Proposed Increase in Recording Fees and Fees Dedicated to Recorders

Assembly Bill 2224 (Hadwick)  increases in the maximum recording fees to $15 for recording the first page and $4 for each additional page but the fees cannot exceed the reasonable costs of the recording services. Recorders that collect these fees must implement an Electronic Recording Delivery System (ERDS) by January 1, 2028. 

Provisions in existing law are deleted that require recorders to charge additional fees for specified items. Also deleted is a requirement that $1 of the recording fee for each additional page be deposited in the county general fund. Instead, all fees collected by the recorder are to be restricted, dedicated to, and solely utilized for the recorder’s office. 

AB 2224 also makes permanent certain provisions of the Electronic Recording Delivery Act (ERDA) that are set to expire at the end of the year, and which allow a recorder to contract with specified entities for digital records conditioned on proof of general liability coverage. The bill passed the Assembly Local Government Committee and is pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.