How to Search California Property Records (Start Here)
Property records in California are maintained at the county level. The County Assessor handles property valuations and assessment data. The Tax Collector-Treasurer handles tax bills and payments. These are separate offices with separate databases.
What this page covers: California property assessment lookups, tax record searches, and parcel/ownership data. What it does not cover: Recorded documents like deeds and mortgages (those are on the Recorded Documents page) or property transfer history.
Where to start: For property values and tax assessments, start with the County Assessor. For tax payment history and bills, go to the Tax Collector-Treasurer. For ownership verification, you may need both the assessment records and the recorded documents.
Common mistake: Property assessment records (values and taxes) and recorded documents (deeds and liens) are maintained by different offices in California. The County Assessor handles assessments; the County Recorder handles recordings. Search both if you need the full picture.
Recorder of deeds
Statewide deed index?
Standard recording fee
Property tax oversight
Number of counties
58 counties
Population
39,431,263
Households
13,628,600
Median Income
$96,334
Median Home Value
$715,900
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: California property records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.boe.ca.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
California Property Records — Key Facts (2026)
Deeds, mortgages, taxes, and assessments for property in California — where each record lives and who maintains it in 2026.
County
Where records live
Not federal, not state
Assessor
Official value
Not Zillow estimate
Recorder
Deed & mortgage
Permanent record
Treasurer
Tax amount
Current bill & history
UCC
Business filings
Usually Secretary of State
Deed
100%
Mortgage
100%
Tax bill
100%
Lien (county)
100%
Lien (federal IRS)
50%
UCC (business)
10%
Unit: % kept at the COUNTY level.
What Changed in 2026 — California Property Records
2026
California property records portal active
The official California portal at www.boe.ca.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for property records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for property records
The BLM General Land Office Records at glorecords.blm.gov provides federal-level context that complements California state records.
2026
California access in 2026
For 2026, California continues to publish property records information through state-authorized portals; check www.boe.ca.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE California's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.
The 5-Tier California Property Records Stack
1
Tier 1 — Deed / title
California County Recorder or Register of Deeds. The legal record of ownership.
2
Tier 2 — Assessment
California County Assessor. Taxable value (NOT market value).
3
Tier 3 — Tax
California County Treasurer or Tax Collector. Amount owed and paid.
4
Tier 4 — Liens
Most liens at the county; federal tax liens (IRS) and UCC filings often at the Secretary of State.
5
Tier 5 — Federal land
BLM General Land Office (glorecords.blm.gov) for federally administered land.
Five Things People Get Wrong About California Property Records
❌ Myth: "Zillow shows the official California value."
✓ Truth: False. Zillow is an algorithm. The official value comes from the California County Assessor.
❌ Myth: "Assessed value = market value in California."
✓ Truth: False. Assessed value is for tax purposes. Most California counties assess at less than 100% of market value.
❌ Myth: "There's a national property database."
✓ Truth: False. No federal property registry exists. California property records are kept county-by-county.
❌ Myth: "The deed shows the current mortgage balance."
✓ Truth: False. The recorded mortgage shows the original amount. The current balance is held by the lender, not the county.
❌ Myth: "All California liens appear in one search."
✓ Truth: False. Property liens are at the county; federal tax liens may be at the IRS; UCC liens are at the Secretary of State.
Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.boe.ca.gov — Official California Property Records — State portal for California property records
- BLM General Land Office Records — Federal land records (patents, GLO)
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — Federal flood-zone maps
- HUD Buying a Home — Federal housing programs & property data
- IRS Federal Tax Liens — IRS lien procedures
- USA Spending — Federal Real Property — Federal property spending portal
- National Archives — Land Records — Historical federal land records (RG 49)
Related Property Records Resources
📍 Other California records:
- California Court Records →
- California Criminal Records →
- California Vital Records →
- California Voter Records →
- California Wants & Warrants →
- California Licenses →
- California Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 Property Records in other states:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
National: U.S. Property Records hub →
Related Public Records
More California records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National view of this topic: All states: Property records
Property Records Databases
In California, recording is handled by the County Recorder.
Property Records
Geographic Info Systems (GIS) – City of Antioch, California
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Survey | Lodi, CA
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One property corner of the surveyed property shall be tied to a minimum of two (2) found City G.P.S. Control Network Monuments of RS 37-50, SJCR . Maps shall include the following information: ... Rotation of bearings relative to the City of Lodi G.P.S.
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Map Gallery | Richmond, CA - Official Website
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GIS Services · Map Gallery · A · A · The City of Richmond is pleased to offer maps for use by the general public. Simply click on the map link and either download the map or send it to printing. Standard-Sized Maps (8½x11”) City of Richmond File Name: CityMap-STD File Format: PDF Created On: 8/22/2005 ·
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Cart | Contra Costa County Treasurer and Tax Collector
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©2025 Contra Costa County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office 625 Court Street, Room 100, P. O. Box 631, Martinez, California 94553-0063 Office Hours 8AM - 5PM, Except Holidays Call Center Hours 8AM - 4PM Except Holidays PHONE: (925) 608-9500 FAX:(925) 608-9598 WEB: www.cctax.us
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ArcGIS Enterprise - Fresno County Surveyor's Office Public
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The requested URL was rejected. Please consult with your administrator. Your support ID is: 14689880259426464802 [Go Back]
COUNTY OF FRESNO
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www2.co.fresno.ca.us - /0440/BidDocuments/ · [To Parent Directory] 4/23/2013 9:39 AM <dir> 020-4892 4/23/2013 9:47 AM <dir> 020-5095 4/23/2013 9:49 AM <dir> 020-5129 5/2/2013 7:52 AM <dir> 020-5154 6/5/2013 8:18 AM <dir> 020-5220 4/23/2013 9:15 AM <dir> 020-5225 6/19/2014 7:47 AM <dir> 020-5285 ...
Contact Us - Imperial County Assessor's Office
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Imperial County GIS Information · (442) 265-8609 · Property Transfer · Deed, Transfers Inquiries. Change in Ownership Inquiries. Parent / Child Exclusions (Prop58) (Prop19) Grandparent /Grandchild Exclusion (Prop193) (Prop19) Age 55 or Disabled Transfer Property (Prop60) (Prop19) (442) 265-8608 ...
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You can check the zoning of your parcel or see your location's flood zone, soil type, natural hazards, and more on our Lake County Map Viewer. The County of Lake also offers various other GIS viewers, including:
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Merced County Tax Collector records. Search for property and property tax bills, pay taxes online, or verify taxes paid.
Layer: County Boundary (ID: 5)
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View In: ArcGIS Online Map Viewer Name: County Boundary Display Field: OBJECTID Type: Feature Layer Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon Description: Boundary of the County of Napa developed using the California Government Code 23128 descriptions .
Geographic Information Systems | Nevada County, CA
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This portal provides many ways ... our GIS data before you download it. Use the My Neighborhood app to explore property-related information such as address, valuation, and districts . Explore aerial imagery, data layers and more! More information and a Help Guide are available on this webpage.
Residents | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
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View the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) interactive mapping to learn more about the location of the City. Future Plans Building upon the City’s history and upon the vision statement for the original Rancho Santa Margarita Planned Community, the Vision for the Future provides the foundation for the City’s long range land use plan.
Cityofredding
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{ "currentVersion": 10.81, "id": ... "latestWkid": 2225 }, "copyrightText": "City of Redding GIS - \n\nPlease Contact:\nGIS Manager\n530.225.4391,\n 777 Cypress Ave ,\nRedding, California 96001", "parentLayer": { "id": 0, "name": "Water Distribution System" }, "subLayers": [], ...
GIS Division
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The GIS program at the City of Redding was started in 1989. Utilizing a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety, a contract was issued by the Public Works Department to digitize and convert to GIS, the parcel base map and Traffic Control Device Inventory. In 1991, this two-year, two-phase project ...
Parcel Maps
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The first step in the assessment process is to locate and identify all parcels of property. This is done through the use of assessor’s parcel maps. In Sacramento County, there are more than 9,500 assessor’s maps, representing almost 475,000 parcels of land. These maps cover the entire county, including all the cities as well as the unincorporated areas.
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The Planning Division is responsible for the implementation of the City's General Plan and Development Code. This division is also responsible for managing all Land Use Entitlements in accordance with the Subdivision Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and Planning, Zoning, and Development Laws.
Help Center | Treasurer & Tax Collector
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Don't forget to also file a FBN statement with the County Clerk. The Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector provides public access to Department public records as permitted by the San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance and the California Public Records Act.
SJC Assessment Map Viewer
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DISCLAIMER The sole purpose of the attached documents is for the assessment and collection of County property taxes. County makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability or authenticity of the information set forth in these documents.
SJC Assessment Map Viewer
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Therefore, these documents should not be relied upon to determine the legal ownership of any specific parcel(s), nor to facilitate any real property transaction(s) between private parties. County is not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon these documents.
Property Information Search - County of San Luis Obispo
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County of San Luis Obispo · The Assessor has many instructive pamphlets to provide property owners with information on all subjects related to property assessment. The office also has building record and appraisal information for current property owners
Free Parcel Report with Permit History
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PARCEL INFORMATION REPORT Enter Assessor's Parcel Number . View Report Parcel History Reports are FREE to print from your home or available for $30 at the Planning Department. The reports include permit history from 1985 to present. Enter the 8 - 11 digit parcel number (APN) without dashes or spaces.
Property Tax Information | Sierra County, CA - Official Website
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Call or email us for a copy if you have not received your tax bill by August 10. ... Late payments accrue 10% late penalty if paid through October 31st. If paid after October 31st, additional 1.5% per month plus cost of collection accrue. (Homes, Real Estate, Commercial Property, Mobile Homes, etc.)
Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Secured Annual Property Tax Bills | Solano County, California
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Use the return envelope and payment ... in the lower-left corner of your check. Mailing Address (PO Box): Solano County Tax Collector, PO Box 51094 Los Angeles, CA 90051-5394 ...
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - City of Vallejo, CA
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The City of Vallejo's Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based tool that provides spatial data and maps to the public and City staff for mapping and analysis purposes .
Property Search
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GIS Mapping · Public Records Request ... · Office & Contact Info · Search · This page allows you to search and look up property characteristics for any property in Ventura County using either the 10-digit parcel number or by address ....
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This page allows you to search ... for any property in Ventura County using either the 10-digit parcel number or by address. Much of our data is supplied to you for your own research. If you need to access larger amounts of data or you need it in a specialized format please submit a Public Records ...
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Property Tax Delinquent if Not Paid by April 10 | News | Yolo County
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Visit the Yolo County Tax Collector’s Office at 625 Court Street, Room 102 in Woodland , during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. (open until 5:00p.m.
Welcome to Yuba County, CA
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The Assessor's Office establishes and updates over 1100 maps for assessment purposes which delineate all locally assessed parcels of land in the county. Staff also maintains ownership information, mailing addresses, and taxable values. This and other information is available for review, and may be purchased through the Assessor's Office. This information is a synopsis of property tax rules and services offered by the Assessor's Office. You may call the Assessor's Office for more specific information. The information on this page reflects California assessment/taxation laws in effect.
🌐 yuba.gov
Search Assessor and Recorder Information | Alpine County, CA - Official Website
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The Assessor's Office does not publish property information such as values or ownership on this website due to the restraints of Government Code 6254.21 . Some information is available from third party websites or you can search and view information at our public kiosk in the Administration building.
Search Page | Butte County | MBC
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On the right side, the Important ... a date range for the tax bill, County website, phone number, and other relevant messages. You may have difficulty searching for your tax bill because your address on the deed may have been recorded with abbreviations....
Search Page | Calaveras County | MBC
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Please provide your search criteria and click the Search button. Review the Help section below for more information on how to locate your Assessment or Fee Parcel · To view a "specific" assessment, please enter the assessment number. This feature may not display all outstanding assessments.
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Please note, for security purposes, we cannot disclose your PIN over the telephone, via email or fax. The PIN is found on the upper left-hand corner of Secured Property Tax Bills.” X ... You are now leaving the County of Los Angeles Treasurer and Tax Collector website and linking to a website that may contain commercial advertising.
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To change the mailing address on your tax bill(s), please email your fee parcel number(s) and new address to: Assessor@co.modoc.ca.us If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact our office. Cheryl Knoch Treasurer-Tax Collector ... If you have questions about your bill please contact your local County's Tax Office.
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ATTENTION! This is for historical purposes only and is not current data. Please select current roll year for current payment information. Search for current year taxes ... ATTENTION! Payment hold exists on this Assessment, Please contact County Tax Collector Office for more details.
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Property Search · Search Pers Prop · Tax Collector · Tax Search · Checkout · Auditor · Documents · Home · Assessor · Property Search · Search Pers Prop · Tax Collector · Tax Search · Checkout · Auditor · Documents · Assessor · Search real estate, personal property, and assessment record information using an interactive map.
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Riverside County Assessor - County Clerk - Recorder - Home Page
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Assessor (800) 746-1544 (951) 955-6200 Phone Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm M–F County Clerk-Recorder (800) 696-9144 (951) 486-7000 Phone Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm M–F · Click Here to Contact Us · Tell Us How We're Doing · Auditor-Controller · Clerk of the Board · County of Riverside ...
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The Assessor’s primary task is ... the county and for preparing the regular and supplemental property tax rolls with integrity and fairness in accordance with the California Constitution and laws and regulations of the State of California and State Board of Equalization. The Assessor’s Office serves the taxpayers of San Benito County with ...
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On the right side, the Important ... a date range for the tax bill, County website, phone number, and other relevant messages. You may have difficulty searching for your tax bill because your address on the deed may have been recorded with abbreviations....
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California Counties
58 California counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I search California property records?▼
In California, property records — including parcel data, assessed value, deeds, and tax history — are primarily maintained at the county level by each county's Assessor and Recorder. Statewide oversight and reporting are provided by the Official California Property Records at www.boe.ca.gov. See the cards below or the county page for direct local search links.
Is there a free statewide California property search?▼
California does not have a single statewide free property search; deed and assessment data are searched at the county level. The Official California Property Records publishes statewide property-tax rules and aggregate data at www.boe.ca.gov; for individual parcels, use the county assessor or recorder.
What's the difference between the Assessor and the Recorder in California?▼
The county Assessor determines property values for tax purposes and maintains the parcel roll. The county Recorder (sometimes Clerk-Recorder) records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting title. In some California countys these are combined offices; in others they're separate. The Official California Property Records at www.boe.ca.gov publishes the full list.
How do I find a California parcel ID (APN/PIN)?▼
Parcel identification numbers (APN, PIN, or parcel number depending on the county) are assigned by the county assessor. They appear on every tax bill and on the county's online property-search interface. Once you have the parcel ID you can look up assessed value, ownership history, and recorded documents through the county site; the statewide overview is at www.boe.ca.gov.
How do I challenge a California property assessment?▼
Assessment appeals in California are filed at the county level with the local assessment appeals board, typically within a deadline set after annual valuation notices are mailed. The Official California Property Records publishes the statewide rules, deadlines, and appeal forms at www.boe.ca.gov.