Research a Property

• Property Profile

  Property Profile contains information on jurisdiction, zoning, and development activity and development constraints. Searches are based on either an Assessor’s Parcel Number or a property address. The property profile provides only limited information for parcels that are located within city limits. Zoning and other development information for a property within a city can be obtained through the planning department of the particular city the property is located in. 

  For properties that are not in a city limit, a Building Permit Record Search can be requested at the front counter of the Building Inspection Office on the 7th Floor of the East Wing of the County Government Center at 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose.

• Property Review & Preliminary Feedback

  The Department of Planning and Development provides several options to conduct research and obtain initial feedback from staff regarding the County requirements for potential property development, described further down on this page. We highly encourage you to use these services in order to obtain this important information before applying for any development applications. Fees and application submittals vary as does the level of detail each option provides. Please read below to find out more information about each service.

• Preliminary Property Review Letter

  The Preliminary Review Letter is an informational letter prepared by the Planning Office that provides an initial summary of development requirements and known constraints in association with a land development proposal for a specific property. This summary is intended to assist current and prospective property owners to better understand the development regulations prior to applying for any approvals for permits for land development.

• Building Site Approval Verification Form

  If you would like to see if your property is an Approved Building Site, submit the form to our Building Site Approval email address.

• Interactive and Reference Maps

  We create and maintain several maps and mapping applications that can be used to gain information about a property, including development activity, political jurisdictions, hazard areas, land use regulations, and other spatial data.

• Find the Jurisdiction

  Determine which jurisdiction in which a property is located, based on the Tax Rate Area (TRA). 

• The County Surveyor’s Office

• The County Assessor’s Office

  The County Assessor's Office provides basic property search capabilities on their web site. Homeowners can obtain more extensive property records, such as square footage of existing structures and date and type of construction, by making an in-person request on the 5th Floor of the East Wing of the County Government Center at 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose.

• The Clerk-Recorder’s Office

  The Clerk-Recorder's Office stores recorded documents, such as Deed of trust / Mortgage, Reconveyance, Notices of Default, Liens, Abstract of Judgment, Notice of Lis Pendens / Notice of Pendency of Action, Grant Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Leases, and Declaration of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions. The Clerk-Recorder’s Office records also include parcel maps and records of survey. The archive is open to researchers by appointment only. Research inquires prior to a site visit are encouraged. Research inquires may also be submitted by phone (408-755-7895) or e-mail and through the website: http://archives.sccgov.org.

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