Search Butte Property Records
Butte County property records are kept by the recorder office in Oroville and include deeds, mortgages, liens and other documents affecting real property throughout the county. The recorder maintains an online database where you can search for recorded documents free of charge. Property assessment information comes from the assessor office while tax records are handled by the tax collector. Most records are available to the public under California open records law. These documents cover all property transactions, liens, and assessments for parcels in Butte County including Paradise, Chico, and other communities.
Butte County Quick Reference
Butte County Recorder
The recorder office is at 155 Nelson Avenue in Oroville. Hours are Monday through Friday from eight thirty in the morning until four in the afternoon with a closure from noon to one for lunch. Call 530-552-3400 if you have questions about recording documents or need help finding records. The office accepts walk-in customers during business hours.
You can search recorded documents online at recorder.buttecounty.net. The database lets you search by name, document number, or recording date. Many documents have scanned images you can view and print. The index goes back many years and new recordings are added daily. There is no fee to search or view documents online. You only pay if you need certified copies.
Recording fees are set by state law with additional county fees allowed. The first page costs three dollars and fifty cents to copy. Each additional page is one dollar and fifty cents. Certification adds three dollars to the total. For recording new documents, expect to pay the standard fifteen dollar base fee plus three dollars per additional page. The SB2 housing fee of seventy-five dollars applies to most property transfers. Real estate fraud prevention fees and monument preservation fees may also apply.
Submit documents for recording in person, by mail, or through an e-recording vendor. In-person submissions are recorded the same day if you arrive before the cutoff time. Mailed documents are processed in the order received. E-recording through approved vendors offers fast turnaround. The recorder will stamp each document with the exact time and date of recording. This timestamp establishes legal priority.
Property Values and Tax Bills
The assessor office sets property values each year for tax purposes. Butte County assesses over one hundred thousand parcels. Values are based on the purchase price under Proposition 13 and can only increase two percent per year unless the property sells or improvements are made. The assessor maintains parcel maps and ownership records for the entire county.
You can look up property information online or by contacting the assessor office. Search by address or parcel number to find assessed value, lot size, building square footage, and year built. Assessment rolls are public records. The assessor also handles change in ownership statements that must be filed when property transfers occur. These forms are due within forty-five days of recording the deed.
Property tax bills are sent by the tax collector in October each year. First installment is due November 1st and goes delinquent December 10th. Second installment is due February 1st and becomes delinquent April 10th. A ten percent penalty applies to late payments. If you do not pay for several years, the property goes to a tax sale. Butte County uses Bid4Assets for tax auctions.
Pay your taxes online, by phone, by mail, or in person. The tax collector website shows your current bill and payment history. E-check payments are often free while credit cards have a percentage fee. Always keep proof of payment. If you disagree with your assessed value, file an appeal between July 2nd and September 15th. The assessment appeals board hears cases and can lower your value if you show evidence the assessment is too high.
Getting Butte County Records
Start online for the fastest results. The recorder portal has most documents from recent decades. Enter the names of buyers or sellers to find deeds. Use document numbers if you have them from a title report or prior search. The system displays results quickly. Click on any record to see more details or view the scanned image.
For property assessment data, visit the assessor website or call their office. Staff can pull up parcel information by address. They will tell you the assessed value and property features. This information is free and public. The assessor office can also provide copies of parcel maps showing lot boundaries and dimensions.
Tax information is available through the tax collector. Look up your parcel online to see current and past bills. The portal shows if you are current or have delinquent taxes. You can pay through the same system. Have your parcel number handy. It appears on your tax bill and on county maps.
In-person visits work well if you need help or want to search older records not yet online. The recorder office has staff who can assist you. Bring ID and be ready to explain what you are looking for. They may need to pull old books or microfilm. Copy services are available while you wait. Mail requests are also accepted if you include payment and a clear description of what you need.
Cities and Communities in Butte County
Butte County includes several cities and unincorporated areas. All property records are maintained at the county level in Oroville. The county recorder handles documents for every parcel no matter which city or town it is in. The assessor tracks values for all properties countywide.
Chico is the largest city in Butte County but does not have a population over 100,000 so it does not have its own page on this site. Other communities include Paradise which was heavily affected by the Camp Fire in 2018, Oroville, Gridley, and Biggs. Property records for all these areas are found through the Butte County recorder and assessor.
Bordering Counties
Butte County shares boundaries with several Northern California counties.