Howard County, Maryland Recording Fees
Recording a deed in Howard County costs about $60 and a mortgage about $115 (a 2-page deed (falls in the under-9-pages tier, $60 flat) and a 16-page deed of trust (falls in the 10-or-more-pages tier, $115 flat)), per the Circuit Court for Howard County, Clerk's Office (Land Records)'s fee schedule, effective 2026-09-02. Maryland sets land records recording fees uniformly statewide for every county's Circuit Court Clerk (Real Property Article 3-601(a)(2); Circuit Court Fee Schedule effective 9/2/2026): $60.00 flat for an instrument under 9 pages (or one involving solely a principal residence), $115.00 flat once an instrument reaches 10 or more pages, and $50.00 flat for a release under 9 pages. This is a page-count tier, not a per-page charge, and it applies identically in Howard County.
Fee schedule
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deed, first page | $60 |
| Deed, each additional page | $0 |
| Mortgage, first page | $60 |
| Mortgage, each additional page | $0 |
| Instrument of 10 or more pages flat fee that REPLACES the $60 under-9-pages fee once a document reaches 10 pages - not additive; a typical multi-page deed of trust/mortgage usually lands in this tier | $115 |
| Release under 9 pages lower flat rate for a release/satisfaction document specifically | $50 |
Howard County closing costs → Maryland transfer tax → Howard County home buyer guide →
County transfer tax
Howard County Recordation Tax + Local Transfer Tax (combined): 1.75% of the price, paid by the negotiable. Maryland transfer tax →
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to record a deed in Howard County?
$60 for the first page, about $60 for a typical deed, per the Circuit Court for Howard County, Clerk's Office (Land Records)'s fee schedule.
And the mortgage?
$60 for the first page, about $115 for a typical mortgage or deed of trust. The buyer pays this at closing.
Sources
- Circuit Court for Howard County, Clerk's Office (Land Records) fee schedule
- Gordon Feinblatt LLC, Recordation and Transfer Tax Rates in Maryland Explained
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
Howard County closing costs → Howard County home buyer guide →
Fees as published by the recorder; e-recording and courier charges may apply. General information, not legal advice.
Howard County overview