San Diego County People Search

San Diego County is the second most populous county in California with over 3.3 million residents. The county runs multiple public databases that help you find people and access records tied to their names. Court case files, property deeds, vital records, and voter data are all searchable through San Diego County agencies. The Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk handles most recorded documents while the Superior Court manages case records. This page covers each of these systems, along with fees, search tips, and links to the online portals you can use right now.

San Diego County Recorded Documents

The San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk (SDARCC) is the main office for recorded documents in the county. This office accepts and records legal documents like deeds, liens, and marriage licenses. It also maintains birth, death, and marriage records and indexes for San Diego County. The Recorder/Clerk phone number is (619) 237-0502. You can email questions to ARCCHELP@sdcounty.ca.gov.

The office runs an online search tool called ACCLAIM that lets you look up official records. You can search by name, recording date, or document type. This is an index search. It shows you what has been recorded but does not display the full document images online. To get copies, you need to visit the office or mail in a request. The ACCLAIM system also has a fictitious business name search that shows who owns businesses in San Diego County.

Recording fees in San Diego County follow state rules. The first page costs $15. Each page after that is $4.

The assessor side of SDARCC handles property values. You can call the Assessor at (619) 236-3771 for questions about property ownership in San Diego County. Tax rolls are public and show owner names tied to each parcel.

Search San Diego Court Records

The San Diego Superior Court gives public access to case records through several online tools. The Court Index lets you search case numbers and party names across civil, criminal, family, and other case types. This is the fastest way to check if someone has a court case in San Diego County. Results show case numbers, filing dates, and the names of all parties involved in the case.

For more detailed case information, the court offers two Register of Actions portals. The civil, small claims, and probate ROA shows the full history of actions in a case. The family law ROA covers family court cases. Both tools let you see what motions were filed, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Copy fees are 50 cents per page when you need printed documents from the San Diego County court system.

San Diego County has specific record retention rules that affect what you can find. Infraction records get destroyed after 3 years. Misdemeanor traffic records last 5 years. DUI misdemeanor records are kept for 10 years. So if you are searching for older cases tied to San Diego County residents, the records may no longer exist in the system.

Note: Under California Rules of Court, certain case types like family and criminal matters have limited online access from home.

San Diego Residents Directory Sources

Beyond the county offices, several state databases help you find people in San Diego County. The California Secretary of State sells the statewide voter registration file for $100. That file includes every registered voter in San Diego County with their name, address, party preference, and voting history. Individual voter lookups cost $30 per name. You need a permitted purpose like election, journalistic, or scholarly research to access voter data.

The statewide voter file is one of the most complete people directories in California. It covers millions of San Diego County residents.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs the CIRIS inmate search tool. This free database shows people in state prison, including those committed from San Diego County. Results display the person's name, CDCR number, age, current location, and parole hearing dates. For people in county jail rather than state prison, you would need to check the San Diego County Sheriff's booking records instead.

The CIRIS tool is available around the clock. You can search by name or CDCR number at no cost.

San Diego County Records Laws

Public records in San Diego County are governed by the California Public Records Act. Agencies must reply to record requests within 10 days. A 14-day extension is allowed with written notice. Most San Diego County offices take requests by email or in person. Electronic records are usually free. Paper copies vary by office.

The California Rules of Court set limits on which case records can be viewed online from home. Rule 2.503 says family, criminal, juvenile, and mental health records are only available at courthouse terminals. Civil records have the broadest online access. San Diego County follows these rules strictly.

Note: San Diego County cannot charge you for search time when you request public records, only for the cost of producing copies.

San Diego County Cities Directory

San Diego County has several large cities with their own clerk offices and public records systems. The cities below each have a page with local directory resources. All county-level records like court cases, vital records, and property data go through the San Diego County agencies listed above.

City clerk offices can help with local permits, business records, and meeting minutes. For finding people in San Diego County, the county databases are your best bet. But city pages list additional local tools and contact information that may help you narrow down your search.

Pick a city to see what local resources are available.

Nearby California Counties

These counties border San Diego County or are close by. Each has its own set of public records databases and residents directory tools.