Torrance Property Records

Property records for Torrance are kept by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Torrance has about 145,000 people and sits in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. All deeds, liens, and tax records for homes and land in Torrance go through the county system. The main office is in Norwalk, but there are branch offices across the county. You cannot search deeds online for Los Angeles County. You must visit an office in person or call to request copies. Property tax and assessment info is available online through the county assessor and tax collector websites. Many Torrance residents check tax and value info online first and then visit a branch office when they need deed copies or lien searches for their property.

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Office

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk keeps all deeds and liens for Torrance. 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 sets priority if more than one person claims the same property. The file becomes part of the public record.

The main office is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Office hours are Monday through Friday from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon. Call 800-201-8999 and press option 3 for property records. Email RRCCFireAssistance@rrcc.lacounty.gov if you have questions. There are also branch offices in Beverly Hills, Lancaster, and Van Nuys that serve different parts of the county.

Important notice: Los Angeles County does not provide online access to real estate records or indexes. You must visit an office in person or call to request copies by mail. Property records are filed by grantor name, grantee name, and year of recording, not by address.

How to Search Torrance Property Records

You must visit a Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder office in person to search for deeds and liens. The county does not offer online access to the recorder index. When you visit, staff can help you search by name or year of recording. You cannot search by address in the recorder system. Bring the names of the people on the deed if you have them. The complete document must be purchased. You cannot buy just certain pages.

For property tax and assessment info, visit the Los Angeles County Assessor at portal.assessor.lacounty.gov. You can search by address or parcel number. The site shows the assessed value, tax bill estimate, and property details. For tax payment, go to vcheck.ttc.lacounty.gov. You can pay with eCheck for free or with a credit or debit card for a two point two two percent fee with a one dollar forty-nine cent minimum.

Property taxes in Los Angeles County are due twice a year. The first installment is due November 1 and late on December 10 with a ten percent penalty. The second is due February 1 and late on April 10 with a ten percent penalty plus a ten dollar cost.

Property Documents in Torrance

Grant deeds transfer ownership. Trust deeds secure loans on property. Liens attach to property when someone owes money. All these documents are filed at the county recorder office and affect Torrance properties.

Common property records in Torrance:

• Grant deeds and quitclaim deeds
• Deeds of trust and reconveyances
• Mechanic liens and judgment liens
• Tax liens from IRS or state
• Notices of default and trustee sales
• Property tax bills and payment records

Note: You cannot search by address in the Los Angeles County recorder system. Records are indexed by grantor name, grantee name, and year.

Fees for Recording in Torrance

Recording a deed in Torrance costs about one hundred dollars or more. The base fee under Government Code section 27361 is fifteen dollars. Senate Bill 2 adds seventy-five dollars. The Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Program Fee is five dollars. AB 1466 Restrictive Covenant Modification Fee is two dollars. Each additional page costs three dollars. The fraud notification fee for grant deeds is seven dollars. The survey monument preservation fee is ten dollars.

Copy fees are five dollars for the first page of a plain copy and three dollars for each additional page. Certification costs six dollars for the first page and three dollars for each additional page. Call 800-201-8999 option 3 to confirm current rates.

Note: Fee schedules can change, so call to confirm before you file or order copies.

City of Torrance Community Development

The City of Torrance Community Development Department handles building permits and zoning. These records are separate from property ownership records. Call 310-618-5990 for questions about permits in Torrance. Visit torranceca.gov for info on building permits and planning.

California Property Recording Laws

California Civil Code section 1213 says that recorded documents give public notice. Visit leginfo.legislature.ca.gov to read Civil Code 1213. Civil Code section 1214 sets the race-notice rule. Recording your deed right after you buy protects your claim on property in Torrance.

Government Code section 27320 tells the county recorder what to do when you file a document. Revenue and Taxation Code section 60 defines change in ownership for tax purposes.

Other Los Angeles County Cities

Other cities in Los Angeles County include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, and Burbank. All these cities use the same county recorder and assessor system.

Los Angeles County Property Records

Torrance is in Los Angeles County. All property recording and assessment for the city goes through the county offices. For more details, visit the Los Angeles County property records page.

View Los Angeles County Property Records