San Bernardino Property Records
Property records for San Bernardino are managed by San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. San Bernardino is the county seat with about 222,000 people. The main recorder office sits right in the city at 222 West Hospitality Lane. This office handles all property filings for San Bernardino and every other city in the county. You can walk in during business hours or use the online system to search deeds, liens, and tax data. Records date back to 1958 in the digital index. Older records exist on microfilm or paper. Most residents start online and visit in person only when they need certified copies or help with a complex search that cannot be done from home.
San Bernardino Quick Facts
Where San Bernardino Property Records Are Kept
The county recorder office in San Bernardino keeps all deeds and liens. Every time someone buys or sells property in the city, the deed goes to this office. The staff stamp it with a date and time. That stamp is proof of when the document was filed. The file becomes part of the public record. Anyone can search it later to see who owns what.
San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk is at 222 West Hospitality Lane. The office is open Monday through Friday from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon. Recorder questions go to 909-387-8306. Assessor questions go to 909-387-8307. The office is in downtown San Bernardino near the county government center. Parking is available nearby. Bring a photo ID if you plan to request records at the counter.
| Office | San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 222 W. Hospitality Lane San Bernardino, CA 92415 |
| Phone | Recorder: 909-387-8306 Assessor: 909-387-8307 |
| Hours | M-F, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | arcselfservice.sbcounty.gov |
The county assessor sets property values. The assessor office is in the same building. They track each parcel and update values every year. Under Proposition 13, your assessed value can go up no more than two percent per year unless you sell. When a home in San Bernardino sells, the assessor resets the value to the sale price. That becomes the new base for tax bills.
How to Search San Bernardino Property Records Online
Go to arcselfservice.sbcounty.gov to use the county Self-Service Portal. This system has records from 1958 to the present. You can search by name, date, or document type. The index is free to use. Images of most documents are available to view at no charge. If you need an official copy, you pay a fee and download it.
Type the owner name or address into the search box. Hit search and wait for results. The system will show a list of matching records. Click on one to see more info. You can view the document image right there on the screen. If you need a certified copy, pay the fee and download it. First page costs three dollars. Each extra page is one dollar. Certification adds another dollar per page.
Assembly Bill 1785 changed how you search by parcel number. As of December 2024, you cannot search by Assessor Parcel Number online. If you need to search by APN, you must visit the office in person or use a public kiosk. Call ahead at 909-387-8306 to ask where the kiosks are located before you make the trip to San Bernardino.
For property tax info, use the Tax Collector portal at mytaxcollector.com. Enter your address or parcel number to see your bill. The site shows what you owe, when it is due, and your payment history. You can pay online with eCheck for free or with a credit card for a fee. The tax collector also posts lists of properties with unpaid taxes and info on tax sales.
Types of Property Documents in San Bernardino
Grant deeds transfer ownership from one person to another. When you buy a home in San Bernardino, the seller signs a grant deed. You take that deed to the county recorder. They file it and give you a stamped copy. The deed becomes part of the public record. Anyone can search for it later to see who owns the property.
Trust deeds secure loans on property. If you borrow money to buy a home, you sign a trust deed. The lender files it at the county. The deed gives the lender a claim on your house until you pay off the loan. When you finish paying, the lender records a reconveyance. That paper removes the lien from your title.
Liens show debts tied to property. A mechanic lien comes from a contractor who did work but did not get paid. A tax lien comes from unpaid taxes. The IRS can file a federal tax lien. The state can file one for unpaid income tax. All these liens attach to the property title. You must pay or settle them before you can sell with clear title in San Bernardino.
Common records for San Bernardino properties:
- Grant deeds, quitclaim deeds, and warranty deeds
- Deeds of trust and reconveyances
- Mechanic liens and judgment liens
- Tax liens from IRS, state, or county
- Notices of default and trustee sales
- Property tax bills and payment records
Note: Documents are usually indexed within one business day after they arrive at the recorder office in San Bernardino.
Property Taxes in San Bernardino
Property taxes in San Bernardino are based on assessed value. The county assessor sets that value each year. Under Proposition 13, the value can go up no more than two percent per year unless the property sells. When you buy a home, the value resets to your purchase price. That new value is the base for your tax bill.
Tax bills go out twice a year. The first installment is due November 1 and late on December 10. The second is due February 1 and late on April 10. A ten percent penalty hits if you pay late. If you do not pay by June 30, the account goes to the defaulted roll. More fees and monthly interest at one and a half percent apply after that.
Pay your San Bernardino property taxes at mytaxcollector.com. Search by address or parcel number to find your bill. The site shows what you owe and past payments. You can pay with eCheck at no extra cost. Credit and debit cards come with a fee. Check the site for the current rate before you pay.
If you think your property value is too high, file an appeal with the county Assessment Appeals Board. The filing period for regular appeals runs from July 2 to September 15 each year. You need to show why the assessed value is wrong. The board will schedule a hearing and decide if your value should be lowered. More info is at boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/faqs/assessappeals.htm.
Fees for Recording in San Bernardino
Recording a deed in San Bernardino costs about one hundred dollars or more. The base state fee is fifteen dollars for the first page and four dollars for each extra page. Senate Bill 2 adds seventy-five dollars to most real estate transfers. This fee funds housing programs in California. Some documents do not have the SB2 fee, like reconveyances or certain family transfers.
San Bernardino County adds other fees. There is a fraud prevention fee and a few other charges. The total depends on how many pages your document has and what type it is. Call 909-387-8306 before you file to get a quote. That way you know the exact cost before you go.
Copy fees are much less than recording fees. Plain copies cost three dollars for the first page and one dollar for each extra page. Certified copies add one dollar per page. If you order by mail, send a check for the right amount. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing takes one to two weeks by mail.
Note: Fees can change from time to time, so check the county website or call to confirm the current rates before you mail payment.
City of San Bernardino Building Permits
The City of San Bernardino handles building permits and code enforcement. These records are separate from property ownership records. If you want to see what permits were issued for a home or check building history, contact the city Building and Safety Division. Their office is at 201 North E Street on the third floor. Call 909-384-5565 for questions about permits in San Bernardino.
Visit sbcity.org/205/Building-Safety for info on building permits. The city tracks all permits for new construction, additions, and repairs. You can ask for a permit history on any property. This helps when you are buying a home and want to see if work was done with permits. The city also handles code violations and inspections for properties in San Bernardino.
California Property Recording Laws
California Civil Code section 1213 says that recorded documents give public notice. If you record your deed, later buyers cannot claim they did not know about it. The law protects people who record first. Visit leginfo.legislature.ca.gov to read the full statute.
Civil Code section 1214 sets the race-notice rule. If two people buy the same property, the one who records first wins. This only works if the second buyer did not know about the first sale. Recording your deed right after you buy protects your claim on property in San Bernardino.
Government Code section 27320 tells the county recorder what to do when you file a document. The recorder must stamp the date and time on it. That timestamp shows when your document was filed. The recorder also checks that your paper meets format rules. It must be on standard size paper with clear text and proper margins. If it does not meet the rules, the recorder can reject it.
Revenue and Taxation Code section 60 defines change in ownership for tax purposes. When you buy property in San Bernardino, the assessor resets the value to what you paid. Some transfers do not trigger reassessment, like gifts between parents and children or moves into certain trusts.
Other San Bernardino County Cities
Other cities in San Bernardino County include Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, and Victorville. All these cities use the same county recorder and assessor system. If you own property in more than one city in the county, you search them all through the San Bernardino County portal. Nearby counties like Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Riverside County have their own systems. You must search each county separately if you want records from multiple places.
San Bernardino County Property Records
San Bernardino is the county seat of San Bernardino County. All property recording and assessment for the city and the rest of the county goes through the county offices. For more details on services, office hours, online tools, and fee schedules, visit the San Bernardino County property records page.