PRESS RELEASE

​Inyo County Clerk-Recorder Announces New Property Notification Program to Protect Property Owners & Meeting State Mandates

​INDEPENDENCE, CA — The Inyo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is announcing the upcoming launch of a new Recorder Notification Program designed to safeguard local property owners from unauthorized or fraudulent real estate transfers. Enacted under California Senate Bill 255 (Government Code § 27297.7), the program mandates that all counties implement a notification system to enhance consumer protection by January 1, 2027.

​The Recorder Notification Program will serve as an early warning system for homeowners. Within 30 days of any deed, quitclaim deed, mortgage, or deed of trust being recorded against a property, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office will mail a notice to the property owner. By mailing these notices directly to the address on file for property tax bills, the program ensures that legitimate owners are immediately notified of any changes to their property title, allowing them to detect and address unauthorized activity promptly.

​“This program is a vital step forward in consumer protection for our community,” said the Inyo County Clerk-Recorder.

​Efficient, In-House Implementation To keep public costs low and ensure high-quality oversight, the Clerk-Recorder is developing the program to be administered entirely in-house utilizing existing staff and internal software systems. Inyo County will not outsource any operations to third-party vendors, nor will it establish a costly electronic notification system, choosing instead to prioritize a streamlined, secure mail-based workflow.

​To facilitate this program, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office is partnering with the County Assessor’s Office to cross-reference property tax billing data. As a result of this data partnership, the Clerk-Recorder will now require that Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) be clearly listed on the first page of all applicable documents submitted for recording. For this requirement, any Deed, Deed of Trust, Quitclaim Deed, or Mortgage document submitted for recording must list all APNs associated with the record on the first page.

​Fiscal Impact and Next Steps The Clerk-Recorder anticipates a minimal fiscal impact during the initial setup, with software modifications provided by existing vendors at no cost to the county. To maintain long-term sustainability, the Recorder’s Office will conduct an internal time and fee study to identify a cost-recovery fee. Per state guidelines, this fee will only cover the actual cost of the program and will be subject to a 120-day public notice period, a public hearing, and Board of Supervisors approval before going into effect.

​For more information regarding the upcoming requirements or the operational specifications detailed in RESOLUTION NO. 2026-29: A Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, state of California, authorizing the implementation of a Recorder Notification Program pursuant to Government Code Section 27297.7, please visit the Clerk-Recorder’s website at https://www.inyocounty.us/services/clerk-recorder/recorded-documents or contact the office directly at 760-878-0224.

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