Can I search Los Angeles County deeds online by address?

The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk does not provide public internet access to its real estate record indexes, and Recorder records are indexed by names and recording year rather than street address. If you only know the address, use the official Assessor Portal first.

How far back do Los Angeles County real estate records go?

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk states that real estate records dating to 1850 are available after recording.

Is the County Recorder the same office as the Assessor?

No. The Recorder maintains recorded legal documents such as deeds and liens. The Assessor maintains parcel and assessment information. Property tax bills and payments are handled by the Treasurer and Tax Collector.

Los Angeles County · Recorder address, deeds, copies, recording and branch offices

Los Angeles County Recorder Office: Address, Hours & Records

Q: What are the Los Angeles County Recorder office hours?

The Norwalk headquarters is listed as open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding applicable holidays. Branch hours and individual service availability vary.

Q: How much is a certified Los Angeles County real estate record copy?

The published real estate records fee schedule lists a certified copy at $6 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. A plain copy is $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page.

Q: Can the Recorder search a deed by phone?

No. The Recorder states that telephone requests for real estate index searches are not accepted.

Q: Where do I mail a Los Angeles County real estate record request?

Mail real estate record copy requests to Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Real Estate Records, P.O. Box 1130, Norwalk, CA 90651-1130.

If you searched for the county recorder office Los Angeles residents use for deeds, liens or recorded property documents, the office you need is the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC). The main Recorder office is in Norwalk—not at Los Angeles City Hall.

Use this guide to find the correct office, prepare for a deed or lien search, request a plain or certified copy, record a new property document, avoid the wrong county department and understand why an address alone is not enough to search the Recorder’s index.

Open official LA County Recorder Check current office locations Find a deed or recorded document

Most important search rule: the Los Angeles County Recorder does not provide a public internet search of its real estate record index. The county states that real estate records are indexed by party names and the year recorded—not by a property’s street address. If you only know the address, start with the official County Assessor Portal and then move to the Recorder.

Main Recorder office

12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650.

Norwalk hours

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., except applicable holidays.

Recorder phone

(800) 201-8999. Option 2 recording; option 3 real estate records.

Record history

Real estate records dating to 1850 are maintained by the RR/CC.

Information reviewed

Official Los Angeles County resources checked October 2026.

Start with your actual goal

Which Los Angeles County office should you use?

Many unsuccessful property searches happen because the user has the correct property but the wrong government office. The Recorder is only one part of the Los Angeles County property-record system.

Find a deed or lien

Use the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for recorded deeds, deeds of trust, reconveyances, liens, releases, easements, CC&Rs and similar recorded instruments.

Official real estate records page

Search by street address

Start with the Assessor Portal when you only know an address and need the parcel, AIN/APN or assessment information.

Search official Assessor records

Pay property taxes

The Recorder does not collect property taxes. Use the Treasurer and Tax Collector / County Property Tax Portal.

Open official Property Tax Portal

Record a new deed

Use Property Document Recording for submission requirements, fees, forms, transfer-tax rules and recording appointments.

Review recording requirements

Birth, death or marriage record

The RR/CC also handles vital records, but those requests use different forms, eligibility rules and mailing routes.

Choose the correct Recorder service

Building permit or court file

Building records, probate files, wills and many court documents are not Recorder real estate records. Use the responsible city, County department or Superior Court.

Los Angeles Recorder office guide

Jump directly to the office, search or recording task you are trying to complete.

Norwalk headquarters

Los Angeles County Recorder office address, phone and hours

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

12400 Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA 90650

This is the main RR/CC headquarters and the most complete location for real estate record research and property document recording.

Verify location and hours Get directions

Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Recorder/County Clerk: (800) 201-8999

Recording questions: phone option 2

Real estate records: phone option 3

Real Estate Records: Room 2207 is listed for certified-copy requests

Before driving to Norwalk: check the official branch-location and service page. County holidays, appointment requirements, security procedures and individual service cutoffs can affect a visit even when the building’s general hours have not changed.

What to bring for a real estate record search

Grantor, grantee or other party name

Approximate year the document was recorded

Document type if known

Prior owner’s name if researching an older transfer

AIN/APN and property address for cross-checking

Payment method for copies or certification

Avoid unnecessary travel

Los Angeles County Recorder branch offices that handle property records

Not every RR/CC office offers the same services. The current official branch listing specifically shows real estate recording and post-1982 real estate copy services at Norwalk, Lancaster, LAX/Courthouse and Van Nuys.

Recorder locations useful for real estate recording and copies
Office	Address	Listed office hours	Property-record services
Norwalk Main Office	12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk, CA 90650	M–F, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.	Real estate records after recording; document analysis and recording; full headquarters services.
Lancaster	44509 16th St. West, Suite 101, Lancaster, CA 93534	M–F, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.	Records documents and issues copies of real estate records from 1982 to present.
LAX / Courthouse	11701 S. La Cienega Blvd., 6th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90045	M–F, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.	Records documents and issues copies of real estate records from 1982 to present.
Van Nuys	14340 W. Sylvan St., Van Nuys, CA 91401	M–F, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.	Records documents and issues copies of real estate records from 1982 to present.

Older records: use Norwalk when you need records earlier than the branch-office copy range. The Recorder’s viewing page separates records dated 1851–1957 from records dated 1958 to present at the Norwalk headquarters.

Beverly Hills, East Los Angeles and Florence/Firestone appear in the RR/CC location system, but their current listed service menus do not show the same real-estate recording and copy functions as the locations above. Always verify the live service list before visiting.

Check official branch services

Deeds, liens and recorded documents

How to search Los Angeles County Recorder records without wasting time

Los Angeles County’s Recorder search process is different from counties that publish a searchable grantor/grantee database on the open web. The RR/CC states that it does not provide online access to its real estate records or indexes.

That does not mean you cannot order records online. It means there is an important difference between searching the Recorder’s index online and submitting an online request for a copy. The county provides the second option, not a public internet index.

STEP 1 Identify property

Use the address or AIN/APN to confirm you have the right parcel.

STEP 2 Capture names

Write down current or former owners and other relevant parties.

STEP 3 Narrow the year

Estimate when the sale, refinance, lien, release or other event occurred.

STEP 4 Request record

Use the Recorder’s in-person, mail, fax or online copy-request process.

Open the official Real Estate Records information page Confirm that the record you need is a Recorder real estate document rather than an Assessor, tax, permit or court record.
Open official Real Estate Records

Prepare the grantor or grantee name LA County states that real estate records are maintained in alphabetical indexes by name and recording year. A property address is not the Recorder’s primary index key.

Estimate the recording year Use the property’s purchase date, refinance date, foreclosure timeline, lien date or other known event to narrow the search period. A tighter date range can reduce unnecessary name/year searching.

Choose whether to view or order If you need to research the index yourself, use the official viewing instructions. If you already have enough information to identify the document, use the copy-request route.
View official record-viewing instructions

Verify the document before relying on it Match the document type, party names, recording date, document number and property description. Similar names are common in a county the size of Los Angeles.

Street address → owner → Recorder

If you only have a Los Angeles property address, do this first

This is one of the most common user situations: you know a house or commercial property’s address but do not know the recorded owner’s exact name, deed date or document number.

Open the official Los Angeles County Assessor Portal The Assessor’s search accepts an address or AIN.
Open Assessor Portal

Enter the street address Start with the street number and street name. Select the matching parcel carefully if the search returns several units or parcels.

Save the AIN/APN and parcel information The Assessor Identification Number helps confirm that you are researching the correct property even though the Recorder’s historical index is name/year based.

Note the owner information available to you Use the owner or transaction information you already have to identify the likely grantor or grantee. Older documents may require a former owner’s name.

Estimate when the document was recorded For a deed, begin near the transfer date. For a deed of trust, use the purchase or refinance period. For a lien, release or reconveyance, use the relevant transaction timeline.

Move to the Recorder request process Use the names, document type and year to request or research the recorded instrument.
Open official record request page

Do not treat the Assessor’s parcel page as a substitute for a deed. The Assessor is useful for identifying the property and assessment account. A recorded deed or other legal instrument comes from the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

Plain and certified copies

How to request a Los Angeles County real estate record copy

Any member of the public can search and request available Los Angeles County real estate records. The RR/CC currently provides online, in-person, mail and fax request routes.

Online copy request

Start on the county’s official online-request page. The RR/CC routes online real estate record orders through its designated ordering provider. The county states that online orders are processed within 20 working days after receipt.

Start from the official RR/CC request page

In-person request

Use the in-person request page to review current appointment instructions. The RR/CC states that in-person real estate record copies can be available during the scheduled appointment.

Check in-person instructions

Mail request

A mailed search request should identify the document title, names appearing on the document and the recording year. If the exact year is unknown, provide the years to be searched.

Review mail-request instructions

Research in person

Use the viewing route when you need to work through historical indexes rather than ordering a document you have already identified. Telephone index searches are not accepted.

Review records in person

Plain copy or certified copy?

Choose the copy type based on what you will do with the document
Copy	Typical use	Before ordering
Plain copy	Research, personal files, understanding transaction history or reviewing document language.	Ask the organization receiving the document whether certification is actually required.
Certified copy	Situations where a court, title company, government office or other receiving organization specifically requires a Recorder-certified copy.	Confirm that a certified Recorder copy is the exact format required for your transaction.

Current published copy charges

Los Angeles County Recorder real estate record copy fees

The following charges come from the RR/CC’s published real estate records fee schedule. Fees can change, so open the live county fee page before sending payment.

Real estate record request fees
Service	Published fee	Practical note
Certified copy — first page	$6	Additional pages are charged separately.
Certified copy — each additional page	$3	Applies to additional pages of the document.
Plain copy — first page	$5	Useful when certification is not required.
Plain copy — each additional page	$3	Charged for each additional document page.
Search fee	$0.50 per name / per year; $1 minimum	The county lists this search fee as non-refundable.
Expedited Mail / UPS	$18.50	Check the live fee page for current availability and conditions.
Credit-card handling fee	$1.75	Applies where listed by the RR/CC for card orders.

Verify current real estate copy fees

Submitting a deed or other instrument

How to record a property document in Los Angeles County

Requesting an existing deed and recording a new document are different services. If you have a deed, deed of trust, reconveyance, lien, notice or other instrument that needs to become part of the public record, use the RR/CC’s Property Document Recording process.

Confirm that the property is in Los Angeles County The county’s recording requirements apply to property located within Los Angeles County.

Open the official recording requirements before preparing the final document Check the current formatting, signature, acknowledgment, return-address and page-layout rules.
Open official recording requirements

Check the Assessor’s Parcel Number requirement The RR/CC states that the APN is required on certain documents including deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, notices of default and notices of trustee’s sale.

Include required ownership-change paperwork when applicable Documents affecting a change in ownership may require a completed Preliminary Change of Ownership Report. Follow the current County Assessor and Recorder instructions for your transaction.

Check formatting before submission The Recorder lists 8.5-by-11-inch paper as the standard page size and publishes first-page recording-space and margin requirements. Poorly reproduced text, seals or legal descriptions can cause problems.

Calculate all applicable fees and taxes Do not assume the basic recording fee is your total. Depending on the instrument and transaction, additional statutory fees, fraud-program charges, SB 2 fees or exemptions, documentary transfer tax and city transfer taxes may apply.
Check official recording fees

Submit using the Recorder’s current method Follow the RR/CC instructions for an in-person appointment or recording by mail. Professional courier and third-party submission procedures may differ.

The Recorder does not prepare your legal document. The RR/CC publishes sample forms and definitions but states that it cannot give legal advice or assist the public with preparing legal documents. A recording office determines whether a document meets recording requirements; it does not determine whether the transaction is legally appropriate for your situation.

Do not overlook documentary transfer tax

Los Angeles County states that documentary transfer tax can apply to documents conveying real property. The county rate and city-level taxes depend on the transaction and location, and several cities have special rates. The City of Los Angeles also has additional transfer-tax provisions for qualifying transactions.

Because transfer-tax calculations can materially affect a filing, use the county’s current transfer-tax page rather than relying on an old fee chart.

Check current transfer-tax rules View Recorder forms and document types

Use the correct P.O. box

Los Angeles County Recorder mailing addresses

Do not send Recorder mail to a district branch office. The RR/CC specifically instructs users to route mail through the appropriate Norwalk headquarters mailing section.

Mail a real estate record copy request

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Real Estate Records
P.O. Box 1130
Norwalk, CA 90651-1130

Use this route for mailed searches and copies of already-recorded real estate documents.

Review mail-copy instructions

Mail a document for recording

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
Document Analysis and Recording Section
P.O. Box 1250
Norwalk, CA 90651-1250

Use this route when submitting a qualifying property document for recording by mail.

Review recording-by-mail requirements

Mail-request tip: for an existing real estate record search, include the document title, the names appearing on the document and the recording year. If you do not know the exact year, tell the Recorder which years need to be searched.

Know the document you are looking for

Common Los Angeles County Recorder property records

Typical recorded instruments and what they can help document
Document	What it generally relates to	Useful search clue
Grant deed / other deed	Transfer of an interest in real property.	Buyer/seller names and approximate transfer year.
Deed of Trust	Real property used as security for a debt or obligation.	Borrower name, lender-related party and loan/recording date.
Full Reconveyance	Release of a deed of trust after the secured obligation has been satisfied.	Borrower name and payoff/release period.
Lien / Abstract of Judgment	A recorded claim or judgment affecting property interests.	Debtor or property-owner name and approximate filing year.
Release	Release of a previously recorded lien or other interest.	Original lien information and release period.
Easement	A right to use another person’s land for a stated purpose.	Property parties, legal description and recording period.
CC&Rs	Recorded covenants, conditions and restrictions affecting property.	Subdivision, tract, association or owner information.
Notice of Default	A recorded step in a nonjudicial foreclosure process.	Trustor/borrower name and foreclosure timeline.

Read official document definitions

Common wrong-office problems

Records you should not expect the Los Angeles Recorder to provide

Send each question to the office that actually controls the information
You need	Best starting office	Why
Property value, building characteristics or AIN/APN	Los Angeles County Assessor	The Assessor maintains assessment-roll and parcel information.
Property tax bill, balance or payment history	Treasurer and Tax Collector	The Tax Collector bills and collects property taxes.
Building permit or construction file	Responsible city building department or County Public Works	Building records are generally not Recorder real estate documents.
Will or probate court case	Los Angeles County Superior Court	The Recorder’s FAQ states that wills are filed with the Superior Court.
Who legally owns the property after complex transfers or disputes?	Recorder documents plus appropriate title/legal review	A Recorder supplies the recorded documents but does not provide a legal title opinion.

Monitor new recordings

Los Angeles County homeowner recording notifications

Los Angeles County operates a Homeowner Notification Program designed to alert owners when certain documents affecting their property are recorded. The Recorder explains that notices can involve ownership changes, loans, Notices of Default and Notices of Sale.

The county also describes an e-Notification option. The current instructions direct homeowners to create a profile through the Los Angeles County Assessor system and opt in for property-related notifications.

Open the official Homeowner Notification Program page Read which recorded events generate notices and what the notification means.
Open Homeowner Notification Program

Use the official Assessor account route for e-Notification Sign in or create the appropriate Assessor profile and follow the current opt-in instructions.

Review any unexpected recording immediately Identify the document title and recording information. If you do not recognize the transaction, use the contacts provided by Los Angeles County rather than ignoring the notice.

Practical value: notification does not replace periodic title research or professional advice, but it can give an owner earlier awareness that a deed, loan-related document or foreclosure-related notice has been recorded.

Before you visit or order

Los Angeles Recorder office checklist

Confirm you need the Recorder—not the Assessor or Tax Collector

Write down the exact party names you know

Estimate the recording year or year range

Identify the likely document type

Use the Assessor Portal first if all you have is an address

Decide whether a plain or certified copy is required

Verify appointment requirements before visiting

Check the current county fee schedule before paying

Use the correct P.O. box for mailed requests

Do not mail Recorder requests to district branches

Frequently asked questions

Los Angeles County Recorder Office FAQs

What is the Los Angeles County Recorder office address?

The main Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk headquarters is at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. The Norwalk location provides real estate record and property document recording services.

What are the Los Angeles County Recorder office hours?

The county currently lists Norwalk headquarters hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding applicable holidays. Branch hours differ, so verify the live branch page before visiting.

What is the Los Angeles County Recorder phone number?

The Recorder/County Clerk number is (800) 201-8999. The current contact menu lists option 2 for Property Document Recording and option 3 for Real Estate Records after recording.

Can I search Los Angeles County deeds online for free?

The RR/CC states that it does not provide public internet access to its real estate records or indexes. You can submit an online request for a copy, but that is different from browsing a public online deed index.

Can I search a Los Angeles County deed by street address?

Not through the Recorder’s historical index in the same way you search an Assessor database. The Recorder states that property records are filed by party name and year. If you only have an address, use the official Assessor Portal to identify the parcel and gather information before moving to the Recorder.

How far back do LA County Recorder real estate records go?

The RR/CC states that Los Angeles County real estate records dating to 1850 are available after they have been recorded. Its viewing instructions separate older records from the 1958-to-present collection at Norwalk.

How much does a certified deed copy cost?

The Recorder’s published fee schedule lists a certified real estate record copy at $6 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Always check the current official fee page before ordering because county fees can change.

Can I call the Recorder and ask staff to search a deed for me?

The RR/CC states that telephone requests for real estate index searches are not accepted. Prepare the names and recording year, then use an official request or in-person viewing method.

Where do I mail a deed-copy request?

Mail an existing real estate record request to Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Real Estate Records, P.O. Box 1130, Norwalk, CA 90651-1130. This is different from the P.O. box used to submit a new document for recording.

Is there a Recorder office in Los Angeles city?

Los Angeles County has an LAX/Courthouse RR/CC branch at 11701 S. La Cienega Blvd., 6th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90045, which currently lists document recording and copies of real estate records from 1982 to present. The main Recorder headquarters remains in Norwalk.

Official resources

Use these official Los Angeles County links

Bottom line

The fastest route to the Los Angeles County record you actually need

For most users, the process becomes much easier once the offices are separated correctly. Use the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for recorded deeds, liens, releases and other real estate instruments. Use the Assessor Portal first when all you know is a street address, and use the Treasurer and Tax Collector for tax bills and payments.

If you are going to the Recorder in person, the main office is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. If you need a document copy, prepare the party names, document type and recording year before you begin. That preparation is especially important in Los Angeles County because the Recorder does not expose its real estate index as a public online address-search database.

For a new recording, use the county’s current recording requirements and fee pages before signing, mailing or presenting the document. Recording rules, transfer taxes and statutory fees can vary by document and transaction, so the live RR/CC instructions should control over an old checklist or third-party summary.