Long Beach Property Records

Property records for Long Beach are maintained by Los Angeles County. The city has about 462,000 residents and is the second largest city in Los Angeles County. All deeds, liens, and property transfers for Long Beach go through the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. The county assessor tracks values on each parcel. Tax bills come from the county treasurer. Long Beach manages its own building permits and planning records through the city's Development Services Department.

Los Angeles County Records for Long Beach

Long Beach is part of Los Angeles County. All property documents for the city are filed at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder office. The main location is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. There are also branch offices in Beverly Hills, Lancaster, and Van Nuys. Call (800) 201-8999 option 3 for help with Long Beach property records.

Los Angeles County does not offer online deed searches. You must visit an office in person or call to request copies. Property records are indexed by grantor and grantee name. Staff can search for a name and pull the file. Copies cost five dollars for the first page as a plain copy. Add three dollars per page after that. Certified copies are six dollars for the first page and three dollars for each additional page.

The Los Angeles County Assessor keeps property value data for Long Beach. The main office is at 500 West Temple Street in Los Angeles. Search property values online at portal.assessor.lacounty.gov. Type in an address to see the assessed value and tax info. Call (888) 807-2111 with questions about your Long Beach property assessment.

Recording fees in Los Angeles County add up quickly. The base fee is fifteen dollars for the first page. The SB 2 building homes fee adds seventy-five dollars per transaction. A fraud fee of five dollars applies to most deeds. Additional fees can bring the total over one hundred dollars for a single deed in Long Beach. Check the current fee schedule at lavote.gov before filing.

How to Get Long Beach Property Records

Since Los Angeles County does not have online deed images, you need to visit a county office or request copies by mail. The Norwalk office is the main location. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also visit branch offices at Beverly Hills, Lancaster, or Van Nuys during their business hours.

When you visit, bring as much info as you have about the Long Beach property. If you know the parcel number, grantor name, or document number, staff can find the record faster. If you only have an address, they can look up the parcel number first. Once they find the right document, they can make a copy for you. Wait times depend on how busy the office is that day.

You can also request records by mail. Write a letter with the Long Beach property address or parcel number and what type of document you need. Mail it to 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. Include a check for the copy fees. Staff will mail the copies back to you. This process can take one to two weeks depending on their workload.

The assessor website works better for basic property info. Go to portal.assessor.lacounty.gov and type in a Long Beach address. You can see the owner name, assessed value, and tax bill amount. The site also shows maps and photos of many properties. This does not give you deed images, but it helps confirm ownership and value.

Property Taxes in Long Beach

The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector handles all tax bills for Long Beach. Search and pay online at vcheck.ttc.lacounty.gov. Type in your address or parcel number to find your bill. The site lets you pay with an eCheck for free. Credit and debit cards cost 2.22 percent of the bill with a minimum of $1.49.

Property taxes are due twice a year. The first half is due November 1. It becomes delinquent after December 10. A ten percent penalty applies if you pay late. The second half is due February 1 and becomes delinquent April 10. That penalty is ten percent plus ten dollars. If you do not pay by June 30, the property moves to the defaulted tax roll and more fees add up.

Most Long Beach homeowners pay through escrow. The mortgage company collects a portion each month and pays the county. If you pay on your own, set reminders for the due dates. The county mails bills in October and February. If you do not get a bill, you are still responsible for paying on time. Call (888) 473-0835 to check your balance or ask about payment options.

Proposition 13 caps annual assessment increases at two percent for Long Beach properties. When a home sells, the assessor resets the value to the sale price. That new value becomes the base for future years. If you believe your assessment is too high, you can file an appeal during the filing period each fall. The county assessment appeals board reviews cases and can lower values if they find an error.

City of Long Beach Building Records

The City of Long Beach Development Services Department handles building permits and inspections. These records are separate from county property files. The department is at 411 W. Ocean Boulevard. Call (562) 570-6194 for questions about permits or to check if a property has any code violations in Long Beach.

You can search for building permits online through the city portal at longbeach.gov/lbds. The site shows active permits, completed work, and inspection results for Long Beach addresses. Type in an address to see what permits were issued for that property. This helps if you want to know what changes have been made to a building over time. The city charges fees for permits based on the scope of work.

Planning and zoning records are also kept by the city. These files include site plans, conditional use permits, and variances. If you want to change how you use a property in Long Beach, you may need city approval. The planning division reviews applications to make sure they follow local rules. Staff can tell you what zone a property is in and what uses are allowed there.

Recording Deeds in Long Beach

To record a deed or lien for Long Beach property, file it with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder. The Norwalk office is at 12400 Imperial Highway. Branch offices in Beverly Hills, Lancaster, and Van Nuys also accept submissions. All offices accept walk-in submissions Monday through Friday during business hours. You can also mail documents to the Norwalk address.

Documents must follow state format rules. Use 8.5 by 11 inch paper. Leave one inch margins on three sides. The top of the first page needs three inches of blank space for the county stamp. Type or print all text clearly. Get signatures notarized where required by law. The recorder will refuse documents that do not meet these standards.

Many title companies and escrow officers use electronic recording for Long Beach properties. E-recording is faster than mail. The vendor checks the document before sending it to the county. Most e-recorded documents get processed within a day or two. Ask your title company if they offer this service when you buy or refinance property in Long Beach.

Once a document is recorded, it becomes public. Anyone can search for it by name or request a copy. The county stamps the date and time on each paper. That timestamp determines priority if there are competing claims. Under California Civil Code section 1214, the first to record in good faith has the better right to the Long Beach property.

Legal Help for Property Issues in Long Beach

If you need legal help with a property matter in Long Beach, several organizations offer assistance. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles provides free help to low-income residents. They handle foreclosure defense, landlord-tenant issues, and title problems. Call (800) 399-4529 or visit lafla.org to see if you qualify.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at (213) 243-1525. They can connect you with an attorney who handles real estate and property law. The first meeting usually costs a reduced fee. After that, you negotiate rates with the lawyer directly. The State Bar of California also has a referral line at 1-800-392-5660 for finding attorneys.

For disputes about property lines, easements, or boundary issues in Long Beach, consider hiring a real estate attorney with local experience. Some lawyers offer a free initial consultation. Ask about their fees and how they bill before you hire them. You may also want to consult a licensed surveyor if there is a question about where your property line is located.

Nearby Cities in Los Angeles County

Long Beach borders several other cities in Los Angeles County. Property records for these cities are also maintained by the county registrar-recorder and assessor. Nearby cities include Los Angeles to the north, Torrance to the northwest, and Lakewood to the northeast. All share the same county offices for recording deeds and collecting property taxes.