San Luis Obispo County Recorder Mechanics Lien Filing

You can file your mechanic liens in person or by mail.

In Person

You can present your document for recording in person at the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s office located at:

1055 Monterey Street Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Tel: (805) 781-5080
Fax: (805) 781-1111

Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

By Mail

You can mail your document and payment to:

County Clerk-Recorder
1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120
San Luis Obispo CA 93408-3237

The San Luis Obispo County Recorder does not publicly disclose information on recording backlog. However, note that once your document is accepted for recording and applicable fees are paid, the Clerk-Recorder will retain your document for scanning and indexing. The original document will be mailed back to you usually within fifteen (15) to twenty (20) working days.

If the property is located in San Luis Obispo County, then yes, you will want to record your lien with the San Luis Obispo County Recorder’s office.

All documents presented for recording must include or comply with the San Luis Obispo County’s general requirements. They are as follows:

1. The property must be located in San Luis Obispo County. (CC 1169)

2. The document must be authorized or required by law to be recorded. (GC 27201)

3. Signatures must be original unless the document is a certified copy issued by the appropriate custodian of the public record. (GC 27201b, GC 27279, Evid Code 1530)

4. The legibility of a document is important to the quality of the permanent record. Documents must be clearly legible in order to produce a readable photographic record. This pertains to the document text, notary seals, certificates and other attachments, such as legal descriptions. (Gov. 27361.7)

5. Include the name of the party requesting the recording and a name and address where the document can be returned. (GC 27361.6)

6. The document must be properly acknowledged, unless exempt. California requires an all-purpose acknowledgement. (GC 27201 , 27289 , 27285 , 27287 , 27288 , CC 1189)

7. The Assessor’s Parcel Number is required on deeds, trust deeds and mortgages. (GC 27297.6)

8. When recording documents affecting a change in the ownership of real property, include a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report.

9. Standard page size is 8-1/2″ by 11″; other page sizes incur additional recording fees.

10. The first page of the document must reserve a minimum of 2-1/2″ down from the top of the page, of which the left 3-1/2″ across is used by the party requesting recording to enter name and address to which the document is to be returned following recording. The remainder of this space is reserved for use by the Registrar-Recorder to enter the official recording information. A minimum of 1/2″ must be left blank on each side of the document. If the first page of a document does not comply with these legal requirements, attach a Face page for a recorded document to the front of the document which meets the spacing criteria and which includes the title or titles of the document.

11. Include the recording fees, see FAQs “How do I calculate recording fees?”.

12. Payment can be made by cash, personal check, cashier’s check, money order, and credit or debit cards. Make checks payable to: San Luis Obispo (or SLO) Clerk-Recorder

13. Mail to: 1055 Monterey St. D120, San Luis Obispo CA. 93408

If you have any questions regarding fees, timelines or the general recording process, you may call (805) 781-5080.

All documents must comply with the 8-1/2″ by 11″ standard page size. Other page sizes incur additional recording fees.

The first page of the document must reserve a minimum of 2-1/2″ down from the top of the page, of which the left 3-1/2″ across is used by the party requesting recording to enter name and address to which the document is to be returned following recording. The remainder of this space is reserved for use by the Registrar-Recorder to enter the official recording information. A minimum of 1/2″ must be left blank on each side of the document. If the first page of a document does not comply with these legal requirements, attach a Face page for a recorded document to the front of the document which meets the spacing criteria and which includes the title or titles of the document.

The San Luis Obispo County Recorder’s payment options include: cash, personal check, cashier’s check, money order, and credit or debit cards. Visa, Mastercard and Discover Cards are accepted for payment. Note that all credit card payments incur a $1.49 processing fee. Make checks payable to: San Luis Obispo (or SLO) Clerk-Recorder. Mail to: 1055 Monterey St. D120, San Luis Obispo CA. 93408

If you have any questions regarding fees, timelines or the general recording process, you may call (805) 781-5080.

The San Luis Obispo County Recorder’s regular recording fee is $14.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page or fraction of a page.

Additional Recording Fees

Non-conforming page size: $3.00 for each page that is larger or smaller than 8.5” X 11” but not greater than 8.5” X 14”

Indexing fees: $3.00 for each group of ten names or fractional portion thereafter the initial group of ten names.

Penalty print (Nine lines per vertical inch or 22 characters per inch horizontally.): $1.00

Lien Fees

Release of state or county tax liens: $12.00 base recording fee
$3.00 for each additional page

Copy Fees

Official Copy: $5.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page
Certification: $1.00
Conformed Copy: No Fee
One copy will be returned immediately after recording, provided a Self-Addressed, STAMPED envelope is enclosed.

You can obtain a recorded copy of your lien in four ways:

1. Online via the Self-Service Portal. After locating the Official Record(s) you wish to purchase, add each record to your shopping cart and follow the instructions to purchase. Once purchased you will be able to download your document(s). If you have trouble downloading your document(s) please submit your request by following Step 3.

2. In-person at the Clerk-Recorder Office in San Luis Obispo. Locate the Official Records you wish to obtain using the public kiosk, following the instructions to add your documents to your shopping cart. After submitting your request, proceed to the front counter to pay for and receive your records.

The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s office is located at:

1055 Monterey Street Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Tel: (805) 781-5080
Fax: (805) 781-1111

Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

3. By Email. Submit your request to vitals@co.slo.ca.us. You must include the following information with your request: (1) A completed Credit Card Authorization Form, (2) Document Number and/or Book and Page Number of document(s) requested (3) a reference name listed in the document.

4. By Mail. Mail a letter requesting the Official Copy Records you wish to obtain with the appropriate fee.

Mail completed form to:
County of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder
1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

The San Luis Obispo County Recorder’s grantor-grantee index identifies the instruments recorded in this county relating to real property. To view the index, use the recorded documents self-service portal. The index is available online, however, note that to view images of the Official Records you will need to appear in person, or purchase copies on-line or by mail.

The Clerk-Recorder has records back to 1850. The index of records from 1923 to the present is available on the self-service portal. Images of records from August 8, 2001, to the present may be purchased and downloaded from this site. Older document copies may be purchased in the office.

This service is free of charge and is available anytime throughout the year, online or in-person at the Clerk-Recorder Office in San Luis Obispo during regular business hours except during County observed holidays.

The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s office is located at:

1055 Monterey Street Suite D120
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Tel: (805) 781-5080
Fax: (805) 781-1111

Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

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 San Luis Obispo County, California.

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

The fee to file a California Preliminary Notice in San Luis Obispo County is $39.00.