How Much Does It Cost to Record a Deed in Cuyahoga County?
Recording a deed in Cuyahoga County usually costs less than people expect. The bill can still surprise you if you only count the recording fee, because a deed that transfers property can carry a transfer fee and a conveyance fee, and a document that breaks the state's format rules can pick up an extra charge. Here's how the fees work, with examples, based on the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer's published fee information.
Fees change. Check the Fiscal Officer's Fees and Filings page before you file.
The Recording Fee: $39 for Two Pages, $8 After That
The Fiscal Officer says the standard recording fee rose on October 24, 2024, under Ohio Senate Bill 94. It is now $39 for the first two pages and $8 for each page after that. The county's own fee table gives these totals:
1 or 2 pages: $39
3 pages: $47
4 pages: $55
5 pages: $63
10 pages: $103
50 pages: $423
Every page counts, including legal description exhibits and attached pages. A two-page deed with a one-page exhibit is a three-page document.
One quirk: parts of the county's cashier fee list still show $34 for the first two pages of some instruments, including separate releases and assignments. If you're recording a release or assignment, ask the recorder's office which rate applies. Our guide to recording a mortgage release or assignment covers those documents.
Transfer and Conveyance Fees on Deeds
When a deed actually transfers real property, the Fiscal Officer's Transfer and Recording Department requires one of two forms with it:
DTE 100 (Statement of Value and Receipt), when the conveyance fee is owed
DTE 100-EX (Statement of Reason for Exemption from Real Property Conveyance Fee), when the transfer is exempt
Two charges can come with a transfer:
Transfer fee. Ohio Revised Code 319.54 sets a fee of 50 cents for each transfer or entry of land.
Conveyance fee. ORC 319.54(G)(3) sets a state fee of $1 per $1,000 of value (or $1, whichever is greater). ORC 322.02 lets a county add a real property transfer tax of up to $3 per $1,000. The Fiscal Officer's posted fee schedule shows the combined conveyance fee as $4.00 per $1,000, with a $4.00 minimum. The DTE 100 says the fee is required by ORC 319.54(G)(3) and, if applicable, ORC Chapter 322.
At $4 per $1,000, a $150,000 sale would carry about $600 in conveyance fee, plus the 50-cent transfer fee and the recording fee. Confirm the exact amount for your transaction with the Fiscal Officer before closing.
Many family and no-sale transfers are exempt from the conveyance fee, but an exemption still means filing the DTE 100-EX and checking the reason that fits. The county also says it can ask for supporting documents to verify an exemption or a sale price. Which exemption applies is a legal question, so ask your attorney or title company.
The $20 Non-Conforming Document Fee
Ohio Revised Code 317.114 sets format standards for documents presented for recording:
A top margin of at least 3 inches on the first page and 1.5 inches on later pages
Side and bottom margins of at least 1 inch
A font size of at least 10 point
Black or blue ink
Paper from 8.5 by 11 inches up to 8.5 by 14 inches
A document that doesn't meet these standards can cost an extra $20 to record. That's an easy fee to avoid if whoever prepares the deed checks the margins before it's signed. Formatting is also one of the reasons covered in our post on why documents get rejected for recording.
Copies and Certified Copies
The county lists copies of recorded instruments at $2 per page, and adds $2 for a certified copy.
Worked Example: A Three-Page Deed
Say you have a prepared, three-page deed (two pages plus a legal description exhibit) transferring a property for $120,000, not exempt:
County recording fee: $47
Transfer fee: $0.50
Conveyance fee at $4 per $1,000: about $480 (confirm with the Fiscal Officer)
Non-conforming fee: $0 if the format standards are met, $20 if not
If ACC Solutions handles the recording, ACC's $99 service fee for one prepared document is added to those county amounts. If the same transfer were exempt, the DTE 100-EX would be filed and the conveyance fee wouldn't apply, but the recording fee would.
Where People Get Tripped Up
Counting pages wrong. Exhibits and attachments are pages.
Using an old fee. Fee charts from before October 24, 2024, show the lower rate.
Forgetting the DTE form. A transfer needs a DTE 100 or 100-EX, even when no conveyance fee is owed.
Assuming an exemption. Exemptions have to be claimed on the form, and the county can verify them.
Formatting after signing. Margin problems are found when the document is recorded, and by then it's already signed and notarized.
Where ACC Solutions Fits
ACC Solutions handles the recording step for documents that are already prepared. We review the package for administrative completeness, give you the ACC fee and estimated county fees, submit electronically after you approve and pay, track the filing, and send you the recorded copy. ACC's service fee is $99 for one prepared document or $499 for a managed batch of up to 10. County fees and other outside costs are extra. ACC does not prepare deeds, choose the deed type, research title, notarize, or give legal or tax advice, including on conveyance fee exemptions.
See filing services and terms, read how to record a deed in Cuyahoga County, or, if you have several documents, see batch document recording. Ready to go? Start a filing request or call (216) 238-5999.
