Siskiyou County Assessor-Recorder — Overview

The Siskiyou County Assessor-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 311 Fourth Street, Room 108, Yreka, CA 96097.

Craig S. Kay serves as the Assessor-Recorder. Office hours are Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, with document recording accepted during 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Phone: (530) 842-8065.

✗ E-Recording Not Available

Siskiyou 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

Where California Begins: Timber, Volcanoes & the State of Jefferson

Siskiyou County is California's northernmost frontier — a 6,347-square-mile expanse that borders Oregon and encompasses Mount Shasta, the Marble Mountains, and some of the most remote land in the state. Property records here carry complexities you won't encounter in urban California.

The county sits at the intersection of several unique land-use regimes. The Klamath National Forest and Shasta-Trinity National Forest blanket enormous portions of the county, meaning many parcels are bordered by — or contain inholdings within — federal land. Title searches must account for federal mining claims, grazing allotments, and timber rights that can date back to the 1870s. The last two weeks of August are historically the busiest period at the Recorder's office because of mining claim annual filings.

Siskiyou's volcanic geology creates another layer of due diligence. Mount Shasta and the surrounding Cascade Range introduce geothermal rights considerations. Parcels near the mountain may carry separate mineral and geothermal leases that don't appear in standard title searches without deep chain-of-title review.

The county is also home to several tribal rancherias and trust lands, including Karuk, Shasta, and Quartz Valley Indian territories. Properties adjacent to or near tribal lands may involve unique jurisdictional considerations for zoning, water rights, and access easements. The Klamath River dam removal project — the largest dam removal in U.S. history — is actively reshaping riparian property boundaries and flood plain designations along the river corridor.

Finally, Siskiyou County lies at the heart of the State of Jefferson movement. While this has no legal effect on property records, the political culture emphasizes minimal government oversight and rural self-reliance, which means you'll encounter more informal land divisions and handshake-era property transfers in the historical record than in California's urban counties.

Siskiyou County Online Records

The Siskiyou County Assessor-Recorder's office provides online access through the RecorderWorks. Online records are available from 1974 to present. You can search by grantor/grantee name, recording date, document type, or document number.

For records predating the online index, visit the Assessor-Recorder's office at 311 Fourth Street in Yreka 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 Siskiyou County

Siskiyou County records documents at the Fourth Street office in Yreka, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with recording accepted until 4:00 PM. The office serves California's fifth-largest county by area (6,347 square miles) with only 44,000 residents. Mail recordings are common given the county's vast geography. Payment by cash, check, or money order.

Documents submitted for recording in Siskiyou 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: Siskiyou County's vast geography means many parcels are hours from the Yreka office. For properties in the western half of the county (Happy Camp, Seiad Valley), allow extra time for site-specific research at the recorder's office.

Siskiyou County Property Issues — Local Market Insights

Klamath Dam Removal Title Impacts

The Klamath River dam removal project — the largest dam removal in U.S. history — is generating unprecedented title instruments: former reservoir bed land disposition documents, water rights reallocation recordings, fish passage easements, and tribal land restoration instruments. Properties along the former reservoir shoreline face boundary redefinition as reservoir beds revert to natural river channels.

State of Jefferson Political Movement

The State of Jefferson secession movement has created political dynamics that affect county governance and land-use regulation. While politically significant, the movement's primary title impact is through county planning decisions, rural zoning enforcement (or non-enforcement), and marijuana cultivation policies.

Volcanic Geology & Title Issues

Mount Shasta and the Medicine Lake Volcano create geothermal lease opportunities and volcanic hazard zone designations. USGS volcanic hazard notifications are recorded against parcels within designated risk zones. Geothermal mineral leases create split-estate situations similar to oil and gas mineral rights.

Mining Claim August Rush

Siskiyou County's mining districts generate a seasonal rush of mining claim recordings during August-September as miners file annual assessment work affidavits and new discovery notices before the September 1 deadline. These recordings create possessory rights on federal land that affect surface property interests.

Complete Guide to Siskiyou County Property Records

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

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Siskiyou County: Typical turnaround 2-3 business days. Timber land records.

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

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Siskiyou County questions? Call 302-269-3942. Oregon border parcels.

Title Search FAQs for Siskiyou County

How do I search a property title in Siskiyou County?
To search a property title in Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou County title report search include?
A title report search for Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou County records?
Professional title search companies like U.S. Title Records have direct access to Siskiyou County's title plant databases, providing faster and more comprehensive results than individual county office searches. Our Siskiyou County searches cover timber company lands, Klamath River properties, and Oregon border split parcels.

Property Title Search Services for Siskiyou County

Siskiyou County FAQ

Understanding Siskiyou County Property Documents & Title Complexities

Property transactions in Siskiyou County carry distinctive characteristics shaped by the county's Mount Shasta area properties, Klamath River dam removal project, Oregon border commerce. Siskiyou County's timber production dominance, Klamath Basin water rights, and interstate boundary complexities affect title searches.

Grant deeds are the primary instrument for transferring real property in Siskiyou 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. Siskiyou chains must trace railroad land grants, timber company patents, and Modoc War-era federal acquisitions.

Deeds of trust function as the security instrument for Siskiyou 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. Siskiyou County's timber industry cycles create variable lending patterns requiring flexible reconveyance tracking.

One of the critical title considerations unique to Siskiyou County involves Klamath dam removal affecting downstream properties, iron gate hatchery easements, extensive BLM and Forest Service land creating checkerboard ownership. Understanding Siskiyou's timber company checkerboard ownership, salmon habitat restrictions, and Oregon-California border issues is crucial. Professional title examiners familiar with Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou 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 Yreka.

Abstract of judgment liens attach to all real property owned by the judgment debtor in Siskiyou County upon recording. These liens remain effective for ten years with renewal options, making historical judgment searches essential. Our Siskiyou searches include timber company litigation, water rights disputes, and cross-state judgment domestications.

Easements recorded against Siskiyou County properties encompass utility easements, access easements, conservation easements, and prescriptive easements established through continuous use. Given that Mount Shasta area properties, Klamath River dam removal project, Oregon border commerce, 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 Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou County?

The standard recording fee is $14.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. Combined documents (e.g., Deed of Trust with Assignment of Rents) incur an additional $14.00 per title plus $3.00 per additional page. A Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund fee of $6.00 per title also applies. Documents with pages not measuring 8.5" x 11" incur a $3.00 per page surcharge. The SB2 Building Homes and Jobs Act fee of $75.00 per parcel (maximum $225.00) applies to most real estate documents unless exempt.

Where is the Siskiyou County Recorder's office?

The Assessor-Recorder's Office is located at 311 Fourth Street, Room 108, Yreka, CA 96097. Public hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Document recording hours are more limited: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The busiest times are between 1:00 and 3:00 PM, Friday afternoons, the last working day of each month, and the last two weeks of August (mining claim filing season). Phone: (530) 842-8065. Payment accepted by cash, personal check, cashier's check, or money order.

Can I search Siskiyou County property records online?

Yes. The county uses the RecorderWorks system for online access to the Official Records index, with records dating back to 1974. You can search by grantor/grantee name, recording date, or document type. The county also provides property fraud protection through ParcelQuest. For records prior to 1974, you'll need to visit the Recorder's office in person or request a search by mail.

Does Siskiyou County accept e-recording?

E-recording is not currently available in Siskiyou County. All documents must be submitted in person at the Recorder's office or by mail to 311 Fourth Street, Room 108, Yreka, CA 96097. When mailing documents, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the recorded originals.

Why are the last two weeks of August so busy at the Siskiyou County Recorder?

August is the deadline period for annual mining claim maintenance filings. Siskiyou County contains significant active and historical mining claims in the Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range. Federal law requires annual filing or maintenance fees to keep unpatented mining claims active, and these filings are recorded with the county. This creates a predictable surge in recording activity each August.

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