San Luis Obispo County, California public records

In San Luis Obispo County, deeds are recorded by the County of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder; property values come from the San Luis Obispo County Assessor; court files are kept by the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo.

Last checked against official sources on November 4, 2026.

On this page

1. Where to get each record
2. Deeds and land records
3. Property values, owners and tax bills
4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
5. Marriage records
6. Divorce records
7. Birth certificates
8. Death certificates
9. Probate records and wills
10. Business names (DBA)
11. Voter records
12. Historical records
13. Good to know about San Luis Obispo County records
14. Office addresses, phones and hours
15. Records that are not online: public records requests
16. Questions people ask
17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
18. Sources

Where to get each record

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in San Luis Obispo County are recorded by the County of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder (also Registrar of Voters and Commissioner of Civil Marriages).⁴

Online search

sanluisobispocountyca-web.tylerhost.net/…²Free search, fee for copies

Cost

Free to search the online Grantor/Grantee index; copies paid: $7.00 first page, $1.00 each additional page of the same document (shopping cart, then download)³

Who runs it

Tyler Technologies (Self-Service, tylerhost.net), linked by the Clerk-Recorder³

Years online

Index 1923 to present; images August 8, 2001 to present; records back to 1850 at the office²

Copy fee

Official Record copies via the online portal: $7.00 first page, $1.00 each additional page of the same document³

How to order

Online via the Self-Service Portal (buy and download; certified copies are not sold online); in person at the kiosk in San Luis Obispo; by email or fax ((805) 781-1111) with a Credit Card Authorization Form; or by mail with the fee to County of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder, 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D120, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408¹⁵

How deeds work in California

Property values, owners and tax bills

The San Luis Obispo County Assessor sets property values⁵; the San Luis Obispo County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator (Tax Collector Division) bills and collects the tax⁷.

Property search

propertyinquiryportal.slocounty.ca.gov (Property Information & Map Search)⁶

Tax bill search

services.slocountytax.org (Taxes on the Web: secured and unsecured property tax search and payment)⁸

Parcel map (GIS)

slocounty.ca.gov/… (Assessor Mapping/GIS)⁵

Appealing a value

Informal: Assessor's Decline in Value/Assessment Review program. Formal assessment appeals: Assessment Appeals Board through the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors⁵

How property tax works in California

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

Fees

Copies $0.50 per page; research fee $15.00 (mail copy requests); criminal research of 10+ minutes $15 per 10-minute increment¹¹

Criminal records and background checks

Summary

Superior Court criminal records: re:SearchCA online (cases after 2014), onsite kiosks, Request for Case Information form ($0.50 per page)¹⁶

How California courts keep their files

Marriage records

Clerk-Recorder issues public and confidential marriage licenses (license valid 90 days; ceremony must be in California). Certified copies via the Clerk-Recorder; confidential copies only to the couple.¹²

California marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Divorce files are kept by the Superior Court (Civil & Family Law Branch), not the Clerk-Recorder²

California divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Clerk-Recorder keeps births that occurred in San Luis Obispo County; certified copies in person (kiosk), via the Self-Service Portal (in-office pickup within 30 days), by mail/fax/email with application, or VitalChek¹³

Ordering a California birth certificate

Death certificates

Clerk-Recorder issues certified death certificates for deaths in the county (Death Certificates service page); Health Department Local Registrar for recent events⁴

Ordering a California death certificate

Probate records and wills

Probate, wills, conservatorships and guardianships: Superior Court Civil & Family Law Branch; lodging a will $50; petition for probate $435¹⁴

Finding a will or probate case in California

Business names (DBA)

Fictitious business name statements are filed with the Clerk-Recorder⁴

Voter records

The Clerk-Recorder is the Registrar of Voters⁴

Historical records

Clerk-Recorder records go back to 1850; older documents viewed or purchased at the office²

Good to know about San Luis Obispo County records

• The Superior Court was the first in California to roll out the re:SearchCA multi-jurisdictional case search¹⁰
• One elected Clerk-Recorder also serves as Registrar of Voters and Commissioner of Civil Marriages⁴
• Since July 1, 2026 the Superior Court no longer gives case summaries to third-party requesters¹⁶
• Recorded document index online from 1923; images only from August 8, 2001²

Office addresses, phones and hours

Records that are not online: public records requests

Request page

slocounty.ca.gov/…²¹

Where to send it

Clerk-Recorder, (805) 781-5080; requests by mail, fax, or in person²¹

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

Other counties in California with a full guide: Alameda County, Butte County, Contra Costa County, El Dorado County, Fresno County, Humboldt County, Imperial County, Kern County, Kings County, Lake County, Los Angeles County, Madera County, Marin County, Mendocino County, Merced County, Monterey County, Napa County, Nevada County, Orange County, Placer County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Joaquin County, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Shasta County, Solano County, Sonoma County, Stanislaus County, Sutter County, Tulare County, Ventura County, Yolo County, Yuba County. Every county in the state: California county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 22 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
2. Recorded Documents SearchCounty of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder
3. Self-Service: San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder Online Services, Official Records Search - WebCounty of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder (Tyler Technologies portal)
4. Clerk-RecorderCounty of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder
5. AssessorSan Luis Obispo County Assessor
6. Property Inquiry PortalSan Luis Obispo County Assessor
7. Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public AdministratorCounty of San Luis Obispo
8. Taxes on the WebSan Luis Obispo County Tax Collector
9. Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo homeSuperior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
10. Online Case LookupSuperior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
11. Getting Copies of Court FilesSuperior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
12. Marriage LicensesCounty of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder
13. Birth CertificatesCounty of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder
14. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
15. Recorded Document CopiesCounty of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder
16. Criminal Case Information RequestsSuperior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
17. Assessor - Contact UsCounty of San Luis Obispo
18. Location & Contact InfoSuperior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
19. County Registrars and RecordersCalifornia Department of Public Health
20. County Elections OfficesCalifornia Secretary of State
21. About Public Records RequestsCounty of San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder
22. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau