Pasadena Property Records

Property records for Pasadena are kept by Los Angeles County. The city has about 138,000 residents and sits in the San Gabriel Valley northeast of downtown Los Angeles. All deeds, liens, and property transfers for Pasadena go through the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. The assessor tracks values on each parcel. Tax bills come from the county treasurer. Pasadena handles building permits and planning records through the city's Planning and Community Development Department.

Los Angeles County Records for Pasadena

Pasadena is part of Los Angeles County. All property documents for the city are filed at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder office. The main office is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Branch offices are in Beverly Hills, Lancaster, and Van Nuys. Call (800) 201-8999 option 3 for help with Pasadena 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 by name and pull the file. Plain copies cost five dollars for the first page and three dollars for each additional page. Certified copies are six dollars for the first page and three dollars for each page after that.

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

Recording fees in Los Angeles County are higher than many other counties. The base fee is fifteen dollars for the first page. Senate Bill 2 adds seventy-five dollars per document. A fraud fee of five dollars applies to most deeds. Additional fees include two dollars for restrictive covenant modification and seven dollars for fraud notification on grant deeds. Total fees can exceed one hundred dollars for a single deed. Check the current schedule at lavote.gov before filing.

Getting Pasadena Property Records

Since Los Angeles County does not have online deed images, you need to visit an office or request copies by mail. The Norwalk office is the main location and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Beverly Hills branch at 9355 Burton Way is closer to Pasadena and is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.

When you visit, bring information about the Pasadena 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 look up the parcel number first. Once they find the document, they make a copy. Wait times depend on how busy the office is. Early morning or mid-afternoon is usually less crowded.

You can request records by mail. Write a letter with the 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 copies back to you. This takes one to two weeks depending on their workload. For urgent requests, visit in person.

The assessor website gives basic property info. Go to portal.assessor.lacounty.gov and type in a Pasadena address. You can see the owner name, assessed value, square footage, and tax bill. The site shows maps and photos of many properties. This does not give deed images, but it confirms ownership and value.

Property Taxes in Pasadena

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

Property taxes are due twice a year. First half is due November 1 and becomes delinquent December 10. A ten percent penalty applies if you pay late. 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 account moves to the defaulted roll and more fees add up.

Most Pasadena homeowners pay through escrow. The mortgage lender collects a portion each month and pays the county. If you pay on your own, mark the due dates on your calendar. The county mails bills in October and February. Not getting a bill does not excuse you from paying on time. Call (888) 473-0835 to check your balance or request a duplicate bill.

Proposition 13 caps annual assessment increases at two percent for Pasadena properties. When a home sells, the assessor resets the value to the sale price. That new value becomes the base for future tax bills. If you think your value is wrong, 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 Pasadena Building Records

The City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development Department handles building permits and inspections. These records are separate from county property files. The department is at 175 N. Garfield Avenue. Call (626) 744-4009 for questions about permits or to check if a property has code violations in Pasadena.

You can search for building permits online through the city portal at cityofpasadena.net. The system shows active permits, completed work, and inspection results for Pasadena addresses. Type in an address to see what work was done. The site also shows any code violations or open complaints. Permit fees vary by project type and size.

Planning and zoning records include site plans, zoning maps, and historic preservation files. Pasadena has many historic districts and landmarks. If your property is in a historic district, you may need approval from the Historic Preservation Commission before making changes. The planning staff can tell you what zone a property is in and what uses are allowed. They also review plans for new construction or major remodels.

Recording Documents in Pasadena

To record a deed or lien for Pasadena property, file it with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder. The Norwalk office is at 12400 Imperial Highway. The Beverly Hills branch at 9355 Burton Way is closer to Pasadena. Both 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 Pasadena properties. E-recording is faster than mail and reduces errors. The vendor checks the document before sending it to the county. Most e-recorded documents get processed within one to two days. Ask your title officer if they offer e-recording when you buy or refinance property in Pasadena.

Once recorded, a document 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 Pasadena property.

Legal Help for Pasadena Property Issues

If you need legal help with a property matter in Pasadena, several organizations offer services. 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 for free legal services.

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 fifty dollars for thirty minutes. After that, you negotiate rates with the lawyer. The State Bar of California also has a referral line at 1-800-392-5660.

For disputes about property lines, easements, or title issues in Pasadena, you may want to hire a real estate attorney with local experience. Look for someone who knows Los Angeles County and has handled cases in Pasadena. Some offer a free first meeting. Ask about their fees and how they bill before you hire them. You may also need a licensed surveyor if there is a question about property boundaries.

Nearby Cities in Los Angeles County

Pasadena 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 Glendale to the west, Altadena to the north, and San Marino to the south. All use the same county offices for recording deeds and collecting property taxes.