Orange County, California Recording Fees
Recording a deed in Orange County costs about $15 and a mortgage about $67 (a 2-page deed ($12 + $3 = $15, exempt from the DA Fraud Fee and SB2 fee as subject to Documentary Transfer Tax) and a 16-page deed of trust ($12 + 15 x $3 = $57, plus the $10 DA Fraud Fee; assumed SB2-exempt as recorded concurrently with the DTT-subject deed)), per the Orange County Clerk-Recorder's fee schedule, effective 2026-01-01. Standard first page is $12, each additional page $3 (Orange County's own rate, distinct from the $15/$14 base other CA counties use). District Attorney Fraud Fee and SB2 fee are itemized above with their exemption conditions for a routine purchase-money closing.
Fee schedule
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deed, first page | $12 |
| Deed, each additional page | $3 |
| Mortgage, first page | $12 |
| Mortgage, each additional page | $3 |
| District Attorney Fraud Fee per title, on certain documents per Gov. Code Sec. 27388; a deed subject to Documentary Transfer Tax is exempt, a Deed of Trust is not | $10 |
| SB 2 Fee per title, unless expressly exempt under Gov. Code Sec. 27388.1(a)(1) or (a)(2); document must be labeled 'Exempt' with the valid exemption cited | $75 |
| Survey Monument Preservation Fund only for a Grant Deed recorded with a legal description other than a complete lot and tract; not owed on a standard subdivision-lot sale, so excluded from the typical total | $20 |
County transfer tax
Orange County's own fee schedule lists only the base countywide Documentary Transfer Tax ($0.55 per $500, RTC 11911), the state/county-uniform rate already captured in data/transfer/california.json's state block. No separate Orange County surtax was found. California transfer tax →
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to record a deed in Orange County?
$12 for the first page and $3 for each additional page, about $15 for a typical deed, per the Orange County Clerk-Recorder's fee schedule.
And the mortgage?
$12 for the first page and $3 per additional page, about $67 for a typical mortgage or deed of trust. The buyer pays this at closing.
Sources
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
Orange County closing costs → Orange County home buyer guide →
Fees as published by the recorder; e-recording and courier charges may apply. General information, not legal advice.
Orange County overview