Monterey County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

You can file your mechanics lien in person at the Monterey County Recorder’s Office located at:

Monterey County Government Center Administration Building
Recorder’s Office
168 West Alisal Street, 1st Floor
Salinas, CA 93901

Office Hours:
8 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Monday – Friday, excluding Holidays & posted advance notice closure days/hours

Document Recording Hours:
8 A.M. – 4 P.M.
Monday – Friday, excluding Holidays & posted advance notice closure days/hours

Note that the Salinas office is the only location where documents can be recorded. There are no branch offices.

You can also send your lien documents by mail to:

Monterey County Recorder
P.O. Box 29
Salinas, CA 93902-0570

If you need more information, you can call them at (831) 755-5041 or
(831) 647-7741 (toll free for the Monterey Peninsula).

Note that the Recorder does not provide forms. Forms may be obtained on the Internet or purchased at an office supply or stationery store.

The Monterey County Recorder’s Office does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog. However, note that return delivery of the original recorded document can be expected within 2-3 weeks of the recording date.

If the project is located in Monterey county, then yes, you will want to record your lien with the Monterey County Recorder’s office.

All documents must comply with the Monterey Recorder’s recording requirements. Make sure your document contains the required recording information and is photographically reproducible.

If you have any questions regarding the recording process, you may contact the Recorder’s Office at (831) 755-5041 or toll free from the Monterey Peninsula at (831) 647-7741.

All documents must comply with the 8.5″ x 11″ standard paper size.

The top right of the first page shall reserve 2 1/2” by 4 1/2” for recording information. If the page does not comply with these requirements, $3.00 will be charged for each additional page.

All applicable recording fees must be paid at the time of recording.

The Monterey County Recorder’s payment options include: cash, personal check, cashier’s check, or money order. Debit/Credit cards are also accepted in the office. Note that a transaction fee of $2.50 applies in addition to the recording fees.

You may mail in your documents for recording with a check, cashier’s check or money order made payable to:

Monterey County Recorder

P.O. Box 29

Salinas, CA 93902

The Monterey County Recorder’s base fee is $13.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. The top right 2.5 inches by 4.5 inches of the first page should be blank for recording information. If the page does not comply with these requirements $3.00 will be charged for each page that is not 8.5″ x 11″.

Additional recording fees

Penalty Print (More than 9 lines per vertical inch of 22 characters per horizontal inch: $1.00 per page
Documents Requiring Additional Indexing (For the first 10 names):$1.00/name
Documents Requiring Additional Indexing (After the first 10 names): $1.00/group of 10
Release of Governmental Lien: $20.00
Federal Liens and Releases: $22.00

Copy fees

Official record copy: $2.00 per page
Certification: $2.00 per document

You may request a recorded copy of your lien in person at the office of the Monterey County Recorder, located at:

168 W. Alisal Street, 1st Floor
Salinas, CA 93901

Office hours for viewing public records are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays and posted advance notice closure days/hours.

You may also mail your request with a check or money order to:

The Monterey County Recorder
P.O. Box 29
Salinas, CA 93902

The fees for copies of recorded documents are $2.00 per page of the document and $2.00 per document for certification.

When requesting copies you must provide the following information:

1. Document number or Reel & Page number, as applicable
2. Recording year
3. Name of at least one of the parties named in the document as it appears in the document
4. Type of document

You can visit the Monterey County Recorder’s Office in person located at:

168 W. Alisal Street, 1st Floor
Salinas, CA 93901

Real property document which have been recorded in the Monterey County Recorder’s Office can be viewed in the office’s public access area.

Office hours for viewing public records are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays and posted advance notice closure days/hours.

Determining whether you do or do not have a mechanics lien right can be tricky. Generally speaking, every state gives those who have furnished labor and/or materials to a construction project the right to file a mechanics lien if unpaid for the furnishing. The same is true in California. However, there are some state-specific limitations as to who is qualified to file a mechanics lien that is important when considering whether you have the right to file a mechanics lien in Monterey County, California?

Great and detailed information about this is available on our California Mechanics Lien Resources Page.

If the pages are 8.5 x 11 inches the filing fee for a preliminary notice is $13.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page.