Recorded and filed documents and maps are official records; they are available for public viewing in our offices at no cost, but California law prohibits the display of recorded documents on the internet.

We have digitized records from 1850 to present. Images from 1850 – 1996 are available on microfilm and in our Digital Reel system.

The Recorder does not provide search services. All searches must be conducted by the individual.

If you require a title search, please contact a title company for title search services.

All recorded documents are indexed by the names of the principal parties. To locate a document in our indexes, you will need to know the name of at least one party and the approximate year the document was recorded.

In the past, hundreds of words such as Bank, Company, Trustee etc. were abbreviated as, BK, CO, TR etc,. This practice was initiated because of the limited length of space allocated in the electronic format but was potentially confusing. We are no longer constrained by the length of space.

  • 1974-1990
    From 1974 through 1990, the first word of an index entry was abbreviated so, for example, SECURITY PACIFIC NATIONAL BANK would appear as SEC PAC NATL BK.
  • 1990-1999
    In 1990 we discontinued the practice of abbreviating the first words so in our example, SECURITY PACIFIC NATIONAL BANK appeared in the index as SECURITY PAC NATL BK.
  • 1/1/2010 to current
    As of January 1, 2010, we no longer abbreviate any word written into the Grantor/Grantee index. All words appear in the index as written on the recorded document.  In the current system we provide a party list to assist with variations of naming conventions.

ONLINE

The Santa Cruz County Recorder offers an online Index of Official Records recorded from 1978 to the present. You can search this online index to locate documents that can be reviewed and purchased (in person or by mail).

Click here to search our online Index of Official Records.

IN PERSON

Documents recorded prior to 1974 are indexed in handwritten volumes which can be examined in our Santa Cruz office at no cost.

You can search for Santa Cruz County Assessment Maps (assessment district maps, not assessor parcel maps) Records of Survey, and Subdivision Maps filed with our office by title, date filed, and map book and page number.

Effective January 1, 2025, Government Code 7928.205 was updated and now precludes all government entities from posting certain information on the internet.  Since most maps contain the protected information, we can no longer post links to the actual maps on the internet.  However, the information that was previously available via the County GIS can now be viewed in the Assessor’s Office at 701 Ocean Street #130, between the hours of 8-5 Monday through Friday.   

18x24 copies of filed maps cost $5 for the first page and $2 for each additional page.  Copies may be purchased directly by visiting the Recorder’s Office or contacting us at Recorder@santacruzcountyca.gov

Assessor Parcel maps can be viewed and downloaded for free here: Assessor Parcel Maps.

Copies of recorded documents are currently not available for ordering online.  Copies can be obtained in person or by mail.

Information you will need to know:

  • Document Number
  • Year the document was recorded
  • Name of at least one of the parties named in the document
  • Type of document

Copies can be obtained in person during business hours.

To order by mail, send your written request with a check or money order to:

Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office
701 Ocean Street Room 230
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Fees:

  • $1 per page
  • $3 per document for certification
  • Fees are payable in cash (in person only), check, or money order. 
  • Make checks or money order payable to: Santa Cruz County Recorder

Do I need an appointment?

No, no appointment is necessary.  Please see our locations and hours of operation.

What if the person was not born in Santa Cruz County?

  • If born in another county in California, contact that County Recorder’s Office.
  • If born in another state, see “Where to Write for Vital Records” on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.  Link:  Where to Write for Vital Records - Homepage

How do I amend a birth certificate?

Our office has no authority to correct, edit, or amend information on a Birth Certificate. All corrections must be done with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). See the CDPH webpage for correcting or amending vital records. 

Does your office have a Notary?

No, there is no public notary in the Santa Cruz County Recorder’s Office.

How do I get an apostille?

The California Secretary of State provides an Apostille to authenticate California public officials' signatures on documents to be used outside the United States of America.  Request an Apostille :: California Secretary of State