City Public Records
San Bernardino Public Records
Start here to route San Bernardino searches across city and county sources, including deeds, parcel data, property taxes, permits, municipal records, and basic civil filings.
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On this page:
Jurisdiction
City of San Bernardino, California
Property Records
Deeds and liens recorded at county; permits and zoning held by city
Parcel IDs
APN issued by county; used across recorder, tax, and city permit lookups
Vital Records
Birth, death, and marriage certificates handled by county or state, not the city
Start Here
- Start with the County Recorder grantor/grantee index to locate deeds, liens, and releases; capture the document number for copy or certification requests.
- Confirm the parcel (APN) via the County Assessor property lookup or parcel map; match the APN to the street address.
- Search City Building/Planning for permit history, inspections, and zoning by address, APN, or permit number; request permit cards if needed.
- Check the County Tax Collector for property tax bills, installment status, and delinquencies using APN or address.
- Use the City Clerk to locate council agendas, minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and to submit public records requests for city-held files.
Record Routing
- Recorded land documents → County Recorder
- Property ownership and assessment → County Assessor
- Property tax bills and liens → County Tax Collector
- Building permits and inspections → City Building/Planning
- City agendas, ordinances, contracts → City Clerk
Search Inputs
- Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN)
- Grantor/Grantee Name
- Street Address (Situs)
- Document/Instrument Number
- Permit or Case Number (building/planning)
- Business Name (city license/tax)
Source Map
| Source / Office | Best For | Search Method | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Recorder | Deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, subdivision/parcel maps, notices | Index by name or document number; certified copies by request | California land records are county-recorded; San Bernardino city properties rely on the county recorder to verify ownership and encumbrances. |
| County Assessor | APN, owner of record, assessed values, legal description, situs | Parcel or address lookup; map/GIS where available | Identifies the correct parcel and APN for San Bernardino addresses; links recorder, tax, and permit searches. |
| County Tax Collector | Property tax bills, payment status, delinquent/defaulted taxes | APN or address lookup; parcel payment history | Confirms tax standing and potential tax liens affecting San Bernardino properties. |
| City Building/Planning | Building permits, inspections, plan cases, zoning, code compliance | Permit/address/APN search; records by request for archived files | City issues permits within San Bernardino limits; use to verify construction history and zoning compliance. |
| City Clerk | Agendas, minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, public records requests | Document index; submit records request for items not indexed | Official municipal records repository for San Bernardino; primary path for city-held administrative files. |
| Superior Court (County) | Civil filings tied to property, including foreclosure, liens, probate | Case index by name or case number; copies by request | Some property-related matters for San Bernardino addresses are court records maintained at the county level. |
Contextual FAQs
Where are San Bernardino property deeds and liens kept?
In California, recorded land documents are maintained by the county recorder. For San Bernardino addresses, search the recorder index and request certified copies if needed.
How do I find the APN if I only have a street address?
Use the county assessor’s property lookup or parcel map to convert the address to an APN, then use that APN across recorder, tax, and permit searches.
Are building permits for San Bernardino addresses held by the city or the county?
Within city limits, the City Building/Planning department maintains permits, inspections, and zoning. County permitting mainly applies to unincorporated areas outside the city.
Can I obtain birth, death, or marriage certificates from the City of San Bernardino?
No. Vital records are issued by the county or state; submit a request to the appropriate office for informational or certified copies.