Sacramento County Property Records
Property records for Sacramento County are kept by the County Clerk/Recorder and County Assessor in the state capital city of Sacramento. These offices maintain deeds, liens, assessment data, and tax records for all real estate in Sacramento County. You can search property files online through county databases or visit offices to get certified copies. The county serves over 1.5 million residents making it one of California's most populous counties. With property records dating back to 1850 when the county was formed, Sacramento County maintains one of the longest-running property record systems in California and processes tens of thousands of real estate documents annually.
Sacramento County Quick Facts
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder Office
The County Clerk/Recorder handles all property document recording for Sacramento County. This office files deeds, trust deeds, liens, and other papers that affect real estate title. When you buy a house or take out a loan on property in Sacramento County, those documents must be recorded here. The recorder stamps each paper with the date and time it arrives. That timestamp sets priority if multiple claims conflict.
The main recorder office is at 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95864. You can reach them by phone at (916) 874-6334. Office hours are Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The office is closed on county holidays. Check the website before you visit to confirm hours and any closures.
Recording fees follow California state law. The base fee is fifteen dollars for the first page and three dollars for each added page. The SB2 building homes fee of seventy-five dollars applies to most real estate transfers. Other fees like fraud prevention and monument preservation charges may also apply. Total recording costs for a typical deed can range from about one hundred to two hundred dollars depending on page count and fees.
The recorder maintains an index of all documents from 1849 to present. That is one of the oldest continuous property record systems in California. Early records were handwritten in large books. Modern records are stored electronically. You can search the index online to find documents by name, date, or book and page number. Images are available for most recent filings.
| Location |
Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110 Sacramento, CA 95864 |
|---|---|
| Contact |
Phone: (916) 874-6334 Office Hours: Monday-Friday |
| Copy Fees |
Certified: $9 first page, additional pages vary Non-certified: $8 first page |
For copy requests, you can visit in person, call, or submit a request online. Processing time varies based on how busy the office is. In-person requests often get filled same day. Mail requests may take one to two weeks. Include your contact info, parcel number or document details, and payment when you request copies.
Search Property Records Online
Sacramento County offers online access to property records through their website. The recorder has a document index search tool. You can look up deeds, liens, and other recorded papers by name, date, or document number. The system shows records from 1849 to present, making it one of the most complete online archives in California.
To search by name, enter the last name of the person you want to find. The system returns a list of all documents that match. You can filter by date range or document type. Click on any record to see more details. Some older documents may not have images available online. For those, you need to visit the office or request copies by phone.
The county assessor also has an online search tool. You can look up property values and tax data by address or parcel number. The assessor site shows current assessed value, tax rate, and payment status. Maps are available showing lot lines and nearby parcels. This helps you see where your property sits and how it relates to neighbors.
Note that Assembly Bill 1785 may limit some online search features. This law restricts APN searches on certain county websites to reduce property scams. If you cannot search by parcel number online, you can still do that search at a public kiosk in the county office or ask staff for help.
Sacramento County Assessor Office
The County Assessor sets values on all land and buildings in Sacramento County. This value determines your property tax bill each year. Under Proposition 13, most properties can only increase by two percent per year for tax purposes. When a property sells, the assessor resets the value to the purchase price. That new value becomes the base for future tax bills.
If you buy a house in Sacramento County, expect to get a supplemental tax bill. This bill covers the difference between the old value and the new purchase price. It gets prorated based on when you bought the property during the tax year. The regular tax bill stays in the name of the prior owner until the next roll year. Your supplemental bill comes separately with its own due date.
You can appeal your property value if you think it is too high. The deadline for regular appeals is from July 2 to September 15 in most years. For supplemental assessments, you have sixty days from the notice date. File your appeal with the Sacramento County Assessment Appeals Board. They will schedule a hearing where you can present evidence. Information on appeals is at boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/faqs/assessappeals.htm, the California Board of Equalization website.
The assessor also handles property tax exemptions. The homeowner exemption saves you seven thousand dollars off your assessed value if you live in the house as your main home. Veterans, seniors, and disabled persons may qualify for other exemptions. Contact the assessor office to see what you qualify for in Sacramento County.
Property Tax Payment in Sacramento County
Property taxes in Sacramento County are collected by the Treasurer-Tax Collector. Tax bills are mailed each fall. Taxes are due in two installments. First half is due November 1 and late after December 10. Second half is due February 1 and late after April 10. A ten percent penalty applies if you miss these deadlines. After five years of non-payment, the property can be sold at auction to recover the debt.
Sacramento County launched a new tax system in October 2025 called TaxSys. This system replaced the old platform and offers updated online payment options. You can pay by eCheck for free or by credit card with a service fee around two to three percent. The county also accepts payments by mail or in person at their office.
If you pay by mail, send your check to the address on the tax bill. Include your parcel number on the memo line. Allow time for mail processing near the deadline. Starting in December 2025, USPS postmarks show the date mail is first processed by machinery, not when you dropped it in a mailbox. For deadline-sensitive payments, ask for a manual postmark at the post office counter.
Many people pay through an escrow account managed by their lender. The lender collects a portion of the tax each month with your mortgage payment. When the bill comes due, the lender pays it on your behalf. Even if you use escrow, check with the Sacramento County Tax Collector to confirm payment arrived on time. You remain responsible if the lender fails to pay.
Other Property Resources in Sacramento County
The County Clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps vital records. These records sometimes relate to property when couples buy a house together or when someone dies and property passes to heirs. The clerk office is part of the same department as the recorder so you can often handle both types of business at one location.
Planning and zoning departments review permits for construction projects. If you want to build or remodel in Sacramento County, you need a permit. The planning staff check that your project follows local zoning rules. Building inspectors make sure work meets code. Once the project is approved and work is complete, the permit file becomes public record. These files show what changes were made to a property and when.
Title companies search all these records when you buy or refinance property. They check for liens, unpaid taxes, and other claims against the title. Most lenders require title insurance before they approve a loan. The title company issues a policy that protects you if someone later claims an interest in the property. This search process reviews many years of recorded documents in Sacramento County to make sure the title is clear.
Cities in Sacramento County
Sacramento County includes several cities with the county seat of Sacramento being the state capital. Property records for all cities are kept at the county level by the Clerk/Recorder and Assessor. City offices handle local matters like building permits and business licenses but not property deeds or tax assessments. Those functions remain with the county.
No cities in Sacramento County currently meet the 100,000 population threshold for individual city pages on this site. For property records anywhere in Sacramento County, use the county recorder and assessor offices. For building permits or zoning questions in a specific city, contact that city hall directly.
Nearby Counties
Sacramento County is surrounded by several other counties in Northern California. Each has its own recorder and assessor office maintaining separate property records. If you need records from a neighboring county, contact that county directly. Here are the nearby counties:
- Placer County (northeast of Sacramento County)
- El Dorado County (east of Sacramento County)
- Yolo County (west of Sacramento County)
- Solano County (southwest of Sacramento County)
- San Joaquin County (south of Sacramento County)
County boundaries can split large parcels of land. If you own property that crosses a county line, you may need to check records in both counties. Each county keeps its own files and does not share data with neighbors. A deed recorded in Sacramento County will not show up in Placer County records.