Long Beach Public Records Online
Long Beach public records are maintained by city and county agencies serving California's seventh largest city. You can search court cases, vital certificates, property documents, business filings, and city records through different systems. The City Clerk keeps official city documents and handles business licenses. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk issues vital records like birth and death certificates plus property documents. The Superior Court maintains case files for civil, criminal, family law, probate, and small claims matters. Most searches start online. Some records need an office visit or written request. Processing times range from instant online results to weeks for certified copies mailed from county offices.
Long Beach Quick Facts
Los Angeles County Records
Long Beach is in Los Angeles County. All vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates come from the county, not the city. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk handles these requests. Their main office is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Call (800) 201-8999. Press option 1 for vital records or option 3 for property documents. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays.
Birth certificates cost $34 as of January 2026. Death certificates cost $26. Marriage certificates cost $19. Fees went up under Assembly Bill 64. You must prove your relationship to the person on the certificate. Parents, spouses, adult children, grandparents, and legal reps can order copies under Health and Safety Code Section 103526(c). Bring valid ID when you apply in person.
Real estate records also go through the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property documents are filed with the County Recorder. You can search online at lavote.gov and order copies for a fee. The Assessor keeps separate property value records for tax purposes.
Court records for Long Beach are managed by the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. This is the biggest trial court system in the United States with 58 locations. The Civil Index at lacourt.org/paos/v2public/CivilIndex lets you search by name for civil, small claims, family law, and probate cases. Guest users pay $4.75 per search. Registered users get lower rates if they search often.
For more details on county services, visit the Los Angeles County page.
City of Long Beach Records
The City of Long Beach maintains records separate from the county. The City Clerk keeps official city documents including ordinances, resolutions, and City Council proceedings. This office handles elections, business licenses, and official records requests. City records include legislation, contracts, permits, meeting minutes, and administrative files.
Long Beach has an Office of Ethics and Transparency that manages public records requests under the California Public Records Act. Visit longbeach.gov/citymanager/offices-and-services/office-of-ethics-and-transparency/public-records-requests to submit a request or track existing ones. The portal lets you search past requests and view responses.
City departments have 10 calendar days to respond to your CPRA request. They can extend this by 14 days in unusual circumstances. Be clear about what records you want. Include dates and specific departments if you know them. The city does not create new records or answer questions. They only provide documents that already exist.
Most electronic records are free. Paper copies may have a per-page fee. The city will tell you about costs before processing large requests. You do not need to give a reason or show ID for most public records. Some records have exemptions for privacy, pending litigation, or law enforcement purposes. The city must justify any denial with specific legal authority.
Superior Court Case Files
Court cases in Long Beach are filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court. The Long Beach Courthouse is one of 58 court locations in the county. It handles civil, criminal, family law, probate, and traffic cases for the Long Beach area. Some case types may be filed at other courthouses depending on jurisdiction rules.
Access to court records depends on case type. Civil cases are mostly public. Criminal cases show basic information but may hide victim identities. Family law files protect sensitive financial and child welfare information. Juvenile cases are confidential and sealed from public view.
The court website provides online case search tools. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or attorney. The Civil Index is updated daily and covers cases back to the 1980s in most categories. Search results show case numbers, filing dates, case types, and courthouse locations. Some cases have online access to documents for a fee.
To get copies of court documents, visit the clerk's office at the courthouse handling the case. Bring the case number and document description. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies have an additional certification fee. Some courts accept mail orders if you provide complete case information and prepayment. Processing by mail takes longer than visiting in person.
Court clerks can help you locate files and explain procedures. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what forms to file. If you need legal help, consult an attorney or contact legal aid organizations serving Los Angeles County.
Business Information Search
Business records for Long Beach companies are spread across multiple agencies. State-level entities like corporations and LLCs file with the California Secretary of State. You can search at sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities to find any California business. The database shows entity name, number, status, formation date, and agent information. Searching is free. Certified copies cost $5.
Fictitious business names are filed with Los Angeles County. If a company operates under a DBA, it must register with the County Clerk. These records are searchable through the Registrar-Recorder office. Call (800) 201-8999 to ask about fictitious name searches and copies. Fees apply for certified documents.
City business licenses are handled by the City of Long Beach. Every business operating in Long Beach must have a valid license. You can verify licenses through the city website or by calling the appropriate department. License records show business name, address, type, and status. Some information may be public while other details are protected under privacy laws.
The Secretary of State also maintains UCC financing statements showing secured interests in business assets. Search UCC records online through the state website. This helps when researching liens on business property or equipment.
Real Estate and Property Records
Property records are kept by the Los Angeles County Recorder. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other real estate documents are recorded here. The Recorder maintains an index of all recorded instruments going back decades. You can search online and order copies for a fee.
The County Assessor keeps separate records about property values for tax purposes. Assessor data includes owner name, assessed value, property characteristics, and tax history. This information is public and searchable online at portal.assessor.lacounty.gov for free. The Assessor's parcel maps show property boundaries and parcel numbers.
To search property records, visit the county website or use the Assessor's online portal. Enter an address or parcel number to pull up information. You can view records on screen for free. Copies have per-page fees. Certified copies cost extra. Most documents can be emailed or mailed to you. Processing times depend on request volume and document complexity.
Building permits and code enforcement records are maintained by the City of Long Beach. These show permit history, inspections, and violations. Check with the city's Development Services Department for access to permit records and inspection reports.
Ways to Access Records
Online searches are the fastest way to find Long Beach records. Many databases are free and available any time. Court indexes, business entities, property assessments, and some city records work online. Start with online tools before trying other methods. This saves time and money.
In-person visits give you more help from staff. Clerks can guide your search and answer questions about procedures. Bring valid ID and payment for fees. Most offices accept cash, check, or card. Call first to check hours and required documents. Some offices need appointments, especially for specialized services or during busy periods.
Mail requests work if you know exactly what you want. Write a letter with your contact information. Describe the records clearly with case numbers or document details. Include payment if you know the cost. Otherwise ask for an estimate first. Mail takes longer but saves a trip. Use certified mail for important requests so you have proof of delivery.
Email and phone work for simple questions. Staff can tell you about procedures, fees, and office locations. They cannot do research or give legal advice. Use phone for quick questions about hours and requirements. Follow up in writing if you need an official response or detailed information.
California Public Records Laws
The California Public Records Act gives you the right to inspect and copy most government records. Government Code sections 6250 and following require agencies to make public records available. Exemptions protect privacy, active investigations, attorney-client communications, and other sensitive information. Agencies must cite specific legal exemptions when denying access. You have the right to challenge denials through administrative appeals or court action.
Vital records have special rules under Health and Safety Code Section 103526(c). Only authorized people can get birth and death certificates. This protects privacy while allowing family members and legal parties to obtain records they need. Marriage records are less restricted but still require eligibility proof in some cases. Divorce records are court documents and follow court access rules.
Court records follow California Rules of Court. Rule 2.503 sets standards for case file access. Judges can seal sensitive files or redact identifying information. Some case types have extra privacy protections. Juvenile cases are confidential. Family law cases protect child welfare information. Criminal cases may hide victim details to prevent harassment or retaliation.
Use records lawfully. Do not commit identity theft with vital records. Do not harass people using information from court files. Some commercial uses are banned by statute. Follow the law when requesting and using government documents. Legitimate research, journalism, legal work, and personal use are generally allowed under California law.
Note: Long Beach has its own city charter which may provide additional access or privacy protections.
Records in Other Cities
California has many large cities with their own record systems. Each city maintains different databases and uses different procedures. Check these pages for records in other major cities: