Whatcom County, Washington Recording Fees
Recording a deed in Whatcom County costs about $305 and a mortgage about $319 (a 2-page deed ($303.50 + $1 = $304.50) and a 16-page mortgage ($303.50 + 15 x $1 = $318.50)), per the Whatcom County Auditor, Recording Division's fee schedule. Washington's recording fee schedule (RCW 36.18.010, layered with homeless-housing and affordable-housing surcharges added 2019-2021) is set at the STATE level and charged identically by every county auditor, including Whatcom: $303.50 for the base document plus $1.00 per additional page. Matches the already-verified figures for King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane and Clark counties in this same dataset.
Fee schedule
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Deed, first page | $304 |
| Deed, each additional page | $1 |
| Mortgage, first page | $304 |
| Mortgage, each additional page | $1 |
County transfer tax
Whatcom County unincorporated and every incorporated city in Whatcom County (Bellingham, Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden, Nooksack, Sumas): 0.5% of the price, paid by the seller. Washington transfer tax →
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to record a deed in Whatcom County?
$304 for the first page and $1 for each additional page, about $305 for a typical deed, per the Whatcom County Auditor, Recording Division's fee schedule.
And the mortgage?
$304 for the first page and $1 per additional page, about $319 for a typical mortgage or deed of trust. The buyer pays this at closing.
Sources
- Whatcom County Auditor, Recording Division fee schedule
- Washington Department of Revenue, Local Real Estate Excise Tax Rates, effective January 1, 2026 (confirmed by direct fetch: Whatcom County Unincorp. and all 7 incorporated cities listed at 0.50%)
Figures are computed from the documents above and rounded to the dollar. All sources.
Whatcom County closing costs → Whatcom County home buyer guide →
Fees as published by the recorder; e-recording and courier charges may apply. General information, not legal advice.
Whatcom County overview