Riverside County Property Search
Riverside County property records bear information about real estate in the county, including the location of properties, name(s) of the owner(s), property tax records, and sales history.
It is essential that anyone interested in purchasing real estate or transacting with a property owner in Riverside County, California, carry out a property search. The information obtained from a property search allows the interested person to make smart decisions about a piece of real estate. For instance, when the ownership of a property needs to be determined, one can retrieve the information from property records. Property records can also be used to clarify boundary line disputes and can reveal historical information about a parcel of land or building (for example, the title chain).
Property records are filed or updated with every change in ownership or alteration to a property's original design or use. The Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office maintains and provides property records and other Riverside County Public Records to the public.
Are Riverside County Property Records Public?
Yes. Riverside County property records are considered public data under the California Public Record Act. However, while the Act grants access to most property records, some information has restricted access. For example, personally identifiable information like a property owner's name can only be obtained from the assessor's office in person. In the same way, social security numbers, personal financial information, and change-in-ownership statements are not disclosed to the public.
What Do Riverside County Property Records Contain?
The following are some details found in Riverside County property records:
- Property description (address, census tract, land use code, land use category, legal description, zoning designation, longitude, and latitude)
- Ownership of property (owner's name and address)
- Sales history
- Property tax information (tax year, taxable property value, tax history, appraisal value, tax relief or exemption)
- Lien information
- Survey records (maps, drawings, photographs)
- Historical significance (if any)
- Property ID number
- Assessor Parcel Number (APN)
Where to Perform a Riverside County Property Lookup
Members of the public can find Riverside County property records on the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's website. The website has the following search options:
- Name Search
- Document Number Search
- Document Type Search
- Map Type and Book/Page Search
- Advanced Search (which includes an Assessor Parcel Number Search)
Individuals can also purchase plain and certified copies of property records at $7 for the first page, $1 per additional page, and $2 per document certification. A 2.28% convenience fee applies for online orders; documents ordered are sent to the requester by mail. The average online processing time is two days.
A researcher can also visit the Riverside Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder's Office to inspect Riverside County property records. However, one must book an appointment to review records. The search/copy fee can be paid with cash, money order, check, or credit card. The clerk's office notes that requesters can receive their copies on the same day unless the request requires extensive records (which is usually the case with older records).
The Riverside Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder also accepts mail requests for property records. An interested party must fill out an application form (including the document number) and prepare a check payable to the Riverside County Recorder.
Suppose a person does not know the document number. In that case, they must attach a letter to the form that lists the document type or title, an estimated recording date, the complete name(s) of parties on the document, and any other relevant information (e.g., a parcel number). The recorder's average mail processing time is two weeks. The same copy fees for online and in-person requests apply. The mail request should be sent to the address below:
Riverside County Clerk-Recorder
Attn: Certified Section
P.O. Box 751
Riverside, CA. 92502-0751
The clerk's office also provides a method to obtain copies by dropbox. More information can be retrieved from the office's website.
How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in Riverside County
Due to the privacy provisions of the California Public Records Act, the Riverside County Assessor's Office does not release property ownership information to the public online (on the office's Public Access Online Services or RivCoView portals). However, a Doing Business As (DBA) name may be found via the assessor's Public Access Online Services portal.
Generally, members of the public are advised to visit any of the assessor's office locations to obtain real estate ownership information. One can also purchase the information from the office's bulk data sales.
How to Find Riverside County Property Records Online
Besides county government portals, individuals can find Riverside County property records on third-party websites. These sites work independently from government agencies to provide property records to the public but have similar search criteria, such as a property address or property owner's name. Some websites offer free property records searches, while others offer paid services. Moreover, some require the user to create an account to access any property record.
How to Find Property Owner by Address for Free
Except for property owners who permit their names to be released, records of property owners are not accessible online in Riverside County, California.
To find a property owner by address for free, an individual can visit any of the assessor's office locations. At any location, the public can access computers to find property ownership, parcel maps, and other property data. They also have staff assistance for looking up property ownership records.
As mentioned, the Riverside County Assessor maintains an online property information database online. While individuals cannot find all current property owner names on the platform, they can find Doing Business As (DBA) names available publicly in California.
Riverside County Property Tax Lookup
Riverside County property tax records can be obtained from the County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office. The treasure provides a property tax lookup portal where individuals can view property tax records and pay tax bills. The portal can be searched with a 9-digit PIN, property address, or bill number.
An inquirer can also visit the tax collector's office to request a property tax lookup.
4080 Lemon Street
Riverside, CA 92501
38-686 El Cerrito Road
Palm Desert, CA 92211
40935 County Center Drive
Suite C
Temecula, CA 92591
Phone: (951) 955-3900
Fax: (951) 955-3923
Individuals visiting the Palm Desert or Temecula office must schedule an appointment.
It is necessary to perform a property tax lookup when one plans to buy property. This allows the individual to determine if a property may have a lien attached because of unpaid taxes. Property owners can also carry out a property tax lookup to ensure their tax records are accurate and current.
How to Find Riverside County Property Appraiser
Interested members of the public can find a Riverside County property appraiser using the online search tool provided by the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Here's how to search:
- Open the search portal.
- Enter "Riverside" into the County search field and click Search. Alternatively, enter "Riverside" into a CTRL+F search box and scroll through the results.
The services provided by a Riverside property appraiser include:
- Inspecting a property to assess and estimate its market value.
- Determining the current and future value of a property.
- Assisting the local assessor in performing property appraisals for taxation purposes.
Riverside County Property Assessor
The Riverside County property assessor is responsible for valuing taxable properties and determining applicable tax exemptions and exclusions. The assessor also prepares assessment rolls and maintains property records, which are available to the public per the law.
The Riverside assessor's office locations, contact information, and business hours can be obtained from the agency's website.
