Restrictive Covenant Modification
- Restrictive Covenant Modification – Discriminatory Restrictions (AB1466) (PDF:101 kB)
- Restrictive Covenant Modification – Affordable Housing (AB721) (PDF: 114 kB)
- Restrictive Covenant Modification Program Implementation Plan (PDF: 185 kB) - updated April 2024
Table of Contents
- Responsibilities of the County Recorder
- History of Restrictive Covenants
- Changes to Restrictive Covenant Modification
- Current Status of the Plan
- Identification
- Redaction
- Timelines
- Tracking and Indexing
- Reporting
- Format of the Restrictive Covenant Modification Form
- How the Public May Submit an RCM
- Glossary for RCM
- Resources
- Information related to Restrictive Covenant Modification - Affordable Housing (AB721)
Restrictive Covenant Modification Program Plan
The County Recorder’s Office is responsible for recording all real property and financing documents, indexing them for constructive notice, and preserving their image for future reference. We have records that date back prior to 1850 and California-statehood, and we maintain grantor/grantee indexes for the location of older documents. Documents recorded as of January 1964 to the present day are indexed and imaged in our current computerized system. Documents prior to December 31, 1963 are microfilmed and digitized but indexed only in handwritten index books (the indexes are also imaged, so they are available online and for preservation purposes). It is important to note that our office does not do research. We do not have the capacity to do more work, and our focus is recording, indexing, and imaging day-forward documents to make them available to the public.
History of Restrictive Covenants
A Restrictive Covenant is a restriction placed on property for use. In the early part of the 20th century, it was common for restrictive covenants on properties to include racially restrictive language. This would prevent people of color from purchasing, renting, or using property (unless as a servant). It was especially common in the 1930s and 1940s to see this type of language on documents. In 1948, the Supreme Court forbid enforcement of racially restrictive covenants.
Certain restrictive covenants are illegal and void under existing law and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. These illegal restrictions pertain to age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, disability, veteran or military status, national origin, source of income as defined in subdivision (p) of [Government Code] Section 12955, or ancestry. However, they still exist in the record itself as it was presented and recorded at that time in the past. Most property owners would only see this document when they are asked to sign a disclosure as part of the escrow process, pledging to ignore any racist language.
Prior to 2022, Government Code section 12956.2(a) provided that any person who holds an ownership interest in property that believes the recorded documents for the property contain any unlawfully restrictive covenants in violation of Government Code section 12955(l) may submit for recordation a Restrictive Covenant Modification document. If the existence of unlawfully restrictive language is confirmed by County Counsel, the modification document is recorded with the unlawful restrictive covenant stricken. However, most people are not even aware that these covenants exist and very few, eligible, property owners have completed this process.
Changes to Restrictive Covenant Modification
In 2021, Assembly Bill 1466 (AB 1466) legislation was passed and made changes to the RCM processes and added California Government Code Section 12956.3 (GC §12956.3). The new law imposes a state-mandated local program and opens the ability to all, including the County Recorder, to submit a RCM document for recording and redact the illegal restrictive language. As part of the new processes, GC §12956.3(b)(1), requires the Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder’s Office create a Restrictive Covenant Modification Program Implementation Plan (Plan) to touch on the following requirements:
-
- Identify unlawfully restrictive covenants
- Redact unlawfully restrictive covenants
- Timelines of elements of the Plan
- Track identified illegal restrictive covenants
- Make index of recorded RCM documents available to the public
- Maintain original non-redacted original recording
- Provide status reports to the County Recorders Association of California
The County Recorder did a preliminary manual search of recorded documents and identified that illegal restrictive language did occur throughout time in our recordings. Due to the number of documents to search through, the Request for Proposal (RFP) process was implemented and an outside vendor, Extract Systems, LLC, was selected to identify, redact, and prepare an electronically recordable document for electronic recording. The Recorder officially began reviewing document images beginning with January 1964 documents on April 17, 2024.
Pursuant to GC §12956.3(b)(1)(A) and §12956.3(b)(2), we will identify the illegal restrictive language in our records, depending on the format and clarity of the document. Typewritten documents with illegal language will be identified by completing OCR searching of specific key words or portions of commonly used language through our vendor solution. Identification by OCR depends on largely on the quality of the scanned image and the technology available at the time the OCR was completed. We are planning to run handwritten documents through Google Cloud Vision OCR to identify illegal restrictive language.
Redaction
Pursuant to GC §12956.3(b)(4), after the illegal restrictive language has been identified, the illegal wording will be redacted. The County Recorder will provide a suggested redaction to County Counsel for review, if approved, the document will be recorded and the illegal restrictive language will be blacked-out on the new recording. We will complete redaction based on the language identified and submission and approval of the redaction by County Counsel. If the suggested redaction is not correct or complete, County Counsel will make suggested changes prior to finalizing the redaction of the wording and approval of County Counsel.
Since the County Recorder is unable to change previously recorded documents, we will automatically be following GC §12956.3(c) and the original document will remain unmodified.
Timelines
Pursuant to GC §12956.3(b)(1)(B), this area of the plan will estimate the following timelines for when parts of the plan will be accomplished. Below is a list of the estimated number of images that will need to be reviewed.
|
Recording Dates |
Book |
Text |
Estimated Images |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jan. 1, 1980 - Dec. 31, 2023 |
N/A |
Typewritten |
21,950,327 |
|
Jan. 1, 1964 - Dec. 31, 1979 |
Official Records Books 2012, Page 276- Book 3672 |
Typewritten |
1,641,187 |
|
Sept. 22, 1921 - Dec. 31, 1963 |
Official Records Books 1-2012, Page 275 |
Typewritten |
1,245,165 |
|
Jun. 24, 1899 - Mar. 30, 1922 |
Deed Books 186-408 |
Typewritten |
70,670 |
|
Nov. 3, 1847 - Mar. 1899 |
Deed Books A-N and 6-185 |
Handwritten |
121,000 |
|
All Recorded Maps |
Combination |
42,218 |
The Restrictive Covenant Modification Program will be done in phases, subject to time and resources. Estimated timelines will be updated as more information is known.
We evaluated the number of documents and pages prior to 1964 and determined costs of getting the document images in a format and system to be used for OCR searching. We are currently working on importing images prior to 1964 into our current recording system under a separate project. Once imported, we will be reviewing images for any documents that may need to be rescanned and may require a separate project to rescan and import those images. We also went had a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a vendor to automate the process of OCR search, redaction, and exporting an electronic document to be electronically recorded. The contract for our RFP was awarded on October 17, 2023 to Extract Systems, LLC. Between October 2023 and March 2024, Extract Systems, LLC and the County Recorder worked very closely together to implement the program. We will have four (4) phases to run through our images:
We will begin review of typewritten documents that are able to be easily OCR’d as the initial focus, which are records from 1964 through 2023, which are stored as images in our current recording system. These more modern typewritten images will be processed with Kofax OmniPage OCR. The documents will be searched using OCR for illegal restrictive language and put through a workflow for identification of the language, redaction, approval and exported for electronic recording. Due to the unknown quantity of documents and documents with restrictive language that will need to be reviewed and approved, this is an estimated timeline. As more information is gathered related to the quantity, this timeframe will be updated.
While we are working on reviewing images 1964 to present, we will simultaneously be working to import the 1847 through 1963 documents that are stored as digitized microfilm images, microfilm and paper into our current recording system to begin work for Phase Two.
Once we are nearing the end of Phase One and the completion of a quality assurance review of the imported images from 1847 to 1963 into our current recording system we will work with our vendor to prepare these documents to run through a more complex OCR system, Google Cloud Vision, with the same workflow applied afterward. Once completed only documents that were in need of rescanning for better quality will need to be gone through.
The handwritten documents prior to 1899 will be the last documents reviewed. This is due to the fact that they will likely contain fewer illegal restrictive covenants than later documents, as well as the more time intensive searching that will be needed. At this time, we are planning to use Google Cloud Vision OCR to review the handwritten and combination handwritten-typewritten documents such as recorded maps.
Beginning in January 2025, we will review the prior year documents in January of each year, currently scheduled to occur through January 2028 for 2027 documents.
We will perform an annual evaluation of Government Code section 12955(l), which governs the applicable illegal restrictive language. It is possible that documents that have already been searched will need to be searched again for any new requirements. Additionally, already identified and modified documents may need additional identification and modification should they include something that is included in any future changes. The Recorder has no ability to reject a document for recording that contains any illegal restrictive language and such language may only be discovered and modified using the Restrictive Covenant Modification process.
Anyone may take the steps to identify and present a RCM document to the Recorder. These documents will be reviewed and if applicable, recorded, as they are presented and not within the Recorder’s proposed Phase timeline.
Pursuant to GC §12956.3(b)(1)(C) and §12956.3(b)(3), we will maintain an index of all recorded Restrictive Covenant Modification under the title “Restrictive Covenant Modification”. This will provide the ability to track what has been identified and recorded. The public index of recorded documents is available on our website any time and both the public index and document images are available during business hours in our office.
Reporting
As required by GC §12956.3(d)(1), the County Recorder will report status reports on the progress of the restrictive covenant modification program to the County Recorders Association of California (CRAC). The CRAC submitted their first report by January 1, 2023 and will submit another compiled status reports on this progress to the Legislature by January 1, 2025. The report will likely describe the number of documents identified for redaction, and the implementation timelines for actions taken by each county recorder’s office.
As identified in Government Code section 12956.2(f), the RCM form shall be in substantially the following form:
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT MODIFICATION:
The following reference document contains a restriction based on age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, national origin, source of income as defined in subdivision (p) of Section 12955 of the Government Code, or ancestry, that violates state and federal fair housing laws and is void. Pursuant to Section 12956.2 of the Government Code, this document is being recorded solely for the purpose of redacting and eliminating that restrictive covenant as shown on page(s) ___ of the document recorded on ___________(date) in book _______ and page _____ or instrument number _________ of the official records of the County of __________________, State of California.
Attached hereto is a true, correct and complete copy of the document referenced above, with the unlawful restrictive covenant redacted.
This modification document shall be indexed in the same manner as the original document being modified, pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 12956.2 of the Government Code.
The effective date of the terms and conditions of the modification document shall be the same as the effective date of the original document.
(Signature of submitting party)
_______ County Counsel, or their designee, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 12956.2 of the Government Code, hereby states that it has determined that the original document referenced above contains an unlawful restriction and this modification may be recorded.
Or
________County Counsel, or their designee, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 12956.2 of the Government Code, finds that the original document does not contain an unlawful restriction, or the modification document contains modifications not authorized, and this modification may not be recorded.
County Counsel
By:
Date:
If you have found an illegal restrictive covenant in the body of a recorded document, you have three options:
- Submit a notification to the County Recorder using the Restrictive Covenant Modification Submission form. Once received, we will review the document and take care of any additional steps.
- Email the County Recorder with the requested information. Once received, we will review the document and take care of any additional steps. Please email ClerkRecorder@sonoma-county.org with the following information:
- Document number or Book and Page reference.
- Document Type
- Names on the Document
- Where you see the illegal restrictive language
- Contact information for the submitter
- Call the County Recorder with the requested information. Once received, we will review the document and take care of any additional steps. Please call 707-565-3800, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with the following information:
- Document number or Book and Page reference.
- Document Type
- Names on the Document
- Where you see the illegal restrictive language
- Contact information for the submitter
- Visit the Restrictive Covenant Modification area of our website or visit in-person at County Recorder, 585 Fiscal Dr Rm 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 during our open hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to obtain the Restrictive Covenant Modification (RCM) form. The form on our website is available at the top of this page under Applications and Forms.
- Complete the RCM Form with required information, print the form, and sign with wet dark ink on the “Signature of submitting party” line.
- Attach a regular photocopy of the entire referenced document with the proposed redactions identified
- Present the document with the proposed redaction and the completed RCM Form to the County Recorder
- The County Recorder will submit the document to County Counsel for determination
- County Counsel will review and respond to the County Recorder with a determination in a reasonable period of time, not to exceed three (3) months, from the date the request for recordation is made.
- If approved to be recorded, the County Recorder will record the RCM document as a “Restrictive Covenant Modification” document title and as the original document title(s) as recorded and indexed. The Restrictive Covenant Modification title will contain a recording reference to the original document in form of a book/page or instrument number, and date of recording. The effective date of the terms and conditions of the modification document shall be the same as the effective date of the original document. Once recorded, the original will be returned to the Name and Address shown on the upper-left corner of the document in the “When Recorded Mail To:” area.
- If not approved for recording and needs corrections, County Counsel will notify the County Recorder of the reason(s) why the document is unable to be Approved and needed corrections. The County Recorder will contact you with any needed corrections.
- If not approved for recording and no correction will make it approved, the County Recorder will provide the unapproved document for your records.
Redaction: means the process of rerecording of a document that originally contained unlawful restrictive language, and when presented to the county recorder for rerecording, no longer contains the unlawful language or the unlawful language is masked so that it is not readable or visible.
Redacted: means the result of the rerecording of a document that originally contained unlawful restrictive language, and when presented to the county recorder for rerecording, no longer contains the unlawful language or the unlawful language is masked so that it is not readable or visible.
Beginning 1/1/2022, Assembly Bill 721 authorizes owner of an Affordable Housing Development(s) to submit a copy of the original restrictive covenant and a Restrictive Covenant Modification-Affordable Housing document pursuant to Government Code Section 12956.2 that modifies or removes any existing restrictive covenant language that restricts the number, size, or location of the residences that may be built on the property, or that restricts the number of persons or families that may reside on the property, to the extent necessary to allow the affordable housing development to proceed under the existing declaration of restrictive covenants.
How to Record a Restrictive Covenant Modification-Affordable Housing:
- Submitter must be the owner of the affordable housing development
- Complete a Restrictive Covenant Modification-Affordable Housing form; this must be signed in front of a notary public
- Submit a copy of the original restrictive covenant, a copy of any notice the owner believes is required pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (g), and any documents the owner believes necessary to establish that the property qualifies as an affordable housing development under Civil Code Section 714.6 prior to, or simultaneously with, the submission of the request for recordation of the restrictive covenant modification document.
- The County Recorder shall, within five (5) business days of receipt, submit the documentation provided to County Counsel for review.
- County Counsel shall determine whether the original restrictive covenant document restricts the property in a manner prohibited by subdivision (a), whether the owner has submitted documents sufficient to establish that the property qualifies as an affordable housing development under this section, whether any notice required under this section has been provided, whether any exemption provided in subdivision (g) or (h) applies, and whether the restriction may no longer be enforced against the owner of the affordable housing development and that the owner may record a modification document pursuant to this section.
- County Counsel shall return the documents and inform the County Recorder of their decision within fifteen (15) days of submission to County Counsel.
- There is no fee to record this document in Sonoma County.