San Diego Directory Search

San Diego residents directory records come from a mix of city and county sources. As California's second largest city, San Diego has well over 1.3 million people spread across dozens of neighborhoods. Finding someone here means searching voter rolls, court files, property data, and city clerk records. San Diego sits in San Diego County, which runs many of the public record systems for the area. Most of these databases can be searched online for free. Some need an in-person visit or a written request. This page walks through the main sources you can use to find people in the San Diego residents directory.

San Diego County Records

Public records for San Diego residents are managed by San Diego County offices. The county handles voter data, vital records, and property files for everyone in the city. When you search the residents directory for someone in San Diego, results often come from these county-level sources. The county Assessor, Recorder, and Clerk offices each hold different types of records. These offices serve all of San Diego County, not just the city.

The San Diego Association of Realtors County Clerk runs the SDARCC portal for recorded documents. You can look up deeds, liens, and other recorded files. This is free to search. Property records show who owns land and buildings in San Diego. That data is useful for finding residents through ownership records.

Court records for San Diego are held by the Superior Court. The San Diego Court Index lets you search for civil cases by name or case number. Criminal, family, and probate cases may need a trip to the courthouse. Court records show names, filing dates, and case types for San Diego residents.

San Diego City Clerk Records

The San Diego City Clerk handles public records at the city level. You can submit requests through NextRequest, the city's online portal. The portal tracks your request and lets you get files sent to your email. The city also uses the Accela system for permit and code records. Both tools are free to use for basic searches in the San Diego residents directory.

The city must respond within 10 calendar days. A 14-day extension is possible for complex requests. Electronic records are free. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page. You can reach the City Clerk at 619-533-4000 or by email at cityclerk@sandiego.gov. The office handles campaign finance data, council meeting records, and other city-level documents that can help you find San Diego residents.

Note: The NextRequest portal also lets you see past requests from other people, which may save you time on common San Diego record searches.

Find San Diego People by Property

San Diego offers several extra tools for finding residents through city data. The OpenDSD Building Records portal lets you search for building permits, approvals, and code cases by address or name. This tool is run by the city's Development Services Department. It shows who pulled permits for construction work in San Diego, which can help you find people tied to specific properties.

The city also runs a public data site with business listings for San Diego. This dataset includes the names of people who hold business tax certificates in the city. You can search by business name, owner name, or address. The data is free and updated regularly. Business records are a good way to find San Diego residents who run companies or hold professional licenses in the area.

San Diego Records Access

California provides statewide tools that cover San Diego residents too. The Secretary of State maintains voter registration file data for all California voters, including those registered in San Diego. You can request voter file data for a fee from the state office.

The Secretary of State voter registration page explains how to get copies of voter file data for San Diego and the rest of California.

Voter data includes names, addresses, party affiliation, and voting history. Commercial use of this data is not allowed under California law. The file is used for research, election work, and people searches in the San Diego residents directory.

San Diego Public Records Laws

The California Public Records Act governs access to records in San Diego. The law requires city and county agencies to respond within 10 calendar days. Extensions of up to 14 more days are possible with written notice. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Agencies cannot ask why you want the records.

Some records are exempt from release. Personnel files, medical data, and home addresses of certain officials are protected. Court records for family law and juvenile cases need a courthouse visit. Voter data has separate rules under the Elections Code. Using voter information for commercial purposes is a misdemeanor in California.

San Diego city and county both accept records requests by mail, email, and in person. Most electronic records are free. Paper copies typically cost $0.25 per page at the city level. County fees vary by office and record type.

Note: San Diego city responds to most electronic requests within 5 to 7 business days, faster than the 10-day legal limit.

Nearby San Diego Cities

These cities are near San Diego and also have residents directory pages. Each city in San Diego County is served by the same county public records offices.