Nevada County Clerk-Recorder — Overview

The Nevada 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 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City, CA 95959.

Gregory Diaz serves as the Clerk-Recorder. Office hours are Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with document recording accepted during 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Phone: (530) 265-1221.

✓ E-Recording Available

Nevada County Recording Fees

ServiceFee
First page (standard 8.5" × 11")$15.00
Each additional page$3.00
Additional title (combined documents)$15.00
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

Gold Rush Origins, Restrictive Covenant Audits & the Nevada City – Truckee Divide

Nevada County straddles one of the most dramatic geographic and economic divides in California. On the western side, the historic Gold Rush towns of Nevada City and Grass Valley — connected by a seven-mile stretch of Highway 49 — offer Victorian-era architecture, artist communities, and properties with title chains that trace directly to 1850s mining claims. On the eastern side, Truckee and the North Lake Tahoe corridor represent one of California's most expensive resort real estate markets, with ski-in/ski-out properties that can exceed $10 million.

This dual personality means the Nevada County Recorder's office handles everything from $150,000 Gold Country cabins with 170-year-old title chains to multimillion-dollar Martis Camp estates with modern HOA and CC&R structures — all in the same filing system.

In 2021, California passed AB 1466, which mandates all county recorders to establish a program to identify and redact unlawfully restrictive covenants from property records. Nevada County has implemented this program and charges a $2.00 fee on every real estate recording to fund the audit process. This is particularly relevant here because many Gold Rush-era properties contain racially restrictive covenants from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The 2021 River Fire burned through portions of the county near Grass Valley, adding fire-related encumbrances to affected titles. Nevada County's western foothills remain in a high fire hazard severity zone, affecting insurance availability and lending requirements. The eastern county faces different hazards — avalanche zones, snow load requirements, and ski area easements that all appear in the title record.

Nevada County also maintains a unique service: a complete set of recorded maps on DVD dating from 1865 to present, available for purchase at $235. This resource is invaluable for historical title research in a county where mining claim boundaries from the 1850s still define modern parcel lines.

Nevada County Online Records

The Nevada County Clerk-Recorder's office provides online access through the Public Records Search (from 1987). Online records are available from 1987 to present. You can search by grantor/grantee name, recording date, document type, or document number.

For records predating the online index, visit the Clerk-Recorder's office at 950 Maidu Avenue in Nevada City 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 Nevada County

Nevada County records documents at the Eric Rood Administrative Center on Maidu Avenue in Nevada City, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with recording accepted until 4:00 PM. The office serves a diverse market spanning the Gold Country foothills and Lake Tahoe's north shore. E-recording is available through authorized submitters. Payment by cash, check, or credit card.

Documents submitted for recording in Nevada 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: Nevada County's Eric Rood Administrative Center replaced the historic courthouse for recording purposes. GPS may direct you to the old courthouse — the recording office is at the Maidu Avenue administrative center instead.

Nevada County Property Issues — Local Market Insights

AB 1466 Restrictive Covenant Audit Fee

Nevada County charges a $2.00 fee on recorded documents to fund the identification and removal of racially restrictive covenants from historical deed records under AB 1466. This systematic audit is generating Restrictive Covenant Modification recordings throughout the county as discriminatory language is identified and officially struck from title records.

Nevada City–Truckee Property Divide

Nevada County is effectively two separate markets: the western foothills (Nevada City, Grass Valley) and the Truckee-Donner area near Lake Tahoe. Properties in the Truckee area carry TRPA-adjacent concerns, snow removal district assessments, and vacation rental permit recordings that have no equivalent in the foothills.

1865 Maps on DVD

Nevada County's recorder maintains historic maps dating to 1865, available on DVD. These early survey maps and mining claim plats are essential reference documents for title searches in the Gold Rush-era mining districts around Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Washington.

Cannabis Cultivation Permits

Nevada County's cannabis ordinance allows limited outdoor cultivation. Conditional use permits, compliance monitoring certificates, and water source documentation are recorded against permitted parcels. Enforcement liens exist for properties operating without permits.

Complete Guide to Nevada County Property Records

Why Choose U.S. Title Records for Nevada County Searches?

✓ Direct Nevada Records Access

Our title search professionals have direct access to Nevada County's title plant database, providing faster and more comprehensive results than manual courthouse searches.

✓ Fast Nevada Processing

Nevada County: Typical turnaround 1-2 business days. Gold country records.

✓ Nevada County Coverage

Our property title search covers all recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, lis pendens, and tax records for any Nevada County property.

✓ Nevada Experts

Nevada County questions? Call 302-269-3942. Mining claims verified.

Title Search FAQs for Nevada County

How do I search a property title in Nevada County?
To search a property title in Nevada 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 Nevada County title report search include?
A title report search for Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada County records?
Professional title search companies like U.S. Title Records have direct access to Nevada County's title plant databases, providing faster and more comprehensive results than individual county office searches. Our Nevada County searches cover Gold Country historic properties, Tahoe National Forest inholdings, and Grass Valley/Nevada City parcels.

Property Title Search Services for Nevada County

Nevada County FAQ

Understanding Nevada County Property Documents & Title Complexities

Property transactions in Nevada County carry distinctive characteristics shaped by the county's Gold Country heritage, Donner Summit properties, Nevada Irrigation District water rights. Nevada County's historic mining claims, TRPA-adjacent properties, and narrow lot historic town parcels create distinct requirements.

Grant deeds are the primary instrument for transferring real property in Nevada 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. Nevada chains frequently involve Empire Mine Company holdings, hydraulic mining claims, and railroad land selections.

Deeds of trust function as the security instrument for Nevada 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. Nevada County's active refinancing market in Grass Valley and Truckee creates substantial reconveyance tracking needs.

One of the critical title considerations unique to Nevada County involves historical mining claims still encumbering titles, NID water delivery agreements that run with land, wildfire risk zones from successive fires. Understanding Nevada County's Mother Lode mining districts, Empire Mine area restrictions, and historic downtown setbacks is essential. Professional title examiners familiar with Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada City.

Abstract of judgment liens attach to all real property owned by the judgment debtor in Nevada County upon recording. These liens remain effective for ten years with renewal options, making historical judgment searches essential. Our Nevada County searches include mining claim disputes, environmental remediation liens, and historic property matters.

Easements recorded against Nevada County properties encompass utility easements, access easements, conservation easements, and prescriptive easements established through continuous use. Given that Gold Country heritage, Donner Summit properties, Nevada Irrigation District water rights, 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 Nevada 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 Nevada County?

Nevada County charges $15.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. Combined documents incur $15.00 per additional title. A $2.00 AB 1466 restrictive covenant audit fee applies to every real estate recording. Non-conforming pages (not exactly 8.5" x 11") add $3.00 per page for the entire document. The SB2 fee of $75.00 per parcel (maximum $225.00) applies to most recordings. Documentary transfer tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration. Document copies cost $3.00 (non-certified) or $4.00 (certified) for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page.

Where is the Nevada County Recorder's office?

The Clerk-Recorder's office is at 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City, CA 95959. Phone: (530) 265-1221. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with recording accepted until 4:00 PM. E-recording is also available.

Can I search Nevada County property records online?

Yes. Nevada County's Public Records Search contains documents from 1987 to the present. You can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, or recording date at no charge. Document copies can be purchased by phone (with credit card, plus $2 service fee), by mail (using the Copy Request Form), or in person. The county also sells a complete set of recorded maps on DVD from 1865 to present for $235.

Does Nevada County accept e-recording?

Yes. Nevada County accepts electronic recording through authorized e-recording vendors. This provides a significant convenience for title companies, attorneys, and escrow officers who need timely recording.

What's different about title searches in the Truckee/Tahoe area vs. western Nevada County?

Truckee and North Lake Tahoe properties typically involve modern HOA and CC&R structures, ski resort easements, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) restrictions, and environmental covenants. Western Nevada County (Nevada City, Grass Valley) features properties with Gold Rush-era title chains, historic mining claims, older subdivisions, and potential racially restrictive covenants now being identified through the AB 1466 audit program. Both areas face fire hazard zone considerations, though the eastern county also deals with avalanche zones and snow load requirements.

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