Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site on September 23, 2026.
Monterey County, California, has about 436,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). The title to a parcel in Monterey County is in the deed records of the County Recorder and its taxable value is set by the County Assessor; what is built on it is a matter for the city or the county. This guide says who keeps each record and where the page for each office is.
This guide covers deeds, assessed values, directory links, city permits, evictions and court cases, records requests and common questions.
Related guides: Monterey County public records, Monterey County arrest records, Monterey County warrants, Monterey County inmate search, Monterey County criminal records, California arrest records and California inmate search.
Deeds, Mortgages and Liens in Monterey County
Who owns a parcel in Monterey County and what it sold for are in the deed records of the County Recorder, with every lien or mortgage against the land.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Recorder's page at countyofmonterey.gov/government/departments-a-h/assessor/recorder/o... (page title: On-line Document Access | County of Monterey, CA), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
Assessed Values and the Tax Roll in Monterey County
The County Assessor sets the value each parcel in Monterey County is taxed on and keeps the parcel maps. Under Proposition 13 a property's assessed value is set when it changes hands and can rise no more than 2 percent a year after that, so a home owned for decades is often assessed far below its market value.
SearchSystems opened and checked the County Assessor's page at countyofmonterey.gov/government/departments-a-h/assessor/assessor/r... (page title: Property Inquiry | County of Monterey, CA), which answered when SearchSystems opened it on September 23, 2026.
More Official Property and Land Records Pages for Monterey County
The SearchSystems directory, online since 1997, lists the official pages for Monterey County and California. These property pages from its Monterey County listing were opened again on October 2, 2026 and each one still answers:
- GIS Mapping & Data (countyofmonterey.gov)
- Internet Auction of Tax Defaulted Property (countyofmonterey.gov)
- Recording By Mail (countyofmonterey.gov)
Permits and City Records in the Cities of Monterey County
Building permits, zoning and code cases inside a city are the city's own records. The cities in Monterey County with a SearchSystems guide to their offices, with the city page SearchSystems verified:
- Salinas: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at salinas.gov/City-Hall (verified September 25, 2026).
- Seaside: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at ci.seaside.ca.us/m/directory, phone (831) 899-6700 (verified September 25, 2026).
- Soledad: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at cityofsoledad.gov/venue/soledad-city-hall (verified September 25, 2026).
- Marina: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at cityofmarina.org/27/City-Hall, phone (831) 884-1278 (verified September 25, 2026).
- Greenfield: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at greenfieldca.gov/facilities/facility/details/City-Hall-31 (verified September 25, 2026).
- Pacific Grove: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at cityofpacificgrove.gov/our_city/about_the_city/city_hall.php (verified September 25, 2026).
- Gonzales: the city hall page SearchSystems verified is at gonzalesca.gov/contact, phone 831-675-5000 (verified September 26, 2026).
Evictions and Court Cases About Land in Monterey County
An eviction, a foreclosure, a lien dispute or a quiet title suit is a court case in the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey, and the file is public unless sealed.
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at monterey.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-search, phone (415) 553-7400.
Asking a County Office for a Record
Under the California Public Records Act a county office must answer a request within 10 days, with up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances, and it may charge the direct cost of copying only, not staff time. The county records request page SearchSystems verified is at countyofmonterey.gov/government/departments-a-h/emergency-communica... (page title: Public Records Act Request | County of Monterey, CA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who records deeds in Monterey County?
The County Recorder, at countyofmonterey.gov. Deeds, mortgages and liens on land in Monterey County are filed there, and the County Assessor (countyofmonterey.gov) has the assessment records.
Who sets the assessed value of a property in Monterey County?
The County Assessor, whose page SearchSystems verified is at countyofmonterey.gov.
Where are evictions from Monterey County filed?
In the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey. The file is public unless the court seals it.
How is property assessed in California?
Under Proposition 13 a property's assessed value is set when it changes hands and can rise no more than 2 percent a year after that, so a home owned for decades is often assessed far below its market value.
Is this the official Monterey County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.