Sonoma Property Records

Sonoma County property records are kept at the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor office in Santa Rosa. The office is at 585 Fiscal Drive, room 103. You can search records online from 1964 to present. Microfilm records go back to 1835. The county assessment roll tops $127 billion. Call 707-565-3800 for help with filings or record searches. Staff help the public with deeds, liens, and other land documents each weekday in Sonoma County.

Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Office

Sonoma County combines three functions in one office. The Clerk handles vital records and elections. The Recorder files deeds and land documents. The Assessor values property for taxes. All three work from the same building in Santa Rosa. This makes it easy to handle multiple tasks in one visit.

The office accepts documents for recording each weekday. Staff review each page to make sure it meets state law. If your document passes, they record it right away. You get a stamped copy before you leave. The time stamp on that copy proves when it became part of the public record in Sonoma County.

Recording Fees

The first page of a document costs $14 to record in Sonoma County. Each page after that adds $3. The SB2 fee of $75 per parcel applies to most real estate transfers. Some filings also have a Monument Preservation fee. All fees are due when you submit your document for recording.

For a three-page grant deed, you pay $14 for page one, $6 for two more pages, and $75 for SB2. That totals $95. If your document has more pages or covers more than one parcel, the fee goes up. Ask the clerk for a quote when you bring your papers to Santa Rosa.

Standard recording fees:

• First page: $14
• Each added page: $3
• SB2 Building Homes and Jobs Act: $75 per parcel
• Monument Preservation Fund: $10 on qualifying documents

Property Assessments

The Assessor office values all property in Sonoma County. The assessment roll stands at over $127 billion. This includes homes, land, and business property. Values are set when you buy and can rise by no more than 2% per year under Proposition 13. If you add on to the home or it changes hands, the county reassesses it at current market value.

File a change in ownership form within 45 days of buying property. The Assessor uses it to set a new base value. That value sets your tax bill. If you think the value is too high, you can appeal. File between July 2 and September 15. Use form BOE-305-AH. The county holds hearings to review appeals and decide if a change is needed in Sonoma County.

Paying Property Taxes

Property taxes are due twice per year in Sonoma County. The first bill is due November 1 and goes late on December 10. A 10% penalty applies. The second bill is due February 1 and becomes late on April 10. That payment gets a 10% penalty plus a $10 cost fee if late.

You can pay online or by mail. The county accepts checks and electronic payments. Look up your bill using your parcel number or property address. The system shows what you owe and when it is due. Many people pay online to avoid a trip to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County.

If you do not pay by June 30, the property goes on the defaulted tax roll. Interest starts at 1.5% per month. A redemption fee is added. The county can sell your property at a tax sale if you do not pay within five years. Keep your taxes current to avoid losing your home in Sonoma County.

Cities in Sonoma County

Sonoma County includes several cities. All property records are kept at the county Clerk-Recorder-Assessor office in Santa Rosa. No city has a separate recorder. Visit the county office to file or search for deeds and land records.

Cities in Sonoma County include Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sonoma, Windsor, Healdsburg, Cloverdale, and Sebastopol. All file property records at the county Clerk-Recorder-Assessor office.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Sonoma County. If your property is not in Sonoma County, check the county where it is located. Each county has its own recorder and assessor.