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State guides / California

California property data

California keeps its land records county by county, all 58 of them, each with its own systems. Here's what's public, what's hard to get, and what Deedplat puts on one map.

  • 58Counties
  • PublicSale prices
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What you can get in California

California makes most property records public, including what each property sold for. The catch is that every county keeps them differently.

Public everywhere

Every county has these, and Deedplat loads them all.

  • Owners and mailing addressesFrom the county Assessor
  • Sale pricesRecorded deeds usually show the documentary transfer tax paid, which reveals the price, though the buyer's ownership report to the assessor is confidential.
  • Deeds and mortgagesCounty Recorder in each county (often combined with the Assessor or County Clerk)
  • Assessed valuesUnder Prop 13, property is reassessed only when it sells or is newly built; otherwise the value can rise no more than 2% a year.
  • Tax deed salesRun county by county
  • Foreclosure filings and salesNotices of sale are recorded or posted
  • Lot linesCounty parcel maps

Depends on the town

Cities keep building permits, code enforcement cases and rent program records, and the California Public Records Act covers city and county agencies.

  • Code violations and condemnations
  • Building permits
  • Rental registration and inspections
  • Zoning maps and ordinances
  • Water and sewer liens

Not public

What no office will hand over, so you know where the line is.

  • Owner phone numbers and emails
  • Rents and leases
  • Active listingsThose live in the MLS
  • Mortgage balancesThe original loan amount is recorded; what's left is not

How property changes hands here

Distressed property reaches the market through a few channels, and they differ by county.

Tax deeds

Once property has been tax-defaulted for five years, the county Tax Collector can sell it, usually at public auction. The owner can redeem until the close of business on the last business day before the sale, with no redemption afterward. The buyer receives a tax deed, and counties can also sell to public agencies or qualified nonprofits.

Foreclosure mostly skips the courts

Most California foreclosures are non-judicial trustee sales under a deed of trust, with no redemption after the sale. For homes with one to four units, eligible tenants, nonprofits and public entities get 45 days after the sale to match the winning bid, a rule in place until January 1, 2031.

Land banks

California counties can sell tax-defaulted land directly to public agencies and qualified nonprofits before it goes to auction.

Transfer tax

Counties charge a documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of value, and many cities add their own; the City of Los Angeles adds $2.25 per $500 plus 4% or 5.5% on high-dollar sales.

Worth knowing

Prop 13 limits the base property tax to 1% of assessed value and caps yearly value growth at 2% until a sale or new construction triggers a reassessment.

Worth knowing

Since 2021, eligible tenants, nonprofits and public entities can buy a foreclosed one-to-four-unit home within 45 days after a trustee sale by matching or beating the top bid.

Every county in California

Choose any county to get started.

Questions

Are property sale prices public in California?

Mostly. The recorded deed usually shows the documentary transfer tax, which lets you work out the price. The separate ownership report sent to the assessor is confidential.

How do tax sales work in California?

After property taxes have been unpaid for five years, the county Tax Collector can auction the property and issue a tax deed. The owner can redeem until the last business day before the sale, and there is no redemption after it.

Where are deeds and mortgages recorded in California?

Deeds and deeds of trust are recorded with the County Recorder in the county where the property sits.

How often are California properties reassessed?

Only when the property sells or is newly built. In other years Prop 13 limits value increases to 2%, though assessors can lower values temporarily when the market drops.

Is foreclosure judicial in California?

Usually not. Most California loans use a deed of trust, so the lender forecloses through a trustee sale outside of court, with no redemption after the sale.

Can I get records Deedplat doesn't have?

State, county and city records can be requested under the California Public Records Act. We file those requests for you, clean up the results and add them to your map.

Sources for this guide

Laws and fees change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.

Every parcel, on one map

Deedplat is in beta. Pick any California county to get started.

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