Official Seal Size Requirements

Government Code §8207 specifies both the physical dimensions and required content for a California notary's official seal:

Required content:
• The notary's name as it appears on the commission
• The words Notary Public
• The State Seal of California
• The county where the oath and bond were filed
• The commission expiration date
• The sequential identification (commission) number
• The identification number assigned to the seal manufacturer or vendor

Size requirements:
• Circular seal: maximum 2 inches in diameter
• Rectangular seal: maximum 1 inch by 2½ inches
• Must have a serrated or milled edged border

The seal must produce a photographically reproducible impression — meaning the ink must be of sufficient contrast to survive photocopying or scanning. An embossed (raised, inkless) seal alone does not satisfy the California requirement. County recorders may reject documents bearing only an embossed impression with no ink.

Exam Tip: Two shapes, two sets of dimensions. Circular = max 2 inches diameter. Rectangular = max 1 inch × 2.5 inches. The photographically reproducible requirement is why an ink stamp is effectively mandatory. Don't forget the seven required content elements — especially the State Seal, commission number, and manufacturer/vendor number, which are easy to overlook.