Population
743K
County Seat
Redwood City
Libraries
32
Schools
175
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all San Mateo County record-source URLs verified against the official local and California state publishers on the review date. 4 primary .gov / official sources cited below.

San Mateo County — Key Numbers (2026)

Population, demographics, and county-seat data for San Mateo County, California — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
742,893
Population
Census estimate
264,323
Households
Census estimate
$149,907
Median income
Annual household
$1,441,300
Median home value
Census ACS
Redwood City
County seat
In California
San Mateo County Records Availability Map
Criminal records
1 source
Court records
3 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
4 sources
Vital records
see state portal
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources   One source   Use state portal

San Mateo County Records at a Glance

Record typeSan Mateo County verified sources
Court recordsRecords Management | Superior Court of California | County o…
Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records | Superior …
Criminal recordsCalifornia Attorney General — Criminal Justice Statistics
Wants & warrantsNo verified source — see San Mateo County state portal below
Property recordsSecured Property Taxes | County of San Mateo, CA
Unsecured Property Taxes | County of San Mateo, CA
Vital recordsNo verified source — see San Mateo County state portal below
Voter recordsNo verified source — see San Mateo County state portal below
Professional licensesNo verified source — see San Mateo County state portal below
Recorded documentsNo verified source — see San Mateo County state portal below
San Mateo County — Verified Record Sources by Type (2026)
Court records3Criminal records1Wants & warrants0Property records4Vital records0Voter records0Licenses0Recorded docs0
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for San Mateo County. Data verified June 04, 2026.

What Changed in 2026 — San Mateo County Records

2026
San Mateo County official government portal active
The official San Mateo County government website at www.smcgov.org continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
San Mateo County court records portal verified
State court system links for San Mateo County verified against the California judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
San Mateo County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for San Mateo County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
San Mateo County property records online
San Mateo County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.

The 4-Step San Mateo County Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Start at the San Mateo County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the San Mateo County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the California statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the California state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.

Five Things People Get Wrong About San Mateo County Records

❌ Myth: "San Mateo County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for San Mateo County are held by the California state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in San Mateo County are gone everywhere."
✓ Truth: False. Sealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
❌ Myth: "Free 'instant background' sites have San Mateo County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official California state repository has verified, current San Mateo County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The San Mateo County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The San Mateo County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
❌ Myth: "All county records older than 50 years are public."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).

Primary Sources (All Verified)

Related — San Mateo County & California Records

For records not specific to San Mateo County, use California's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 California statewide record systems:
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Other counties in California: San Joaquin · San Luis Obispo · Santa Barbara · Santa Clara · Santa Cruz

About San Mateo County, California

San Mateo County is located in the Bay Area of northern California. The county seat is Redwood City (official site: http://www.smcgov.org/).

  • Households: 264,323
  • Median household income: $149,907
  • Median home value: $1,441,300
  • Below poverty line: 6.4%
  • Land area: 448.6 sq mi
  • Population density: 1,656.0 people / sq mi
San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRE
Official Free
The Office of Mark Church, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Chief Elections Officer of San Mateo County
San Mateo County :: Clerk. Assessor. Recorder. Elections.
Official Free
SAN MATEO CITY ELEM GENL PUR · SAN MATEO HIGH GENRL PURPOSE · SEQUOIA HIGH GENRL PURPOSE · SM JR COLLEGE GEN PUR · SO SAN FRAN UNIFIED GENL PUR · TOWN OF COLMA · TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH · TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY · UNINCORPORATED ·
PR
Secured Property Taxes | County of San Mateo, CA
Official Free
The tax is a lien that is "secured" by the land/structure even though no document was officially recorded . This means that if the taxes remain unpaid after a period of 5 years, the property may be sold to cover the taxes owed. The Assessor establishes the value of property on January 1.
PR
Unsecured Property Taxes | County of San Mateo, CA
Official Free
The tax is assessed against such things as business equipment, fixtures, boats and airplanes . If the unsecured tax is not paid, a personal lien is filed against the owner, not the property. The Assessor establishes the value of the unsecured property on January 1.
PR
Obtain a Copy of Recorded Documents | San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder & Elections - ACRE
Official Free
Fees are based on the number of pages per document. The page count can be determined by accessing our Online Grantee/Grantor Database. Acceptable forms of payment: Preprinted check drawn from a U.S.A. bank, money order or cashier’s check, made payable to San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder.
PR
Vote Centers and Ballot Drop-off Locations - California Secretary of State
Official Free
If you wish to continue in a language other than English, please select your language below · You can map all the Vote Centers and Ballot Drop-off locations near you by visiting the Secretary of State's look up tool
CT
Records Management | Superior Court of California | County of San Mateo
Official Free
You can view filed documents and court date information for cases filed after 2000. For marriage, birth, or death certificates, contact the Recorder's Office at 650-363-4500 or www.smcare.org · You might be able to find or review info regarding a case online San Mateo County Superior Court ...
CT
Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records | Superior Court of California | County of San Mateo
Official Free
County of San Mateo · California Rules of Court, rule 10.500 sets forth comprehensive public access provisions applicable to judicial administrative records. administrativerecords@sanmateocourt.org · Requester's name, organization or business, address, telephone number and e-mail address ·
CT
Viewing Court Records | Superior Court of California | County of San Mateo
Criminal & Court Records
.gov

Find your local California court.

courts.ca.gov
CR
California Attorney General — Criminal Justice Statistics
Official Free
Files in Redwood City: You may view public case files at the Records Management Division on the 1st Floor, Room A of the Hall of Justice, 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063 . Criminal Civil Small Claims Family Law Probate Unlawful Detainer (eviction) You may see files Monday - Friday: 8:30
CR
VINE is not working right now - VINELink
Official Free
We are experiencing a connection issue. Our team will fix this as soon as possible · Contact us at 1-866-277-7477 if you need immediate help locating an offender, registering for notifications, or accessing victim services in your area. We are available 24/7/365 with live operator support ...
WW
California's Most Wanted Fugitives | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General
Official Free
This Google™ translation feature is provided for informational purposes only · The Office of the Attorney General is unable to guarantee the accuracy of this translation and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information resulting from the translation application tool
VT
Vital Records - CDPH - CA.gov
Official Free
CDPH-VR sends all vital records via First Class Mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS). CDPH-VR is not responsible for any lost, misdirected, or undelivered mail by USPS or any other delivery service. Effective January 1, 2026, fees for certified copies have increased.
VR
My Voter Status - California Secretary of State
Official Free
All California voters should check the address where they are registered. Check if you are registered to vote. Check where you are registered to vote. Check your political party preference. Check your language preference for election materials. Check the status of your vote-by-mail or provisional ballot. Find your polling place. Find information for upcoming local and state elections. Find contact information for your county elections office.
LC
DCA License Search - CA.gov
Official Free
Your web browser is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site · Use this online search tool to verify a license issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) for the professions listed under license type.
BZ
San Mateo County
Official Free
Field notes are the narrative record of the cadastral survey . They are written in tabular format and contain the detailed descriptions of entire survey process including the instrumentation and procedures utilized, calling all physical evidence evaluated in the survey process, and listing all ...
BZ
California Secretary of State Electronic Filing Corporation
Business, Voter & Other
.gov

California SOS business entity search.

bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I look up court cases in San Mateo County?
San Mateo County court cases are filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court. Search the Records Management | Superior Court of California | County of San Mateo portal: https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/divisions/records-management. For federal matters, see PACER.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in California?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most California counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
How long does an arrest stay on my record in California if I wasn't convicted?
In California, an arrest stays on your record indefinitely unless you petition the court to seal or expunge it, even if charges were dropped or you were found not guilty. California's rules for clearing non-conviction records are stricter than for convictions — start with the California Department of Justice.
Are San Mateo County records free to search?
Yes — every link on this page goes to an official government source. Basic searches are free. Certified copies and formal background checks carry the standard government fee.