How to Search Santa Barbara County Records (Start Here)
Santa Barbara County — court records through Superior Court; property through the Assessor and Clerk-Recorder.
- Court cases: sbcourts.org — Santa Barbara Superior Court.
- Property and recorded documents: sbcassessor.com — County Assessor. Clerk-Recorder-Assessor may be combined.
- Criminal background: No free statewide criminal search in California. Court-level cases searchable online. Full background requires Live Scan through CA DOJ.
Each source below is verified and links to an official portal.
Criminal & Court Records
Court Cases | Civil, Family & Probate Records
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Official Free
Superior Court of Santa Barbara County civil case search, including family law, probate, and mental health records.
Court Cases | Tentative Rulings
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Superior Court of Santa Barbara County tentative case rulings searchable by case number, judicial officer, or date.
Court Records | Civil, Family & Probate Index
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Official Free
Superior Court of Santa Barbara civil, family, probate, and small claims court records.
Court | Jury Status
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Official Free
Check your Santa Barbara County Superior Court jury status online.
Jail & Inmate Records
Property & Tax Records
Permits
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Check the status of your building permit in Santa Barbara County, California by application number, address or zipcode.
Property - Tax
Visit →Property & Tax Records
Official Free
Search this County of Santa Barbara, California database for property tax information by fiscal year, parcel number (APN), house number, street.
Business, Voter & Other
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles court records in Santa Barbara County? ▼
Go to the Clerk of the Superior Court for court records in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County? ▼
Marriage licenses in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County records available online? ▼
Santa Barbara County has partial online coverage — 7 databases are listed on this page, covering court records, property records, and business filings. Other record types may require an in-person visit or written request.
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