Imperial County, CA Property Records

    With an estimated population of over 181,000 residents, Imperial County is the least populous county in Southern California, based on recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. While the median home value in the county has increased by 7% in recent years to $367,515, it is below the statewide average value of $755,330.

    Listed properties in Imperial County are typically secured under contract in about 17 days, with approximately 49% of such listings selling above the asking price. This highlights a competitive real estate market with high demand for homes, largely driven by the county's location along the Southern California border region. However, several households in the county face affordability issues, with approximately 38.2% of them spending at least 30% of their income on housing expenses, according to the Federal Reserve Economic Data.

    Property assessments are handled at the county level by the Imperial County Assessor. The Assessor also manages parcel inventories within its searchable database online. The database offers comprehensive property information, including assessed values, property descriptions, consideration, and ownership details.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records?

    The Imperial County Clerk-Recorder Office records and maintains land records, including deeds, mortgages, leases, and other instruments relating to real property title in the county.

    You can obtain copies of official records by contacting or visiting the County Clerk-Recorder's office. The address and contact information for the office are provided below:

    • Imperial County County Clerk-Recorder's Office: 940 Main Street, Suite 202, El Centro, CA 92243-2865

      Phone: (442) 265-1076, Official Records Search

      Coverage: All municipalities

    What Imperial County Property Records Include

    Imperial property records include official documents relating to real property ownership across the county. They typically include deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, leases, lis pendens, covenants, foreclosure notices, discharges, plans, and agreements.

    The Imperial County Clerk-Recorder's office provides an online index for searching property documents recorded since 1986. You can also view or copy copies of such documents at the Clerk-Recorder's office during normal business hours.

    How to Access Imperial County Property Records

    You can access Imperial County property records through any of the following channels:

    Online Access (Free)

    You can access property documents online in Imperial County by visiting its Official Records Search portal. Indexes are available from January 1986 to the present. You can search for records on the portal by the grantee/grantor name, document number, document type, recording date, map, or book/page.

    While record searches on the portal are free, you must pay applicable copy fees to obtain certified copies of property documents.

    In Person

    The Imperial County Clerk-Recorder's Office is open for walk-in property record requests submission. To access these documents, you can visit the Clerk-Recorder's Office location at:

    • Imperial County Clerk-Recorder's Office: 940 Main Street, Suite 202, El Centro, CA 92243-2865

      • Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays

    Certified copies of property documents are available for purchase at $2.50 for the first page of the record and $1 per additional page, while non-certified copies cost $2 for the first page and $1 per extra page. The Clerk-Recorder typically requires you to provide some information regarding the sought documents to facilitate the search, such as relevant reference numbers or names.

    By Phone or Email

    For general information or inquiries about obtaining property documents in Imperial County, you can contact the Clerk-Recorder's office by sending an email or by phone at:

    By Mail/Overnight

    You can obtain plain or certified copies of Imperial property records by mailing a completed official records request form or a written request to the County Clerk-Recorder's Office address. To obtain a copy of official property records by mail, your request must specify either document numbers or the relevant book and page numbers for the documents you seek.

    Plain copies of records are $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Certified copies are $2.50 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. You can make the payment for copy fees with a check or a money order payable to the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder.

    E-Recording (Professionals):

    Imperial County does not currently offer e-recording services for recording property documents with its Clerk-Recorder's Office. You can record property documents with the office in person or by mail.

    What's Not at the Registry (But Matters for Property Research)?

    While the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder's Office manages important land documents that affect property titles, such as deeds, mortgages, and easements, other relevant property records for the county are kept in other offices.

    For example, the Imperial County Assessor's office maintains public property information, including assessment data, property characteristics information, and parcel maps. Likewise, the Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector Department manages property taxes for the county. The departments also offer online resources for public access to property tax data.

    Additionally, you can visit the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) website for resources on statewide property tax information.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    You can follow these steps to search and access Imperial County deeds online:

    1. Visit the Imperial County Clerk-Recorder's Official Records Search portal.

    2. Select a search criteria tab, such as name, document number, document type, map, recording date, or book and page.

    3. Click the search button after entering the necessary details into the query boxes of the selected search criteria. To view only deed documents, you can filter your search results by selecting "deed" as the document type.

    4. The search results will contain records matching your search criteria. You can click on a deed in the results to see more details.

    5. The portal may not display images of the deed document. However, you can print or download selected search results on the portal by adding the deed(s) to your cart and completing the checkout process.

    Cities & Towns in Imperial County (and Their Registry Districts)

    The Imperial County Clerk-Recorder's Office serves all incorporated cities in the county, including the following:

    • Imperial County Municipalities: Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, and Westmorland.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    The County Assessor's Office is responsible for property assessments in Imperial County, while property tax management falls under the duties of the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Department. The Assessor's Office offers the ParcelQuest Search portal to enable users to access property information in its custody. You can look up properties on the portal by their addresses or parcel numbers to check information such as assessed values, sale history, property characteristics, and parcel maps.

    The Imperial County Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office also provides an online search tool for accessing property tax information in the county. You can search for such information on the portal by assessment or parcel fee.

    Additionally, resources to access statewide tax rates and finance data are available on the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) website.

    Imperial County County-Specific Nuances

    The following are things you should note when conducting property research in Imperial County:

    • The Imperial County Clerk-Recorder's Office is responsible for maintaining official property records, such as deeds, deeds of trust, liens, and easements.

    • The Assessor's Office is responsible for assessing properties across all Imperial County municipalities, while the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office is responsible for property taxes.

    • You can access recorded property documents dating back to 1986 in Imperial County online through the Clerk-Recorder's records search platform.

    Typical Contents of an Imperial County Property Record

    Imperial County property records refer to official documents that provide details of property ownership and related land transactions within the county. You will typically find the following information when reviewing these records:

    • Deeds (proof of ownership transfer)

      • Grantor and grantee names

      • Legal description of the property

      • Consideration (sale price)

      • Book and page number

      • The date of the deed's signing and notarization

    • Mortgages/Deeds of Trust and Discharges (evidence of debt)

      • Mortgagor and mortgagee names

      • Trustee name

      • Loan amount and repayment terms

      • Recording date

      • Discharge details

    • Plans (visual maps)

      • Survey or plan number

      • Subdivision references

      • Lot dimensions and layout

      • Zoning information

      • Aerial images

    • Encumbrances (claims and restrictions)

      • Easements

      • Restrictions or covenants

      • Leases

      • Lis pendens notices

      • Rights of way or shared access agreements

    You may also check other property documents for related information, including land contracts, decrees, affidavits, and declarations of trust.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    You can record documents to reflect changes to property titles in Imperial County with the Clerk-Recorder's office. Such documents may include new conveyances, deeds, court orders, liens, and other instruments.

    Documents can be recorded in person at the Clerk-Recorder's Office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Alternatively, documents can be submitted for recording to the office via mail. Note that California law prohibits the Clerk-Recorder's Office staff from providing legal advice.

    You are responsible for preparing any required documents/forms for the process, or you may consult an attorney or title company for assistance. You can find more information on the county's recording guidelines, document standards, and fee schedule on the Clerk-Recorder's website.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    You can use this checklist as a guide to conduct thorough property research in Imperial County, CA:

    1. Visit/contact the Clerk-Recorder's Office: The Clerk-Recorder's Office publicly provides property records, including deeds, liens, easements, and deeds of trust. You can obtain these documents by visiting or contacting the office.

    2. Visit the Clerk-Recorder's online portal to search for the property records: You can visit the county's property search portal and search for records by name, document number, document type, recording date, book and page, or other criteria.

    3. Search and note reference numbers: To search for property records, note and use the unique identifiers recorded with the property documents, such as reference numbers, document numbers, assessor's parcel numbers, or book/page numbers.

    4. Trace the chain of title: You can trace the chain of title on a property by looking it up on the Clerk-Recorder's property search portal. Click on the grantor name to see prior deeds associated with the property.

    5. Review plans and encumbrances: Review recorded plans and other documents for property encumbrances, such as liens, covenants, and easements.

    6. Verify parcel data with the County Assessor's Office: You can confirm parcel data in Imperial County using the Assessor's online searchable database to look up information such as assessed values, sales history, property characteristics, and parcel maps.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Imperial County

    Imperial County, CA, has 7 incorporated cities*.

    • Cities: Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, and Westmorland

    *There are also several unincorporated communities and census-designated places in Imperial County. There are also two Indian reservations in the county. (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals