How to Search San Francisco County Records (Start Here)
San Francisco is one of California's few consolidated city-counties — the city and county are the same government, which means fewer offices than most California counties.
- Court records: SF Superior Court at sf.courts.ca.gov. The online case search covers unlimited and limited civil, family law, probate, and criminal cases.
- Traffic citations: Separate system — call (415) 551-8550 or visit Room 145 at the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street.
- Property assessments and recorded documents: The Assessor-Recorder handles both. For assessed values and property characteristics, use the community portal at sf.gov/asr-community-portal. For recorded deeds, liens, and marriage certificates, search at recorder.sfgov.org.
- California has no free statewide criminal records search. For a full criminal history, you need a Live Scan fingerprint check through the California DOJ.
Each source below is verified and links to an official portal.
Criminal & Court Records
Court Records
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
Official Free
Search San Francisco County Superior Court Civil, Small Claims, Family Law, and Probate court records by case name or case number.
Property & Tax Records
Property | Tax Records
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Property tax records and online payment service from the San Francisco Treasurer and Tax Collector.
Building Permits & Complaints
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Search the City and County of San Francisco, California Government Online Services for Department of Building Inspection permits and complaints. Search by site address or permit number.
Recorded Documents
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Search this City and County of San Francisco, California Recorder's service for recorded documents (deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, etc.) by name, document number, document type, date range, or block & lot numbers.
Business, Voter & Other
Fictitious Business Names
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Search San Francisco County, California Fictitious Business Name filings at the County Clerk's office by owner or business name.
🌐 sf.gov
Citations
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Superior Court of San Francisco County moving traffic and non-traffic citation search and online payments.
Restaurant Inspection Scores
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
San Francisco Department of Public Health food facility (restaurants, bars, grocery stores, pushcarts, stadium food facility) scores.
Employee Phone Listings
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Search this City & County of San Francisco, California listings for city and county government employees.
San Francisco City and County
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
City & County of San Francisco official home page and index of departments, services, and agencies. Includes attractions, bids, business licenses, convention facilities, municipal codes & charter, news & events, online bill payments, permits, and much more.
Passenger Lists | 1893-1953
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Ship passengers arriving in San Francisco between 1893 and 1953.
Bid / Contracts Listing
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Search this San Francisco County, California database for information about bids and requests-for-proposals. This database is updated daily and includes the bid description, due date, estimated cost, department handling the bid, and contact information.
Campaign Consultants
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Browse the San Francisco, California Ethics Commission's alphabetical listing of registered campaign consultants and their clients.
Funeral Home Records 1835-1931
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
San Francisco, California Area Funeral Home Records for deaths that occurred between 1835 and 1931. This is an important database as many San Francisco city records were lost in the fires after the great earthquake.
Sea Level Rises
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Interactive map that shows you how much of San Francisco and the Bay Area will be lost as the sea level rises. At 20 feet you'll be able to sail from the the Embarcadero to San Francisco.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles court records in San Francisco County? ▼
Go to the Clerk of the Superior Court for court records in San Francisco County. Start at the Clerk of the Superior Court's office for case lookups — California has no statewide court search portal.
Who handles property records in San Francisco County? ▼
For deeds, mortgages, and liens, go to the County Recorder. For property values and assessment data, go to the County Assessor. For tax bills and payments, go to the Tax Collector-Treasurer.
How do I get birth, death, or marriage records in San Francisco County? ▼
Marriage licenses in San Francisco County are issued by the County Clerk. Birth and death certificates are available from County Recorder (local) / CDPH (state). Divorce records come from the court that granted the decree.
Are San Francisco County records available online? ▼
Yes — San Francisco County has good online coverage. This page lists 10 searchable databases covering court records, property records, vital records, and business filings. Each links directly to an official government portal.
Last reviewed: