Lassen County County Clerk-Recorder — Overview

The Lassen County County Clerk-Recorder's office maintains all official real property records for the county, including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, reconveyances, notices of default, and other instruments affecting title to real property. The office is located at 220 S. Lassen Street, Suite 5, Susanville, CA 96130.

Julie Bustamante serves as the County Clerk-Recorder. Office hours are Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, with document recording accepted during 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Phone: (530) 251-8234.

✗ E-Recording Not Available

Lassen County Recording Fees

ServiceFee
First page (standard 8.5" × 11")$14.00
Each additional page$3.00
Additional title (combined documents)$14.00
Non-conforming page surcharge$3.00/page
SB2 Building Homes & Jobs Act fee$75.00/parcel (max $225)
Documentary transfer tax$1.10 per $1,000
PCOR penalty (if not submitted with deed)$20.00

Prison Town in Transition: Lassen's Post-Correctional Property Landscape

Lassen County occupies 4,720 square miles of high desert and volcanic terrain in California's remote northeast corner. Named after the Danish-American explorer Peter Lassen, the county is perhaps best known for Lassen Volcanic National Park — but for property professionals, the real story is what's happening in Susanville, the county's only incorporated city.

For decades, Susanville's economy — and property market — revolved around two state prisons: the California Correctional Center (closed in 2023) and the High Desert State Prison. The CCC closure eliminated hundreds of jobs and has had a cascading effect on local property values, foreclosure rates, and rental markets. Title searches in Susanville increasingly involve short sales, bank-owned properties, and properties with delinquent tax liens that emerged in the post-closure period.

Outside Susanville, Lassen County is dominated by federal land — BLM holdings, Lassen National Forest, and military installations including the Sierra Army Depot near Herlong. Private parcels tend to be large ranching properties with complex histories of subdivision, mineral rights severance, and water rights allocation. The county's location along the Honey Lake basin introduces riparian considerations and seasonal flooding concerns that affect property boundaries.

Lassen County's recording hours are notably limited: documents are only accepted for recording between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. For time-sensitive closings, this narrow window requires careful planning. There is no e-recording available.

The county also straddles the Honey Lake Fault Zone, and seismic hazard disclosures are required for properties in affected areas. Geothermal activity near the national park creates additional mineral rights considerations for parcels in the western portion of the county.

Lassen County Online Records

The Lassen County County Clerk-Recorder's office provides online access through the EagleWeb Document Search. Online records are available from varies to present. You can search by grantor/grantee name, recording date, document type, or document number.

For records predating the online index, visit the County Clerk-Recorder's office at 220 S. Lassen Street in Susanville for in-person research. Document copies can also be requested by mail with appropriate fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

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How to Record a Document in Lassen County

Lassen County records documents at the Lassen Street office in Susanville, Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM — one of the most limited recording windows in California. This 4-hour window is strictly observed. Mail recordings are accepted and processed during this window. Payment by cash, check, or money order. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for mail submissions.

Documents submitted for recording in Lassen County must meet California Government Code §27361 standards: 8.5" × 11" white paper, black ink, minimum 3-inch top margin on the first page, and 1-inch margins elsewhere. Non-conforming documents incur a $3.00 surcharge per non-standard page or may be rejected outright.

Pro tip: Lassen County's extremely limited recording hours (9 AM–1 PM) require careful planning. For closings that depend on same-day recording, arrange for early morning document delivery. The 4-hour window has no flexibility.

Lassen County Property Issues — Local Market Insights

Prison Closure Economic Transformation

The closure of the Federal Correctional Institution and California Correctional Center — once Susanville's largest employers — triggered an economic restructuring that's visible in property records. Foreclosure filings increased, commercial property vacancies generated new lease termination recordings, and tax-defaulted property counts rose substantially.

Honey Lake Fault Zone

The Honey Lake Fault Zone runs through populated portions of Lassen County. Properties within Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zones carry mandatory geological investigation requirements. These investigation reports and their findings are recorded instruments that affect development potential and insurance requirements.

BLM Grazing Allotments

Federal grazing allotments administered by the BLM are critical to Lassen County's ranching economy. While grazing permits are federal instruments, they create associated recorded easements for stock driveways, water access points, and corralling facilities on adjacent private land.

4-Hour Recording Window

Lassen County's 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM recording window is one of the shortest in California. Title companies and attorneys must plan transaction closings around this limited schedule. For time-sensitive recordings, call ahead to confirm the office will be open and staffed.

Complete Guide to Lassen County Property Records

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Lassen County: Typical turnaround 2-3 business days. Blm land patents.

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Title Search FAQs for Lassen County

How do I search a property title in Lassen County?
To search a property title in Lassen County, use U.S. Title Records' online property title search service. Enter the property address to access comprehensive title reports, deed records, liens, and encumbrances. Our title search examines all recorded documents in the county recorder's database.
What does a Lassen County title report search include?
A title report search for Lassen County includes ownership verification, complete chain of title, recorded liens and judgments, open mortgages, tax status, easements, and pending litigation notices. Our public property records search covers 30+ years of recorded documents.
How long does a property title search take?
Standard property title searches for Lassen County are completed within 1-2 business days. Complex searches involving extensive title history or abstractor services may take 2-5 business days. Rush services are available for time-sensitive transactions.
Why use a title search company for Lassen County records?
Professional title search companies like U.S. Title Records have direct access to Lassen County's title plant databases, providing faster and more comprehensive results than individual county office searches. We search for property title information that may not be available through free online portals.

Property Title Search Services for Lassen County

Lassen County FAQ

Understanding Lassen County Property Documents & Title Complexities

Property transactions in Lassen County carry distinctive characteristics shaped by the county's correctional facility impact on local economy, BLM and National Forest dominate land ownership. Title searches and lien investigations here must account for these local factors that standard nationwide databases often miss.

Grant deeds are the primary instrument for transferring real property in Lassen County. Under California law, grant deeds provide two implied warranties: that the grantor has not previously conveyed the same property, and that the property is free from encumbrances created by the grantor except those already disclosed. Each transfer in the chain of title is examined to verify these warranties were maintained throughout the ownership history.

Deeds of trust function as the security instrument for Lassen County mortgages, creating a three-party arrangement between the trustor (borrower), beneficiary (lender), and trustee (neutral third party). When loans are satisfied, a reconveyance deed must be recorded to release the lien. Unreleased deeds of trust are a common title search finding that requires remediation before clear title can be established for a property transfer.

One of the critical title considerations unique to Lassen County involves Dixie Fire 2021 destroyed hundreds of structures with ongoing title complications, federal prison closure economic disruption. These factors require specialized knowledge of local recording practices and cannot be identified through automated title plant searches alone. Professional title examiners familiar with Lassen County's recording history are essential for identifying and resolving these issues before they delay a transaction.

Mechanic's liens in California follow strict recording deadlines that vary based on the claimant's role. Direct contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers each face different preliminary notice and lien recording timeframes. For Lassen County properties, these liens take priority from the date work commenced rather than the recording date, making them particularly important in title searches for recently constructed or renovated properties near Susanville.

Abstract of judgment liens attach to all real property owned by the judgment debtor in Lassen County upon recording. These liens remain effective for ten years with renewal options, making historical judgment searches essential. Comprehensive title examinations check for abstracts of judgment filed against both current and prior owners to prevent undisclosed liens from surviving a property transfer.

Easements recorded against Lassen County properties encompass utility easements, access easements, conservation easements, and prescriptive easements established through continuous use. Given that correctional facility impact on local economy, BLM and National Forest dominate land ownership, easement research in this county often reveals encumbrances that significantly affect property use and development potential. A preliminary title report identifies all recorded easements and their specific terms, enabling buyers to make informed decisions before committing to a purchase.

Lis pendens notices recorded in Lassen County alert prospective buyers to pending litigation that may affect title. These can involve boundary disputes, partition actions among co-owners, foreclosure proceedings, or challenges to the validity of prior conveyances. Any active lis pendens identified during a title search should be carefully evaluated with legal counsel before proceeding with a transaction, as these notices can cloud title and complicate financing.

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How much does it cost to record a document in Lassen County?

Lassen County charges $14.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. Combined documents with multiple titles incur $14.00 per additional title. Non-conforming pages (not 8.5" x 11") add $3.00 per page to the entire document. The SB2 fee of $75.00 per parcel (maximum $225.00) applies to most real estate instruments unless exempt. A $20.00 penalty is assessed if the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is not submitted with a deed transferring ownership.

Where is the Lassen County Recorder's office and what are the recording hours?

The County Clerk-Recorder is located in the Historic Courthouse at 220 S. Lassen Street, Suite 5, Susanville, CA 96130. Public office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. However, recording hours are more limited: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM only. Phone hours extend from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at (530) 251-8234.

Can I search Lassen County property records online?

Lassen County provides an EagleWeb Document Search system for online access to recorded document indexes. You can search by party name, document type, or recording date. For document copies, you'll need to visit the office in person, submit a request by mail, or call with a credit card for phone orders.

Does Lassen County offer e-recording?

No. E-recording is not currently available in Lassen County. All documents must be presented in person during recording hours (10 AM–12 PM and 1–3 PM) or submitted by mail to the Clerk-Recorder at 220 S. Lassen Street, Suite 5, Susanville, CA 96130.

How has the prison closure affected Lassen County property records?

The 2023 closure of the California Correctional Center in Susanville significantly impacted the local economy and housing market. Property professionals should be aware of increased short sale activity, bank-owned properties, and delinquent tax liens in the Susanville area. Title searches may reveal recent foreclosure proceedings, lis pendens filings, and notices of default that reflect the economic transition. Professional title research is recommended for any transaction in the immediate Susanville area.

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