Search Santa Barbara County, CA Property Records

In Santa Barbara County, California, property owners can access property records through county offices and local city agencies. These records typically include ownership details, property characteristics, tax assessments, building permits, zoning information, and transaction histories, accessible online or in person, depending on the office.

County figures indicate that homes have a median value of $966,350.00, with rents averaging $2,087.00. Meanwhile, households report a median income of $104,238.00, and real estate taxes typically average 0.63%.

Property records in Santa Barbara County, CA, can be accessed online, by mail, or by email. For online access, property owners can use the County Clerk-Recorder’s Real Estate Records Index (Official Records Search). They can search by name, document type, document number, map book/page, or do an even more advanced search.

Property owners can also request the Clerk-Recorder’s records through email at clk-rechelpdesk@countyofsb.org using the Real Estate Record Copy Order Form. The form can be used as well for mail requests, which must be addressed to:

Santa Barbara Clerk-RecorderPO Box 159Santa Barbara, CA 93102

Regular copies of the records can be emailed or mailed, while certified copies are mailed only.

Some records may have access limitations, such as redacted personal details. Processing times can also vary for non-online requests. As an alternative, property owners may use PropertyChecker to quickly access property data without the hassle of going through government processes and requirements.

The following sections outline the specific types of property records and where to find them:

Property Ownership and Title Information

Property ownership and title records are available through the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder. Property owners and researchers may search records through the Real Estate Records Index (Official Records Search), which includes documents recorded since 1975. Available filings typically include deeds, notices of completion, financing statements, and liens.

For older records, the Historical Index covers documents recorded from 1931 to 1974, while records dating back to 1850 are available through the lobby kiosks at the office. For more details on what records are available, check the Available Records page.

Searches may be conducted by party name, document title, or document number, and records are generally indexed under the property owner’s name.

Document images are not accessible online. To obtain copies, individuals must visit the Clerk-Recorder offices in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria and use public kiosks. Standard copies cost $10 per document, while certified copies require an additional $2 fee.

Property Sales and Transaction History

Property sales and transaction history in Santa Barbara County may appear in recorded documents such as grant, warranty, quitclaim, and trustee’s deeds upon sale. Mortgages and transfer tax declarations can also indicate financing details and transaction amounts. These are all accessible using the Real Estate Records Index (Official Records Search).

Searches can be done by owner name, document type, or number with a specified date range. Property appraisers may also reference these records.

For faster access, PropertyChecker aggregates these records in one place, so it is more convenient for users to access property sales and transaction records.

Property Tax Assessment and Payment Records

In Santa Barbara County, property owners can view assessment records of their properties through the County Assessor. They can use the Parcel Details and Value Notice Look Up tool, where property tax assessors list values, parcel details, and ownership data.

Meanwhile, tax bills, payment history, and delinquencies are available through the County Tax Collector. Property owners can view and pay their property taxes through the Online Property Tax System. Some cities may also offer local tax information.

Property owners with valuation concerns should first contact the County Assessor. If unresolved, they may file an appeal with the Clerk of the Board using the Assessment Appeals Application form. For updates on the status of the review, property owners can check through the Assessment Appeals Case Status tool.

Property Characteristics and Parcel Details

To access property characteristics and parcel details, Santa Barbara County property owners can use the Parcel Details and Value Notice Look Up tool. This database may include details such as building size, lot size, number of rooms, and year built.

Property owners may also submit a Property Characteristics Request Form to the County Assessor. Fees start at $8, plus research and documentation costs depending on the property, with an additional $5 for faxed records per order.

Another option is to use the Assessor Map Look Up. Enter the appropriate numbers for each type of page. Use a three-digit Assessor Page Index number with leading zeros, or enter a five- or six-digit Assessor Page number, depending on the book.

Zoning, Land Use, and Planning Records

Zoning and land use designations are available through the Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department. The Department has an Interactive Land Use Designation / Zoning Map that allows users to identify zoning classifications and general plan designations for their properties.

First-time users can follow the available How-to-Guide for step-by-step instructions on navigating the system and locating parcel-specific zoning information.

Property owners can also use the Citizen Access portal to search for planning cases. Cities within the county may maintain separate systems. For example, the City of Santa Barbara offers a Property Records & Archives page for local planning files.

Legal Documents Affecting Property

Property owners can access legal documents affecting property through the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder using the Real Estate Records Index (Official Records Search). Common documents include liens, easements, covenants, notices of default, and deeds of trust.

For court-related filings, property owners may also check records with the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. They can look up case information through Case Records Search or request a record through the Requesting Court Records page.

Building Permits, Inspections, and Construction Records

The Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department allows property owners to access building permits and inspection records through the Permit History by Parcel Report. It is searchable by APN and generates a PDF of permit history.

The Search for Building Cases under the Citizen Access portal is also available to property owners. They can look up information that may include their building permits, inspection status, and case details.

Local cities also typically have their own online portals. For example, the City of Santa Barbara’s Property Records & Archives page may contain local permits and inspection records.

Maps and Visual Property Data

Those who want to view parcel boundaries and spatial data can do so through the Santa Barbara County Surveyor’s Parcel Map Lookup. The tool may provide access to subdivision maps and parcel layouts for more than 130,000 parcels across about 2,700 square miles.

The County Planning and Development’s Interactive Land Use Designation / Zoning map also allows users to toggle parcel layers, zoning, and other settings.

Local cities may provide their own means of access, too. For example, the City of Santa Barbara offers a Property Records Database and Maps of Santa Barbara for local maps and visual data.

The Santa Barbara County Parcel Map Lookup is an online resource for accessing County Surveyor subdivision parcel maps recorded in official Parcel Map Books, typically for subdivisions creating one to four parcels.

These records are separate from County Assessor tax parcel maps, which are maintained independently and can be accessed through the County Assessor’s Parcel Details and Value Notice Look Up tool.

To perform a search, users simply enter the Parcel Map (PM) book number in the Book field and the corresponding page number in the Page field, then select “View the Selected Map.” For example, entering Book 055 and Page 055 will open Parcel Map Book 55, Page 55. Each selection is displayed as a PDF file through Adobe Reader.

For multi-page records, navigation may require manually adjusting the page number in the browser’s address bar. Some older maps may appear rotated; these can be corrected using Adobe Reader’s built-in rotation tools. For optimal viewing, a browser with an integrated or compatible PDF viewer is recommended.

Displayed here are charts summarizing the county's tax rates, accompanied by insights into median home values, income figures, and rent rates.

Median Rent

$2,087.00

California	$1,260.00
National	$840.25

• +65.6 %
  vs California
• +148.4 %
  vs National

Median Home Value

$966,350.00

California	$403,775.00
National	$173,750.00

• +139.3 %
  vs California
• +456.2 %
  vs National

Median Household Income

$104,238.00

California	$78,109.75
National	$65,108.00

• +33.5 %
  vs California
• +60.1 %
  vs National

Median Property Tax Rate

0.63%

California	0.69%
National	0.74%

• -8.7%
  vs California
• -14.9 %
  vs National

Unemployment Rate

3.57%

California	3.72%
National	2.87%

• -4.0 %
  vs California
• +24.4 %
  vs National

Renter Occupied Housing

40.87%

California	33.49%
National	21.81%

• +22.0 %
  vs California
• +87.4 %
  vs National

In Santa Barbara County, the County Clerk-Recorder serves as the repository of recorded real estate documents. These documents include deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and reconveyances, with indexed records available from 1931 onward. Other county offices, like the Assessor’s, use these records to verify ownership and property assessments.

In addition to searching records online through the Real Estate Records Index (Official Records Search), property owners can access documents in person at the Santa Barbara or Santa Maria offices using public kiosks. Copies can also be requested by mail.

Regular copies cost $10 and may be mailed or emailed upon request, while certified copies cost an additional $2 each and are mailed only.

To receive regular copies by email, submit a request to the Recorder’s office within 24 hours of placing the order. The email subject line must read: “Copy Order Request, [your order #]” to ensure proper processing.

Santa Barbara County provides many property records, but property owners may still need to access city-level websites for local records. The county has a total of eight incorporated cities:

• Buellton
• Carpinteria
• Goleta
• Guadalupe
• Lompoc
• Santa Barbara
• Santa Maria
• Solvang

Local planning, building, and public works departments maintain permits, zoning, and inspection records. Property owners should contact city offices or visit their websites and portals, as available records and online tools vary by municipality.