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.

Fee Increase for Standard Documents January 1, 2024

Due to the recent passage of HB 1474, the standard recording fee will increase $100 for most recordings. The documents that are already exempt from the housing surcharges will remain the same. This fee change has an effective date of January 1, 2024.

Fee Sheet Effective January 1, 2024

HB1474

Fee Change for Government Liens July 23, 2023

Due to the recent passage of SB 5386, the fee for government liens will be reduced, along with divorce decrees and death, marriage, and birth certificates. 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 23, 2023.

Fee Sheet Effective July 23, 2023

SB 5386

Map Fees Increase July 1, 2023

Due to recent WAC amendments, map fees for will increase by $36. 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 1, 2023.

Fee Sheet Effective July 1, 2023

Where do the fees go?


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, Wage Liens & Releases and Water-Sewer District Liens and Releases - First page $18.00
Exceptions: Each additional page $1.00
First page - Lien/Satisfaction of Lien recorded by state, county, and city offices only. $18.00
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 $18.00
Employment Security Liens - First page $15.00
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, $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
$323.50
Surveys, Site Plans, Short Plats or Large Lots $323.50
Each additional page $5.00
Plats and Condos, up to 40 lots including seals $323.50
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 $323.50
Above 40 lots & over 5 seals
add $0.25 per additional lot and $1.00 per additional seal
Lot Combination - First Page $303.50
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