Chico Residents Search

The Chico residents directory covers public records for people living in this Northern California city. Chico sits in Butte County with about 103,000 residents. It is the largest city in the county and serves as the main urban center for the upper Sacramento Valley region. You can search for Chico residents using voter files, court records, property data, and city clerk records. Most county-level records are held in the county seat of Oroville, but Chico also has a courthouse branch. This page shows you every source available for finding people in Chico.

Butte County Records for Chico

Butte County manages most public records for Chico residents. The county seat is Oroville, about 25 miles east. The Butte County Clerk-Recorder handles voter files, vital records, and recorded documents. Their office is at 25 County Center Drive in Oroville. You can call (530) 538-7691 for information about record requests. Walk-in hours are on weekdays during normal business times.

Voter registration data is one of the best ways to find Chico residents. The county keeps a full voter roll with names and addresses for all registered voters. Chico has a large student population from California State University, Chico, so voter records here include many younger adults. You can also request the statewide voter file through the California Secretary of State.

This page on the Secretary of State site explains how to request a voter file that includes Chico residents and voters across all of California.

Vital records are also at the county level. Birth and death certificates cost $15 and $21. Marriage records are filed with the Clerk-Recorder in Oroville.

Chico Court Records Search

The Butte County Superior Court has a branch in Chico at 1775 Concord Avenue. This courthouse handles many of the cases for Chico residents right in town. Civil lawsuits, small claims, traffic violations, and some criminal matters are heard here. You can search for a Chico resident by name in the court index to find any cases they are tied to.

The main courthouse in Oroville at One Court Street also handles Chico cases. Family law, probate, and more serious criminal matters may be filed there instead. Civil case records are the easiest to access. They show party names, case types, filing dates, and outcomes. Some records include addresses. Small claims and unlawful detainer files are public and can help you track where someone lived in Chico at a given time.

Criminal record searches need to be done in person. Copies cost about 10 cents per page. The California Courts public records page covers how to request records from any court in the state, including Butte County courts serving Chico.

Note: Juvenile and family law records are sealed in California and not open to the public.

Chico City Clerk Records

The Chico City Clerk's office is at 411 Main Street in the Municipal Center. The clerk manages city council meeting minutes, resolutions, ordinances, and business license files. Public records requests go through this office. The city must respond within 10 calendar days under the California Public Records Act. Electronic records are free. Paper copies have a small per-page charge.

Business license records can help you find Chico residents who run a company or hold a permit in the city. The city also keeps code enforcement files, planning commission records, and other local government documents. Chico has an active business community near downtown and around the university campus, so business license data covers a wide range of people.

Find Chico Property Records

Property records are a reliable way to find Chico residents who own homes or land. The Butte County Assessor keeps ownership data for every parcel in the city. You can search by address or owner name. Results show the property owner, assessed value, lot size, and building type. The Assessor's office is at 25 County Center Drive in Oroville. Online lookups are available through the county website.

Recorded documents add depth to property searches in Chico. Grant deeds show buyer and seller names for home sales. Trust deeds show who holds the loan. Notices of default point to foreclosure activity. All of these documents are public and filed with the Butte County Clerk-Recorder. They give you a trail to follow when searching for someone who lived in Chico. Recording fees start at $15 for the first page.

Tax rolls update each year. They show the current owner of every parcel in Chico. If a person has moved, the old tax roll might still list them at their last known Chico address. The mix of student housing and single-family homes in Chico means property records cover a variety of living situations.

Note: Property tax data is public in California and can be searched at no cost through the county Assessor.

Public Records Access in Chico

The California Public Records Act applies to all record requests in Chico. Both city and county agencies must follow this law. They have 10 calendar days to respond. A 14-day extension is allowed with written notice. You do not need to give a reason for wanting the records. Most government documents about Chico residents are public.

Some records are exempt from release. Personnel files, medical records, and open investigation files are protected. Home addresses of certain law enforcement officers and officials can be withheld. Voter data has separate rules under the Elections Code. Using voter info for commercial purposes is not allowed in California. Court records for juvenile and family law cases are sealed. Everything else is open to anyone who files a request with a Chico or Butte County agency.

Cities Near Chico

Sacramento and Roseville are south of Chico in the Sacramento metro area. Both cities have residents directory pages on this site. Chico is more rural and isolated than most other qualifying cities in California, so the nearest major cities are about 90 miles away.