. |
| Vault / historical document | $5 per page | For qualifying historical material. |
| Certified document copy | $5 + $2 per page | Certification fee plus the per-page copy charge. |
| 24-hour Data Services access | $5 | Currently includes up to 150 data units and expires after 24 hours or use of the units. |
Fee schedules can be amended. Confirm the Recorder’s official requirements page before mailing, delivering or electronically submitting a document.
What if the property owner died or the deed needs to change?
Do not assume the Recorder can simply replace a deceased owner’s name or edit a deed. The correct procedure depends on how title was held and what legal event occurred.
The process can differ from property held solely by the deceased or as tenants in common. Review the county’s death-of-owner guidance before preparing a document.
If property was solely in the deceased owner’s name or held in a form requiring estate administration, probate may need to be resolved before the title record can be properly updated.
The county’s guide discusses death-certificate documentation and an affidavit meeting Utah recording requirements. Individual circumstances can require legal assistance.
Sign up for Salt Lake County Property Watch
Salt Lake County Recorder offers Property Watch free of charge. It can notify registered users when new qualifying documents are recorded and attached to the property.
Recorder vs. Assessor vs. Treasurer: where to go
| Your question | Correct office | Official route |
|---|---|---|
| Who received or transferred ownership by recorded deed? | Recorder | Recorder Public Search |
| Where is a recorded lien, trust deed, reconveyance or easement? | Recorder | Recorder Data Services |
| What is the county’s assessed / market valuation? | Assessor | Assessor Property Search |
| What tax bill is due or has been paid? | Treasurer | Find Tax Notice |
| Is the title legally clear? | Title company / attorney | A professional title examination, not a Recorder-office opinion. |
| Can I build or change land use? | City or applicable planning / zoning authority | Contact the jurisdiction where the property is located. |
Why a Salt Lake County deed or property does not appear
The Recorder search requires the address or parcel number to be chosen from the auto-populated result list. Start again and click the suggested match.
The physical property address may differ from the owner’s mailing address. Use the situs/property address associated with the parcel.
Find the parcel first through the Salt Lake County Assessor owner search, then use the parcel number in Recorder Data Services.
The county warns that public-search information may be 24 hours old or older. Recorder Data Services also states that document images are typically available by the next working day.
Subdivision, condominium creation, boundary adjustments, combinations or other parcel changes can make a historical document easier to locate through older parcel information or tract research.
Online searching currently reaches to March 1, 1941. Older historical research may require vault or index work while the digitization project continues.
Salt Lake County Recorder office address, phone and hours
Suite N1-600
Salt Lake City, UT 84190
Phone: 385-468-8145
Email: RecorderQ@saltlakecounty.gov
Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Closed weekends and official holidays.
What to save when researching a Salt Lake County property
A small amount of organized information can prevent repeated searches and help you distinguish similarly named owners or adjacent parcels.
Salt Lake County Recorder FAQs
How do I search Salt Lake County deeds online?
Open the official Salt Lake County Recorder Public Search, accept the terms, enter an address or parcel number, select the exact suggested result and review the recorded-document list. Save the entry number for the deed you need.
Can I search Salt Lake County Recorder records by owner name?
The Recorder’s free property search is centered on an address or parcel number. If you only have a person’s name, first use the Salt Lake County Assessor parcel search to identify the matching property and parcel number, then return to the Recorder.
Is the Recorder’s basic property search free?
Yes. Salt Lake County provides a free search that can show a quick list of recorded documents associated with a property. More extensive digital records and document images may require Data Services access or a copy request.
How much does a deed copy cost?
The Recorder currently posts ordinary recorded-document copies at $2 per page. Historical or vault copies are $5 per page. A certified copy currently costs a $5 certification fee plus $2 per page.
How much does it cost to record a deed in Salt Lake County?
Salt Lake County currently posts a standard flat recording fee of $40, with $2 for each legal description above 10. Plats and certain special recordings have separate fees. Confirm the official fee page before submitting a document.
Can the Recorder tell me whether the title is clear?
No. The Recorder maintains the public record but does not determine clear title. The county directs clear-title questions to a title search performed by a title company or attorney.
How far back can I search Salt Lake County Recorder records online?
The Recorder states that current online searching reaches Book 262, Page 1, Entry 899028, recorded March 1, 1941. The county has also been digitizing older vault records with the goal of searchable historical coverage back to 1850.
Where do I find Salt Lake County property taxes?
Use the Salt Lake County Treasurer for tax notices and balances. The Recorder’s role is recorded real-property documents, not tax collection.
Where do I find the property’s assessed value?
Use the Salt Lake County Assessor. The Assessor handles valuation information while the Recorder maintains recorded ownership and land documents.
How can I monitor my property for a suspicious deed or lien?
Register for the Recorder’s free Property Watch service. It can provide email or text notifications concerning qualifying documents recorded and attached to the registered property.
The fastest way to find a Salt Lake County deed
For a normal deed search, keep the process simple: identify the parcel → use the free Recorder search → verify the property → find the correct entry number → obtain the document only if you need the full image or certified copy.
If you only know the owner name, use the Assessor to obtain the parcel number first. If you need a tax bill, move to the Treasurer. If you need proof that title is legally clear, do not rely on the county index alone—use a title professional or attorney.