San Francisco County, California Property Records

San Francisco County Property Search

The San Francisco County Office of the Assessor-Recorder is responsible for recording property documents and maintaining them as part of San Francisco County’s Public Records. This makes it possible for record seekers to retrieve property records like deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, and liens when conducting a property search. A search can be completed online, by drop box, mail, or in person.

A San Francisco property search becomes necessary when individuals are about to make purchase decisions, have to settle property disputes in court and clarify the rights provided by an easement. Attorneys conduct property searches to solve issues related to wills, inheritances, and property shares. Property sellers request property information to settle disputes relating to property ownership.

To record a document in San Fransico County, ensure the document meets the standard requirements and pay the necessary fees. Individuals can record property documents electronically, in person, by mail, or through Dropbox at the Recorder's Office. Below are the recording requirements in San Fransico County:

The property must be located in San Fransisco County (Civil Code 1169).
Every property document must carry a valid Assessor's Parcel Number(s) (APN) as stated by the San Francisco Business & Tax Regulations Code, Article 12-C, Section 1102.1.
Information on property documents must be written in black or blue ink on white paper. The size of all pages must be 8 ½" by 11" (Gov. Code 27361.5).
The requesting party name and return address must be written at the left-hand 3 ½" of the top 2 ½" of the first page of the property document (Gov. Code 27361.6).
The property document must have a minimum ½" margin on the two vertical sides, so the right-hand 5" of the top 2 ½" will be reserved for the recorder label. If there is insufficient space on the document's first page, the requesting party must attach a separate page to the front of the document. (Gov. Code 27361.6).
Property documents, including certificates, notary seals, and other appendages, must be legible and photographically reproducible (Gov. Code 27361.7).
Indicate the document title on the first page underneath the space reserved for the recorder label (Gov. Code 27324).
Exhibits must be clearly indicated and submitted with the respective document (Gov. Code 27361.1).
Property documents must include original signatures or be unaltered certified copies of the original (Gov. Code 27201(b)).
Clearly indicate the names of the individuals to be indexed in the property record near all signatures. (Gov. Code 27280.5).
All property documents created to modify or release a previously recorded document must include names of all parties affected and being released, the county of recordation, the property document number (or book and page), and the record date of the document being modified or released (Gov. Code 27361.6).

Are San Francisco County Property Records Public?

Yes. The California Public Records Act and the San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance provide public access to property records. Therefore, anyone can request to view or obtain copies of property records from the appropriate record custodians. However, some property records or portions from it may be considered confidential by state law or court order. Examples of confidential property records in San Fransico County are:

Audit data
Property statement data
Social security numbers
Change-in-ownership data
Preliminary change-in-ownership data
Marketing questionnaires on income and expense data
Content of property appraisals, engineering or feasibility estimates, and evaluations relating to property acquisition or prospective public supply and construction contracts. This property information can be made public when all the property has been acquired or the contract agreement is settled.
Confidential information provided by a taxpayer whose disclosure would result in an unfair competitive disadvantage to the taxpayer.

What Do San Francisco County Property Records Contain?

San Franciso County property records typically contain the following information:

Property address
Parcel block and lot number
Parcel history
Name Type
Grantor/grantee name
Sequence number
Document number
Document date
Title (s)
Parcel details
- General information (account number, tax rate area, tax rate, and tax rate year)
- Assessed values (land improvements, exemptions, and total taxable values)
- Bill information (bill number, assessment year, and total tax)
City properties (land, agency, status, and vacant)
Zoning information
Environmental information
Historic preservation
Planning applications
Building permits (active, completed, and additional permits)
Other miscellaneous permits
Complaints (Planning Department Complaints and Department of Building Inspection Complaints
Appeals
Block Book Notifications (BBNs) & Notices of Special Restrictions (NSRs)
Property taxes, tax bills and document related to the property's assessment

Where to Perform a San Francisco County Property Lookup

The Office of the Assessor-Recorder maintains property information in San Francisco County, which can be ordered online, by drop box, by mail, or in person. Copies of property records cost $3 per page for the first three pages. Additional pages beyond page 3 are $0.50 per page. Certification costs $1 per document.

This Office has a Record Search tool used to access property records. Inquirers can search for recorded documents using a few keywords in the Basic Search or more specific search criteria via an Advanced Search. A search can be performed by name, document number, document type, or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN). Property documents recorded after 1990, which are not searchable via the online tool, can be searched at the main Office. After conducting the search:

Add the property document to the "shopping cart" order for payment.
Select "Download" to obtain the document instantly via PDF download.
Note that only uncertified documents are available via this method.

To get a certified copy, a requester can make an online order for mail order processing after checking out from the database. Acceptable payments are credit cards (Discover, American Express, Mastercard, Visa), debit cards (Pulse, Diner's Club, STAR, NYCE), and electronic checks (eCheck). Extra charges apply for using Credit/Debit Cards.

A requester can download and complete a request form and put it in the drop box located outside the Recorder's Office. The necessary fees should also be included in the package. Acceptable payments are:

Money order/Cashier's Checks.
CA drawn bank checks.
Pre-printed name and address (no Out-of-State P.O. Boxes).

The Office staff checks the drop box daily at 8 a.m. All drop box requests are processed from Monday to Friday.

Mail requesters can download and complete the appropriate request form and mail it to the main Office. Online mails with a specific document number for property records from 1990 to the present are acceptable. The document number for this period can be searched online. The property number for documents recorded before 1990 must be searched in person. Mail requests must send the request form alongside the necessary fees. Acceptable payment methods are similar to that of Dropbox requests. A requester who is unsure of the number of pages within a property document can write on their check, below the amount line, "NTE" (meaning "Not To Exceed"), and indicate a dollar amount. Expect to see the exact amount in the dollar amount line, and the recorder staff will complete the second line on the check indicating the exact amount to be charged to the requester's bank account.

Requesters can visit the Assessor-Recorders office to view property records at the self-service kiosks. Orders through the kiosk cost $0.10 per page for plain copies, but certified copies are subject to the regular copy fee. In-person requests can be made during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.). The staff at the recorder's Office would ask that a property name, address, or APN be provided to search.

The Office of the Assessor-Recorder also provides online access to property records through the Property Search Tool available on their website. The search criteria are by property address or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN), but requesters can also click on the map to perform a search. After conducting the search, the requester can view all the different tabs on the right of the page to get more property information.

How to Perform a Property Owner Lookup in San Francisco County

It is quite difficult to perform a property owner lookup in San Francisco County because California law prohibits online posting a property owner's name without permission. However, the San Fransisco County Office of the Assessor-Recorder has a Record Search tool where requesters can access the grantor and the grantee's information. The search criteria are by grantor/grantee name, document number, document type, document date, or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN). This online service is free but cannot be used for official purposes.

Requesters can visit the Office from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. to perform a property owner lookup. The record seeker must provide information like property name, address, or APN to facilitate the search. The Office does not charge fees for viewing property records, but copies of such records come at a cost.

Dropbox and mail-in requests can also be made at the Recorder's Office. All that is required is to submit a request form alongside the following information:

A return address to mail the copy of the desired record
The specific property document number and recording date
An email or daytime phone number in case there is a question or problem
A check or money order to cover the property records copy fee

The Recorder's Office will mail a property document to the requesting party. The document will contain information about the property owner.

How to Find San Francisco County Property Records Online

Here is how to find San Fransisco County property records online on the Office of the Assessor-Recorder's website:

Upon reaching the website, click the "Recorder Information" menu at the top bar
Select the "Records Search" link from the dropdown menu
Scroll down and click the "Access Tool" button to go to the search tool
Click the "Agree" to accept the disclaimer
Search for property documents using a few keywords in the Basic Search or by more specific search criteria with the Advanced Search.
Enter the grantor/grantee name, document number, document type, document date, or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) into the search box, then click the "Search" button to submit a request.

Search results typically reveal basic information about the property. However, the requester can pay a small search fee to retrieve comprehensive property information. Another online option for finding county property records is to use third-party aggregate databases. Most third-party sites do not provide free online access to complete property records. However, some basic property information might be available for free. Requester would have to provide the property owner's name or property address in the appropriate search box to conduct property records searches on third-party sites. Note that all property information retrieved from third-party aggregate sites cannot be used for official purposes and may be inaccurate. Therefore, it is important to compare the information obtained from such websites with those provided by government-run websites.

How to Find Property Owner by Address Free

Individuals would have to visit the record custodian's Office to find the property owner by address for free. This is because California state law prohibits the online posting of a property owner's name without written permission from the owner. Therefore, a property owner search by address might be impossible via most record custodian online databases. Requesters can visit the appropriate record custodian's Office during business hours and request to view property records. Record custodians do not charge any fee for record inspections. The requester would have to provide the property address to facilitate the search. After the search, the requester can view the property record, and the property ownership information will be included.

San Francisco County Property Tax Lookup

An inquirer can conduct a property tax lookup online or in person at the San Francisco County Treasurer & Tax Collector's Office. Online requests can be made via the Property Tax Payment Portal. To locate this portal, go to the Treasurer & Tax Collector website and click on the "Payments" menu at the top bar. Click "Property Tax Payment" from the dropdown to access the portal. Requesters can view and print current property tax statements or past payment history from the portal. The search criteria are bill number, block/lot, or property location. Only the blocks/lot values are required with the leading zeros, not the words. Users searching with property location should not use abbreviations like St, Bl, or Ave.

Requesters can also find property tax lookups at the San Francisco County Treasurer & Tax Collector's Office. All in-person requests should be made during business hours. The requester is expected to provide basic information about the property for better search results. The Office location is at:

San Francisco County Treasurer &Tax Collector
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94120

How to Find San Francisco County Property Appraiser

A property appraiser helps individuals verify property descriptions, conduct property inspections, and prepare written reports on property values. The best place to find a San Francisco County property appraiser is at the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA). Click the "Online Services" menu at the top bar of the homepage and locate the "Search for an Appraiser" link from the dropdown. The search parameters include first name, last name, company name, mail city, mail zip, county, license level, license number, license status, current license valid search range, or license renewal valid search range. Alternatively, individuals can scroll through the list of appraisers available beneath the search area to find a San Francisco County property appraiser. The search result typically reveals the license number, name, company, address, city, state, zip, county, and phone. A click on the license number will reveal further information about the property appraiser, like license status and level, effective date, end date, renewal effective and expiration dates, next renewal, compliance, ADA document, license history, and course history. Individuals can also visit the BREA to request information about San Francisco County property appraisers. The Office is usually open from Monday to Friday from about 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Excluding State Holidays). Just let the office staff know that the search is specifically to retrieve information about San Franciso County property appraisers. The Office is located at:

California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers
3075 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 190
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Phone: (916) 552-9000
Email: info@brea.ca.gov

San Francisco County Property Assessor

The Assessor-Recorder helps to locate all taxable property in San Fransisco County, identify property ownership, and establish a taxable value for all properties subject to property taxation. They also:

List the value of all San Fransisco County properties on the assessment roll.
Maintain public property records and apply all legal exemptions.
Collect city revenues from the recording of property documents.
Help improve customer services and technology.
Conduct fair and efficient assessments and ensure equality in all assessments.

San Fransisco County Assessor-Recorder is a source for property information, and requesters can contact the Office at:

Office of the Assessor-Recorder
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
City Hall, Room 190
San Francisco, CA 94102-4698
Phone: (415) 554-5596
Fax: (415) 554-7915
Email: assessor@sfgov.org