Find Marin County Property Records

Property records in Marin County are maintained by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk office at the Civic Center in San Rafael. This office combines three functions under one roof. You can search tax rolls, record deeds, and get vital records all at the same location. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Recording services are available during these hours with same-day processing for documents submitted before 3:00 PM. Marin County offers an online tax roll search portal where you can look up property values and ownership data. For recorded documents like deeds and liens, you need to visit the office in person or request copies by mail. Recording fees follow California state law with local additions for housing and fraud prevention programs.

Marin County Assessor-Recorder Office

The Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk office is in Room 232 of the Marin County Civic Center. The Civic Center is a landmark building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. If you need same-day recording, bring your documents before 3:00 PM. Documents submitted after that time will be recorded the next business day.

Staff can help you with property records, assessment questions, and recording services. The office handles all real estate documents for Marin County. When you buy or sell property, the deed must be recorded here to give legal notice of the ownership change. The recorder keeps an index of all filed documents. Anyone can search this index under California public records law.

For property tax payment questions, contact the Marin County Treasurer-Tax Collector. That office is separate from the Assessor-Recorder. The Tax Collector handles tax bills and payments. The Assessor sets property values. The Recorder handles document filing. Each office has its own staff and function in Marin County.

Search Property Records Online

Marin County offers an online tax roll search at apps.marincounty.org/TaxRollSearch/Record. You can look up property values, ownership data, and tax information. Search by address or Assessor Parcel Number. The system shows current and past year data. It also displays parcel maps and property characteristics.

The online system does not include full recorder document images. For deeds, liens, and other recorded documents, you need to visit the office in person or request copies by mail. Staff can search by name or document number. They will print copies for you at the standard county rate per page. Certified copies take a bit longer to prepare than plain ones.

Property tax payments can be made online or by mail. Check the Marin County Treasurer-Tax Collector website for payment options and service fees. Many counties charge a convenience fee if you pay by credit card. ECheck payments are often free or have a lower fee.

Recording Fees in Marin County

Recording fees in Marin County follow California state law with some local additions. The base state fee is fifteen dollars for the first page of any document. Each extra page costs four dollars more. Senate Bill 2 adds seventy-five dollars per real estate transaction to fund housing programs. Some counties also charge a real estate fraud fee and a monument preservation fee. Check with the Assessor-Recorder office to confirm the total cost before you record in Marin County.

Copy fees are separate from recording fees. Plain copies cost a few dollars per page in most California counties. Marin County staff can give you the exact rate when you call or visit. Certified copies cost more because the clerk must stamp and sign each one. Certification proves the copy is a true image of the original on file. Banks and title companies often need certified copies rather than plain ones when they review property records.

Note: Fees can change when state law updates or the county adjusts local charges, so always verify the current rate before mailing payment or visiting the office.

Types of Property Documents

Grant deeds are the main document type for transferring property in California. When you buy a home in Marin County, the seller signs a grant deed. That deed goes to the Assessor-Recorder office for recording. Once recorded, it becomes public record. Anyone can see who owns the property by searching the county index.

Trust deeds act like mortgages in California. You sign a trust deed when you borrow money to buy real estate. The lender holds the deed until you pay off the loan. When the loan is paid, the lender records a reconveyance. That removes the lien from your title. Most home loans in Marin County use trust deeds instead of standard mortgages because they allow faster foreclosure if needed.

Liens show debts tied to property. A mechanic lien may be filed by a contractor who did work but was not paid. A tax lien comes from unpaid taxes. The IRS can file a federal tax lien on your property in Marin County. The state can file a lien for unpaid income tax. These liens attach to the property title and must be paid before the property can be sold with clear title. All liens are public records in Marin County.

Common property documents in Marin County include:

• Grant deeds and quitclaim deeds
• Deeds of trust and reconveyances
• Mechanic liens, tax liens, and judgment liens
• Notices of default and trustee sale notices
• Property tax bills and payment records
• Assessment rolls and parcel maps

Each document type serves a different purpose. Deeds transfer ownership. Trust deeds secure loans. Liens show debts. All of them are kept by the Assessor-Recorder in Marin County.

Property Tax Information

Property taxes in Marin County are due in two installments each year. The first half is due by December 10. The second half is due by April 10. If you pay late, a ten percent penalty applies immediately. After April 10, an additional cost is added on top of the penalty. These deadlines are the same across all California counties under state law.

Tax bills are based on assessed value. Marin County uses the Proposition 13 rate of one percent of assessed value as the base. Local bonds and special assessments may add to that rate. The total rate varies by location within the county. Some areas have voter-approved bonds that raise the rate. You can check your exact rate on your annual tax bill or by searching the property tax portal online.

If you do not pay by the April deadline, your account goes into default after June 30. Default status adds more penalties and fees. The county may eventually sell the property at a tax auction to recover what you owe. Tax sales are public events. Anyone can bid on properties at these auctions. To avoid this, always pay your property taxes on time or set up a payment plan if the county offers one in Marin County.

Assessment Appeals in Marin County

You have the right to appeal your property assessment if you think it is too high. The appeal window runs from July 2 to September 15 each year in most California counties. Some counties extend the deadline to November 30. Check with the Marin County Assessor office for the exact dates. You file an appeal with the county assessment appeals board. This is a separate body from the Assessor office.

The appeals board holds hearings where you can present evidence. You might bring in recent sales data from similar homes. You might show that your property has problems that lower its value. The board listens to both sides and then decides. If they agree with you, they lower your assessment. That lower value means a lower tax bill. If they side with the Assessor, your value stays the same. You can appeal again next year if you still think the value is wrong.

Most people do not need a lawyer for an assessment appeal. You can represent yourself. Bring any documents that support your case. Photos, repair estimates, and comparable sales data all help. The California State Board of Equalization publishes guides on how to prepare for an appeal. Visit boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/faqs/assessappeals.htm for tips and forms.

California Law on Property Records

The California Public Records Act gives you the right to view most government documents. Property records fall under this law. Anyone can ask to see deeds, liens, and tax records. You do not need to be the owner. You do not need to state why you want them. The county must provide access unless a specific rule blocks it. Most property records have no such block. They are fully open to the public under California law.

Civil Code section 1213 requires recording for legal priority. A deed that is recorded gives notice to everyone. A deed that is not recorded can still be valid between the buyer and seller, but it does not protect the buyer against later claims. If someone else buys the same property and records first, they win. This is the race-notice rule under Civil Code section 1214. Recording protects your ownership in Marin County.

Government Code section 27320 tells the county recorder what to do when you bring in a document. The recorder stamps the date and time on it. This timestamp sets priority. If two people file similar claims on the same day, the one with the earlier timestamp wins. The recorder also checks the document format. It must fit on standard paper with proper margins. If it does not meet the rules, the recorder can reject it until you fix the problems.

Revenue and Taxation Code section 60 defines what counts as a change in ownership. A sale triggers reassessment. So does a transfer by gift in some cases. But certain transfers do not cause reassessment. For example, a transfer between spouses or from parent to child may not trigger a new value. The rules are complex. If you are transferring property in Marin County, ask the Assessor office how it will affect your taxes.

Nearby Counties

If you are researching property records in multiple counties, these neighboring counties may be relevant:

• Sonoma County
• Napa County
• Contra Costa County
• San Francisco County