Access Riverside Public Records

Riverside public records span court files, birth and death certificates, property deeds, business names, and city documents. Riverside County manages most of these records through offices located right in the city. As the county seat, Riverside hosts the main clerk and recorder offices. Residents can walk in for help or use online portals to search from home. The city also keeps its own records for permits, council actions, and public contracts. Both county and city offices follow state law on public access. Most documents are available to anyone who asks, though some have privacy limits under California law.

Vital Records in Riverside

Birth, death, and marriage certificates for Riverside residents are handled by the Riverside County Clerk-Recorder. The office is at 2724 Gateway Drive in downtown Riverside. Walk-in service is available for most vital record requests. Fees are $24 per certified copy as of January 2026. This fee went up by $2 due to Assembly Bill 64 passed in 2025.

You can order vital records online through the county website at rivcoacr.org/BirthDeathMarriageCertificates. The online system accepts credit cards and processes orders faster than mail requests. Not everyone can get a copy of a vital record. California law restricts access to people who have a direct relationship to the person on the certificate. Parents, spouses, adult children, grandparents, and legal representatives qualify under Health and Safety Code Section 103526(c).

Birth records less than three months old must be ordered from the county. The state does not have them yet. The same rule applies to death records. Marriage records stay at the county for six months before they go to the state. If you need a recent vital record from Riverside, the county office is your only option.

Property and Deed Records

Property records for Riverside are kept by the county recorder. This includes deeds, deeds of trust, liens, easements, and other documents that affect real estate. All of these records are public. You can search them online at webselfservice.riversideacr.com/Web without paying a fee. The database goes back many years and includes scanned images of most documents.

If you need a certified copy of a recorded document in Riverside, you can order it online or visit the recorder office. Certification costs extra on top of the per-page fee. The county charges based on document size. Staff can help you locate documents if you have a property address or assessor parcel number.

Assessor records show property values and ownership for tax purposes. The Riverside County Assessor maintains these records. You can search by address, parcel number, or owner name. Tax information is also online. These records help when you research property history or verify ownership in Riverside.

Riverside Court Records

The Riverside County Superior Court handles all trial cases in the city. Civil disputes, criminal prosecutions, family law matters, probate cases, and small claims all go through this court system. The main courthouse for Riverside is at 4050 Main Street. Court records are mostly public, but privacy rules apply to certain case types like family law and juvenile proceedings.

Most court records can be searched online. The court provides case access tools on its website. You can look up cases by name, case number, or party. Basic information like case status, filing date, and party names is free. Some documents are available online. Others require a visit to the clerk office. Fees apply for copies.

To get certified copies of court documents in Riverside:

• Visit the clerk office at 4050 Main Street
• Bring photo ID and case information
• Request specific documents by name
• Pay per-page fees plus certification
• Pick up copies at the counter

Court clerks cannot give legal advice. They can help you find documents and explain fees. If you need help understanding a legal process, talk to an attorney. The Riverside County Law Library offers free resources to people representing themselves. It is located inside the courthouse.

Note: Court records from cases more than 10 years old may be in storage and take longer to retrieve in Riverside.

City of Riverside Records

The City of Riverside keeps records of its government operations. City council meetings, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and budget documents are all public. The city clerk office manages these records and handles public records requests under the California Public Records Act. You can submit a request online or by mail.

Visit riversideca.gov/transparency/records to submit a public records request. The city has 10 days to respond under Government Code section 6253(c). They may extend this time by 14 days if they need to search multiple departments or consult with staff. Electronic copies are usually free. Paper copies may cost $0.10 per page.

Building permits, planning documents, and code enforcement records are public. The city planning department keeps zoning maps and land use files. The building department has permit records and inspection reports. Police reports are available from the Riverside Police Department, though some information may be redacted for privacy or investigative reasons.

Employee salary information for city workers is public. The city publishes a list of salaries each year. You can find this information on the city website or request a copy from the clerk office. Budget documents show how the city spends tax money. All of these records help residents understand how their local government operates in Riverside.

Business Entity Records

Business filings in California are split between state and county offices. Corporations, LLCs, and partnerships file with the Secretary of State. You search these records at sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities for free. The database shows company names, entity numbers, formation dates, and current status. Documents cost $5 for a certified copy.

Fictitious business names are filed at the county level. Any business in Riverside using a name other than its legal entity name must register with the Riverside County Clerk-Recorder. You can search these names at the recorder office. The county charges a filing fee when you register a new name. Renewals happen every five years under California law.

The Secretary of State offers expedited services for an extra fee. Same-day processing costs $750. Next-day service is $350. Standard processing is much cheaper but takes several weeks. Most people use standard service unless they have an urgent need for business records in California.

Criminal History and Background Checks

Criminal records in California are maintained by the Department of Justice. You can request your own record for review by submitting fingerprints and paying a fee. The DOJ does not release criminal history to third parties. Only the person whose record it is can get a copy for personal use. Processing takes 48 to 72 hours for most electronic submissions.

Court records for criminal cases in Riverside are at the Superior Court. These show charges, pleas, sentences, and case outcomes. Some criminal records are sealed by court order. Juvenile cases are not public. Dismissed cases may be sealed under Penal Code provisions. You can search for criminal case information at the courthouse or online.

Law enforcement agencies have arrest logs and incident reports. The Riverside Police Department handles requests for its records. Some information in police reports is confidential by law. You can request a report if you were involved in the incident. Fees vary. Contact the police department for details on how to get a report in Riverside.

Riverside County Records

Riverside is the county seat for Riverside County. Most public records for city residents are handled at the county level. The clerk-recorder, assessor, and court system all serve Riverside and 27 other cities in the county. For a full guide to county record offices, fees, online systems, and access rules, visit the county page.

View Riverside County Public Records