Los Angeles County Property Records
Search Property Records in Los Angeles County, California
Start a name-based search through LosAngelesRecords.org to compare possible matches and identify details that can help direct your official follow-up. Property documents, assessments, taxes, and maps are maintained through separate Los Angeles County systems.
- Start with a name and compare available property details.
- Gather the property-location address or relevant identifier for follow-up.
- Use the appropriate recording, assessment, tax, or map source.
What May Appear in Los Angeles County Property Records
Property-related records serve different purposes and should be reviewed in the context of the agency that maintains them.
| Record type | Information to review | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded deeds and instruments | Parties, recording date, instrument number, document type | A recorded document should be reviewed in context; it is not by itself a title opinion. |
| Assessment records | Property characteristics, assessed value, owner mailing address | Assessment ownership information is not a legal determination of title. |
| Property tax accounts | Tax bills, current balances, payment history | A tax balance does not identify every lien or encumbrance. |
| Recorded liens and releases | Instrument type, parties, recording references | A lien entry does not establish whether it remains enforceable or unresolved. |
| Parcel maps and land records | Parcel location, map book, and map page | Map lines are informational and are not legal survey boundaries. |
How to Search Property Records in Los Angeles County
Use the information you have to select the system that matches your purpose.
- Start with available name or property information and compare possible matches.
- Identify whether the task concerns recorded documents, assessment details, taxes, or maps.
- Gather the identifier supported by the relevant official system.
- Review the appropriate official record and verify important details through the responsible Los Angeles County office.
Useful identifiers can include:
- Property-location address for assessment or tax searches.
- Assessor's Identification Number (AIN) for assessment, tax, and parcel-map searches.
- Instrument number or book and page for recorded documents.
- Party name, such as a grantor or grantee, for the recorded-document index.
- Recording date and document type for narrowing a recorded-document search.
An AIN identifies a parcel for assessment-related purposes and is not the same as a recording instrument number. An owner mailing address in an assessment record may differ from the property’s physical location.
Official Los Angeles County Property Record Sources
| Official source | What it provides | Scope or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Real Estate Records | Index to deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, releases, easements, plats, and other recorded instruments | Online index searches do not provide document images; older records may require in-person or mail research. |
| Los Angeles County Assessor Property Search | Assessment records, parcel characteristics, valuation data, and owner mailing address | Assessment information does not establish legal title; some owner information may be redacted. |
| Los Angeles County Property Tax Portal | Tax accounts, tax bills, payment history, and current balances | Information is updated periodically and is not a complete list of property obligations. |
| Los Angeles County Public Works Land Records | Parcel maps and land-record mapping resources | Map boundaries are informational, not a substitute for a legal survey. |
Searching Official Los Angeles County Property Sources Online
Los Angeles County provides separate online routes for recorded-document indexes, assessment information, tax accounts, and parcel maps. Choose the route based on the information needed.
- For a deed, lien, release, or other recorded instrument, use the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Real Estate Records index with a party name, document type, recording date, instrument number, or book and page.
- For assessed value, parcel characteristics, or an owner mailing address, use the Los Angeles County Assessor Property Search with an AIN, property address, or owner name.
- For tax bills, balances, and payment history, use the Los Angeles County Property Tax Portal with an AIN or property address.
- For a parcel map, use Los Angeles County Public Works Land Records with an AIN or map book and page.
The recorded-document index is distinct from document copies. A tax-account result is distinct from the recording system, and a parcel map does not establish legal boundaries.
Finding Deeds, Liens, and Recorded Documents in Los Angeles County
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is the official custodian of recorded real-property documents.
- Go to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Real Estate Records resource.
- Search the documented index using a party name, document type, recording date, instrument number, or book and page.
- Compare recording dates, instrument types, named parties, and available property references.
- Note the instrument number or book/page reference and request the relevant document copy when needed.
Keep these limitations in mind:
- A grantor or grantee index entry does not independently prove current ownership.
- A recorded lien entry does not establish its current legal status or priority.
- Assessment and tax systems do not replace a recorded-document search.
- The online index does not include document images, and online access may be limited for older records even though the index covers documents recorded from 1850 to the present.
- Releases, easements, plats, and other related instruments may be relevant to the document under review.
Obtaining Property Documents and Certified Copies in Los Angeles County
An index entry is not the document itself, and an ordinary copy is not necessarily a certified copy.
| What you need | Appropriate official route |
|---|---|
| Locate a recorded document reference | Search the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk index by party, date, document type, instrument number, or book/page. |
| Obtain an ordinary recorded-document copy | Submit a request to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk online, by mail, or in person. |
| Obtain a certified recorded-document copy | Request certification through the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk; certification is available for an additional fee. |
| Obtain assessment information | Use the Assessor’s portal or contact the Assessor; certified assessment copies are not provided. |
- Identify the specific recorded document through the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Real Estate Records index.
- Gather the instrument number or book and page, along with party names, document type, and recording date if available.
- Specify whether an ordinary or certified copy is needed.
- Submit the documented request in person, by mail, or through the official online request route.
Some documents may not be available for immediate release. A copy of a deed or other instrument does not by itself establish current title.
Los Angeles County Property Record Limitations and Verification
- Identity: A matching name does not establish that a record concerns the intended person.
- Property match: Compare the property location, AIN, recording references, and document details before relying on a result.
- Ownership: Assessment records and recorded documents serve different purposes; assessment ownership information is not conclusive title evidence.
- Values: Assessed value, taxable value, and market value are distinct and may differ.
- Taxes and liens: A property tax balance is not a complete lien or encumbrance search.
- Dates: Assessment records are updated annually, while tax information is updated periodically and recording information follows recording activity.
- Maps: Los Angeles County Public Works Land Records maps are for reference and do not establish legal boundaries or replace a survey.
- Missing results: No search result does not prove that no property or recorded document exists.
- Verification: Use the responsible county office for official documents, corrections, and record-specific questions.
Related Los Angeles County Record Guides
- Los Angeles County Court Records — Cases, judgments, and orders may concern property but are distinct from recorded deeds and assessment records.
- Los Angeles County Divorce Records — Divorce judgments and related court documents are not interchangeable with recorded deeds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Los Angeles County Property Records
Which office maintains recorded deeds in Los Angeles County?
- The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is the official custodian of recorded property documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, easements, and plats.
- Use the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Real Estate Records index to locate an instrument reference before requesting a copy.
- Document images are not available through the online index.
What is an AIN in Los Angeles County property records?
- An Assessor's Identification Number (AIN) is Los Angeles County’s primary parcel identifier for assessment-related property searches.
- The AIN can be used through the Los Angeles County Assessor Property Search, the property tax portal, and Public Works parcel-map resources.
- It is different from an instrument number or book/page reference used for recorded documents.
Where can I request a certified recorded document in Los Angeles County?
- Certified and ordinary copies of recorded documents can be requested from the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
- Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through the official online request process described in the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Real Estate Records guidance.
- Provide an instrument number or book/page reference when possible, along with available party, document-type, and recording-date details.
Are Los Angeles County parcel map boundaries legal property boundaries?
- No. Los Angeles County Public Works states that parcel-map lines are for informational purposes and are not legal boundaries.
- Parcel maps can be searched by AIN or map book and page through Los Angeles County Public Works Land Records.
- Some properties, including certain mobile homes or subdivisions, may not appear on parcel maps.