How to Search San Francisco County Records (Start Here)
San Francisco is one of California's few consolidated city-counties — the city and county are the same government, which means fewer offices than most California counties.
- Court records: SF Superior Court at sf.courts.ca.gov. The online case search covers unlimited and limited civil, family law, probate, and criminal cases.
- Traffic citations: Separate system — call (415) 551-8550 or visit Room 145 at the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street.
- Property assessments and recorded documents: The Assessor-Recorder handles both. For assessed values and property characteristics, use the community portal at sf.gov/asr-community-portal. For recorded deeds, liens, and marriage certificates, search at recorder.sfgov.org.
- Criminal background: California has no free statewide criminal records search. For a full criminal history, you need a Live Scan fingerprint check through the California DOJ.
Use the databases below based on the type of record you are searching.
Criminal & Court Records
SF Superior Court — Online Case Search
Visit →Criminal & Court Records
Official Free
Search by case number or name. Covers unlimited/limited civil, family law, probate, and criminal cases.
Property & Tax Records
SF Assessor-Recorder — Recorded Documents
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Search recorded deeds, liens, marriage certificates, and other official documents for San Francisco.
SF Assessor — Property Portal
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Property assessment information, assessment history, characteristics, and tax exemption filing.
🌐 sf.gov
Vital Records
San Francisco County Deaths & Obituaries
Visit →Vital Records
Official Free
San Francisco county death and obituaries from newspaper excerpts, obituaries, cemetery records, death/funeral notices, mortuary records.
Business, Voter & Other
Campaign Consultants
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Browse the San Francisco, California Ethics Commission's alphabetical listing of registered campaign consultants and their clients.
Earthquake Victims - 1906
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Browse the Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco, California for the names of persons who died in the great earthquake and fire of April 18.
Historical Photographs
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Browse this San Francisco, California Public Library database of Historical Photographs by subject or search by neighborhood.
🌐 sfpl.org
Homicide Bulletins
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
Crime bulletins re: homicide victims in San Francisco.
Restaurant Inspection Scores
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
San Francisco Department of Public Health food facility (restaurants, bars, grocery stores, pushcarts, stadium food facility) scores.
San Francisco VBM Status
Visit →Business, Voter & Other
Official Free
San Francisco County voters can check their vote by mail status by entering their house number, zip code and birth date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles court records in San Francisco County? ▼
Go to the Clerk of the Superior Court for court records in San Francisco County. Start at the Clerk of the Superior Court's office for case lookups — California has no statewide court search portal.
Who handles property records in San Francisco County? ▼
For deeds, mortgages, and liens, go to the County Recorder. For property values and assessment data, go to the County Assessor. For tax bills and payments, go to the Tax Collector-Treasurer.
How do I get birth, death, or marriage records in San Francisco County? ▼
Marriage licenses in San Francisco County are issued by the County Clerk. Birth and death certificates are available from County Recorder (local) / CDPH (state). Divorce records come from the court that granted the decree.
Are San Francisco County records available online? ▼
Yes — San Francisco County has good online coverage. This page lists 10 searchable databases covering court records, property records, vital records, and business filings. Each links directly to an official government portal.
Last reviewed: