Recording, Excise, and Map Fees

Payment Methods

Cash, checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards are accepted for in person transactions. Please make checks payable to Pierce County Auditor for transactions via mail.

Recording Fees Increase July 25, 2021

Due to recent RCW revisions, recording fees for most documents will increase. Our goal is to ensure proper recording of your documents and reduce document rejections due to these changes. The fee change has an effective date of July 25, 2021.

HB 1277 increases the state housing surcharges by $100.
Fee Sheet Effective July 25, 2021

Recording Fees

Type of Recording Fees
 Fee Amount
Standard fee: First page $203.50
Standard fee: Each additional page
$1.00
Exceptions: Assignment of Deed of Trust, Resignation of Trustee, Appointment of Trustee and Substitution of Trustee - First page $18.00
Exceptions: Each additional page $1.00
First page - Lien/Satisfaction of Lien recorded by state, county, and city offices only. $39.00
Each additional page $1.00
First page - IRS Federal Tax Lien & Release $16.00
Each Additional page $1.00
Deed of Trust - First page $204.50
Divorce Decrees and Death, Marriage, and Birth Certificates $39.00
Each additional page $1.00
Recording of multiple title documents, for each title/transaction after the first (depending upon document title and fee listed above) $18, $39, $203.50, or $204.50
Non-standard documents, in addition to recording fee $50.00
Military Separation Record - Form DD214 No Fee
Request for Exemption from Public Disclosure of Military Discharge Papers
No Fee
References RCW 36 - RCW 58.24 - WAC 332-150

Excise Fees

Type of Excise Fees
 Fee Amount
Processing tax-free excise tax affidavits
 $10.00
Processing excise tax affidavits with tax owing $0.01-4.99 $10.00 minus tax
Processing taxable excise tax affidavits  $5.00 plus tax
References RCW 82.45 82.46 - WAC Chapter 458-61A

*A merchant fee will be charged on all taxable excise transactions when paying by credit/debit card.*

Map Recording Fees

Type of Map Recording Fees
 Fee Amount
Boundary Line Adjustment, Resolution, or Revision
 $287.50
Surveys, Site Plans, Short Plats or Large Lots $287.50
Each additional page $5.00
Plats and Condos, up to 40 lots including seals $287.50
Above 40 lots & over 5 seals
 add $0.50 per additional lot and $1.00 per additional seal
Cemetery Plats, up to 40 lots and 5 seals $287.50
Above 40 lots & over 5 seals
 add $0.25 per additional lot and $1.00 per additional seal
Lot Combination - First Page $267.50
Each additional page $1.00

Miscellaneous Recording Fees

Type of Miscellaneous Recording Fees
 Fee Amount
Certified photocopies, legal size or less, first page
$3.00
Each additional page $1.00
Uncertified photocopies, legal size or less, per page $1.00
Searching records, including UCC searches, per hour (copies require additional fee) $8.00
Map copies, 18' x 24', per page
 Mylar - $7.00; Bond - $5.00; additional page $1.00
References RCW 58.24 - Pierce County Code 4.48.020