Alpine County Property Files
Alpine County property records cover the smallest population of any California county but include vast mountain terrain and resort properties. The assessor-recorder office in Markleeville handles all property documents for the county. You can search deeds, liens, and assessments online from 1986 to present. Property tax records are maintained by the same office. The county does not offer e-recording services yet. All documents must be submitted in person or by mail to the Markleeville office. These files include deeds, mortgages, liens, and tax data for every parcel in Alpine County.
Alpine County Overview
Assessor-Recorder Office
Alpine County combines the assessor and recorder into one office. The office sits at 99 Water Street in Markleeville. Office hours run Monday through Friday from nine in the morning until noon, then one in the afternoon until four. The phone number is 530-694-2283. Staff can help you find documents or answer questions about recording requirements.
The online search system covers records from 1986 forward. Older documents exist on paper in the vault. You need to visit in person to see those. The online index shows grantor names, grantee names, and document types. Some years have scanned images you can view. Other years show only the index entry. To see the full document, you may need to request a copy from staff.
Recording fees follow state rules. The base fee is fifteen dollars for the first page. Each added page costs three dollars. The SB2 housing fee is seventy-five dollars per transaction with a cap of two hundred and twenty-five dollars if multiple parcels are involved. Alpine County does not accept e-recording yet. Bring your documents to the office or mail them with payment. The office will record them in the order received and mail back a recorded copy.
Copy requests can be made in person, by phone, or by mail. Plain copies cost a few dollars per page. Certified copies cost more but provide legal proof that matches the original. Most banks and title companies need certified copies. The recorder stamps each certified page and signs a certificate. Processing time is usually one or two days for in-person requests. Mail requests take about a week.
Property Tax and Assessments
The assessor side of the office handles property values. Alpine County has fewer than five thousand parcels total. The assessor reviews each one every year. Values are set based on recent sales and property features. Under Proposition 13, your value can only go up two percent per year unless the property sells or you add new construction.
Property tax bills get mailed in October. The first installment is due November 1st and becomes late after December 10th. The second installment is due February 1st and goes delinquent April 10th. A ten percent penalty applies to late payments. If you miss both deadlines, the bill keeps growing with more penalties and costs. After five years of non-payment, the property goes to a tax sale.
Alpine County property taxes are among the lowest in California due to the small population and limited services. The base rate is one percent under Proposition 13. Local bonds and assessments may add more. Your actual rate depends on where your parcel sits and what districts cover it. Schools, fire, and other special districts each add their own portion.
You can appeal your assessment if you think it is wrong. File an appeal form between July 2nd and September 15th for the regular roll. Supplemental bills have a sixty-day window from the date on the notice. The county assessment appeals board hears your case. Bring evidence like recent sales of similar properties or repair estimates for damage. The board can lower your value if the evidence supports it.
Finding Alpine Property Records
Start your search online if the records are from 1986 or later. The county website has a link to the recorder database. You can search by name or document number. Some documents have images. Others show just the index details. Write down the book and page or document number for any record you want. Then call or visit the office to get a copy.
In-person research gives you access to the full archive. The office has paper files and maps. Staff can pull old books if you know the year and type of document. Plan to spend time if you are doing deep research. Markleeville is remote and the office is small. Call ahead if you need something specific so they can have it ready when you arrive.
Mail requests work for simple copy orders. Write to Alpine County Assessor-Recorder, 99 Water Street, Markleeville, CA 96120. Include the document number or enough information to locate the record. Add a check for the copy fee. The office will process your request and mail the copies. Allow one to two weeks for mail orders.
Tax records are kept by the same office. You can call and ask about tax status on any parcel. The staff will tell you if taxes are current or past due. Tax sale lists get posted publicly when properties go into default. Alpine County rarely has tax sales because the county is so small and most owners pay on time.
Note: Alpine County has no cities. All land is either unincorporated county territory or federal land managed by the Forest Service. Most properties are vacation cabins or resort areas near Lake Tahoe.
Surrounding Counties
Alpine County borders several other California counties in the Sierra Nevada region.