Santa Clarita Public Records Access
Public records for Santa Clarita come from both Los Angeles County and the city government. Court documents, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and property deeds go through county offices. City permits, council meeting files, and local ordinances stay with Santa Clarita city departments. Most records are open under California law. You can search many online at no cost. Others need a formal request or a visit to an office. Los Angeles County offices in Norwalk and downtown handle most Santa Clarita records. The city hall on Newhall Ranch Road keeps local files.
Los Angeles County Records System
Santa Clarita is in Los Angeles County. County agencies keep vital records, court files, and property documents for all Santa Clarita residents. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk office runs the main records division. Their headquarters is in Norwalk at 12400 Imperial Highway. You can order birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses there or through the county website.
Fees for vital records went up on January 1, 2026. Birth certificates now cost $34 per copy. Death certificates are $26. Marriage records run $19. You can apply online, by mail, or in person. Walk-in service is fastest if you need same-day copies. Mail requests take longer. Go to lavote.gov to start an online order or download forms for Santa Clarita vital records.
Property records for Santa Clarita are maintained by the Los Angeles County Recorder. All deeds, mortgages, and liens recorded in Santa Clarita show up in the county database. You can search online for free at the county website. If you need certified copies, you pay per page. The Recorder's office is in the same building as the Registrar in Norwalk. They process thousands of documents each day from Santa Clarita and other county cities.
Court Case Lookup for Santa Clarita
Court cases from Santa Clarita get filed at Los Angeles County Superior Court locations. The Santa Clarita Courthouse is at 23747 West Valencia Boulevard. It handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases for the city and nearby areas. You can search cases online through the county court system. The database includes millions of cases from all Los Angeles County courthouses, including Santa Clarita.
Online case searches are available at lacourt.org. You can look up civil, small claims, family law, and probate cases by name or case number. Search results show basic info like filing dates and party names. If you want to see court documents, you can pay for online access or visit the courthouse. The first 20 pages cost $5.00 to view online. Additional pages have extra fees.
Criminal records in Santa Clarita are also public, with some limits. Sealed cases or confidential files do not show in public searches. You can search by defendant name or case number at the court website. For background checks or full criminal histories, contact the California Department of Justice. They handle fingerprint-based checks for employment and licensing. Most electronic submissions process in 48 to 72 hours. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints for background check information.
Note: The Los Angeles County court system covers cases from 1983 to the present in most online indexes.
Property and Real Estate Records
All real estate records for Santa Clarita go through Los Angeles County. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents. These files are public. You can search them online or request copies in person. The county updates the database daily with new recordings from Santa Clarita and the rest of the county.
The County Assessor also keeps property records. The Assessor tracks ownership and assessed values for tax purposes. You can search by address or parcel number. This shows who owns the property, the current value, and tax history. Go to portal.assessor.lacounty.gov to search Santa Clarita properties. The Assessor records are separate from the Recorder but both are public and free to search.
If you need a certified copy of a deed or other document, you can order it from the County Recorder. There is a fee per page plus a certification fee. Online orders and in-person requests are both available. For complex title searches or legal questions, you may want to hire a title company. The county only provides copies of what is on file. They do not give legal advice about property ownership in Santa Clarita.
Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates
Vital records for Santa Clarita residents are filed with Los Angeles County and the state of California. The county is usually faster for recent records. The California Department of Public Health keeps older files and serves as a backup source. You must be an authorized person to get a certified copy of a birth or death record. State law limits access to immediate family and legal representatives.
Birth certificates from Santa Clarita hospitals or for Santa Clarita residents can be ordered from the county office in Norwalk. The fee is $34 per copy. You need to show your relationship to the person on the certificate or provide a legal reason for the request. Applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Processing time depends on the method. Walk-in service is same-day in many cases. Mail orders take several weeks.
Death certificates cost $26 and follow similar rules. You must be immediate family, a legal representative, or have another valid reason. Marriage certificates are $19 and less restricted than birth and death records. For older vital records, you can also contact the California Department of Public Health at (916) 445-2684. State fees are $24 for most certificates. Processing takes 5 to 7 weeks. More info is at cdph.ca.gov.
City of Santa Clarita Records
The City of Santa Clarita keeps its own records separate from the county. City records include council meeting minutes, resolutions, ordinances, building permits, and business licenses. You can request these under the California Public Records Act. The city has 10 days to respond. Some records are available online. Others require a written request to the city clerk or the department that holds the file.
Santa Clarita City Hall is at 23920 Valencia Boulevard. The City Clerk's office handles public records requests, council files, and ordinances. You can call (661) 255-4373 for more information or visit the city website to download forms. The clerk can help you find meeting agendas, resolutions, and legislative records. Some documents are posted online after city council meetings.
Building permits and planning files are public in Santa Clarita. The Community Development Department keeps these records. You can search for permits online through the city portal or call the department to request copies. Business licenses go through the Finance Department. For police records or arrest reports, contact the Santa Clarita Sheriff Station. Not all police records are public. The department reviews requests under state law and releases what it can after redactions.
Business Filings and Corporate Records
Business entities in Santa Clarita are registered with the California Secretary of State. This includes corporations, LLCs, and partnerships. You can search for any California business online at no cost. The database shows business names, officers, registered agents, and filing history. Go to sos.ca.gov to search or order certificates.
Fictitious business names, also called DBAs, are filed with Los Angeles County. If a Santa Clarita business operates under a name different from the owner's legal name, it must file a fictitious business name statement with the County Clerk. These are public records. You can search them at the Registrar-Recorder office or request copies by mail. Certified copies have a small fee.
Business licenses in Santa Clarita come from the city. The City of Santa Clarita Finance Department issues licenses and tracks active businesses. Call (661) 255-4935 to ask about a business license or find out what you need to start a business. State-level licenses like contractor licenses or professional credentials come from state boards, not the city or county.
Online Search Resources
Many Santa Clarita public records are online. County and state websites have free search tools and paid services for certified copies. Some city records are also available on the Santa Clarita website. Using online resources saves time and lets you search from home. Here are the main portals for Santa Clarita records.
Los Angeles County runs several online databases. The Registrar-Recorder site has vital records ordering and property document searches. The Superior Court site offers case indexes and calendars. The Assessor has property tax lookups. All of these cover Santa Clarita since the city is in the county. Links are on the county homepage at lacounty.gov.
The California Secretary of State has free business searches at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. You can look up corporations and LLCs by name or entity number. The California Courts website at courts.ca.gov has statewide resources for finding court records. The State Controller offers an unclaimed property search at sco.ca.gov if you think there are forgotten assets waiting in Santa Clarita.
For background checks, the California Department of Justice runs a fingerprint system. You must submit prints and pay a fee. Results usually come back in 2 to 3 business days for electronic submissions. This is the official method for California criminal history records. Visit oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/record-review to request your own record or learn about authorized checks.
Making a Public Records Request
The California Public Records Act gives you the right to see government records. This applies to city, county, and state agencies in Santa Clarita. If a record is not online or easy to get, you can file a formal request. The agency has 10 days to respond. They can take 14 more days if the request is complex. Not all records are public. Some are exempt for privacy, security, or legal reasons.
To request records from the City of Santa Clarita, contact the department that has the file. If you are not sure which department, start with the City Clerk at (661) 255-4373. You can submit a written request by mail, email, or in person. Be specific about what you want. Include dates, names, or other details that help the city locate the records. There is no fee to make a request. The city can charge for staff time if your request takes many hours to process.
Los Angeles County uses a public records portal called NextRequest. You can submit requests online at lacountyrrcc.nextrequest.com. The system tracks your request and sends updates. Some county records are not covered by the Public Records Act because they are sold through normal channels. This includes vital records, property files, and voter registration data. You order those through the regular process instead of a PRA request.
State agencies also follow the Public Records Act. If you need records from the Department of Justice, Secretary of State, or another state office, file a request with that agency. The Attorney General's office has an online form at oag.ca.gov. The state charges 10 cents per page for paper copies. Electronic data requests can cost more depending on the work involved.
Note: Agencies cannot ask why you want the records when you make a California Public Records Act request.
Los Angeles County Public Records
Santa Clarita is in Los Angeles County. The county manages most vital records, court cases, and property documents for Santa Clarita residents. For a complete guide to Los Angeles County records, fees, office locations, and online search tools, visit the county page.