San Bernardino Property Records Access
Property records for San Bernardino County are kept by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk office in San Bernardino. This office maintains deeds, liens, assessment data, and tax records for all real estate in the county. You can search files online through their self-service portal or visit the office to get certified copies. San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States by area, covering over 20,000 square miles. With a population over 2.1 million people and more than 700,000 parcels, the county processes a high volume of property documents each year and maintains records dating back to 1851 when the county was formed.
San Bernardino County Quick Facts
San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
The Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk office handles all property recording and assessment for San Bernardino County. This includes filing deeds and liens as well as setting property values for tax purposes. The main office is at 222 W. Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino, CA 92415. You can reach the assessor line at 909.387.8307 or the recorder line at 909.387.8306.
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 range from about one hundred to two hundred dollars.
Copy fees in San Bernardino County are among the lowest in California. Plain copies are three dollars for the first page and one dollar for each added page. Certification costs one dollar per page. This makes it cheaper to get documents here than in many other counties.
| Location |
San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk 222 W. Hospitality Lane San Bernardino, CA 92415 |
|---|---|
| Contact |
Assessor: 909.387.8307 Recorder: 909.387.8306 Website: arcselfservice.sbcounty.gov |
| Copy Fees |
First page: $3 Additional pages: $1 each Certification: $1 per page |
The office accepts payments by cash, check, or credit card. For mail requests, include your contact info, parcel number or document details, and payment. 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.
Search Property Records Online
San Bernardino County offers online access to property records through their self-service portal at arcselfservice.sbcounty.gov. The system lets you search and view documents from home. You can look up deeds, liens, and other recorded papers. The database includes an index from 1958 to present, though only index data is available for older records without full document images.
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. For documents with images available, you can view them online. Some older records may not have images and require a visit to the office or a copy request by phone.
Searching by address works through the assessor section of the portal. Type in the street number and name. The system finds the parcel and shows current value, tax amount, and owner info. You can also search by parcel number if you know the APN. The assessor site includes property maps showing lot lines and nearby parcels.
Note that Assembly Bill 1785 may affect 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. Staff can also help you find records if the online system does not give you what you need.
Property Assessment in San Bernardino County
The County Assessor sets values on all land and buildings in San Bernardino County. This value determines your property tax bill each year. Under Proposition 13, most properties can only go up 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 San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino County Assessment Appeals Board. They will schedule a hearing where you can present evidence. More 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 San Bernardino County.
Property Tax Payment in San Bernardino County
Property taxes in San Bernardino 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.
You can pay property tax online at mytaxcollector.com. The site accepts eCheck for free or credit card with a service fee of around two to three percent. You can also pay by phone, mail, or in person at one of the tax collector offices. If you pay by mail, send your check to the address on the tax bill. Include your parcel number on the memo line.
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. This ensures your payment shows as on time even if it sits in a mailbox for a day or two.
Many people pay through escrow. Your mortgage lender collects a portion of the tax each month and pays the bill when it comes due. Even if you use escrow, check with the San Bernardino County Tax Collector to confirm payment arrived on time. You remain responsible if the lender fails to pay. Look up your parcel online to see if the current year tax shows as paid.
Other Property Resources in San Bernardino County
The County Clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps vital records. These records sometimes relate to property when couples buy a house 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 building departments review permits for construction projects. If you want to build or remodel in San Bernardino County, you need a permit. The planning staff check that your project follows zoning rules. Building inspectors make sure work meets code. Once the project is done and approved, the permit file becomes public record. These files can show what changes were made to a property over time.
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 San Bernardino County to make sure the title is clear.
Cities in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County includes many cities spread across its vast area. Property records for all cities are kept at the county level by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. City offices handle local matters like building permits and business licenses but not property deeds or tax assessments. Those functions stay with the county.
The following San Bernardino County cities have populations over 100,000 and have their own pages on this site with local resources:
For property records anywhere in San Bernardino County, use the county recorder and assessor offices. For building permits or zoning questions in a specific city, contact that city hall.
Nearby Counties
San Bernardino County borders several other counties in Southern California and Nevada. 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:
- Riverside County (south of San Bernardino County)
- Los Angeles County (west of San Bernardino County)
- Kern County (northwest of San Bernardino County)
- Inyo County (northeast of San Bernardino County)
County lines can split large parcels. If you own land 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 San Bernardino County will not show up in Riverside County records.