Chino, California Public Records

The main San Bernardino County Superior Court is located at 247 West Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415. Court records can be searched online through the California Court's Case Access system at www.sb-court.org, which provides case information for criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic matters filed in San Bernardino County. The statewide portal at www.courts.ca.gov also provides access. Certified copies of court documents cost $25 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Remote access to civil, probate, and family case documents is available through the court's online portal for a fee. Traffic case information and payments can be accessed at www.sb-court.org/traffic. Many records are available for in-person inspection at the clerk's office during business hours; some records such as sealed cases, juvenile matters, and certain family law documents are confidential under California Rules of Court.

The Assessor's free online Property Information System at www.sbcounty.gov/assessor allows searches by address, parcel number, or owner name for all properties in Chino and throughout the county, displaying assessed values, legal descriptions, square footage, year built, and assessment history. The San Bernardino County Recorder's Office (same address, Second Floor, phone: 909-387-8306, website: www.sbcounty.gov/arc) records official documents including deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, reconveyances, liens, easements, maps, and other instruments affecting real property title. The Recorder provides a free online document search at www.sbcounty.gov/arc/online-services that allows users to search recorded documents by name, document number, or parcel number, with images viewable and printable for a fee. Official certified copies cost $11 for the first page and $2 for each additional page. The county also offers a comprehensive GIS parcel viewer at www.sbcounty.gov/gis that displays property boundaries, ownership, zoning, flood zones, and aerial imagery for parcels throughout Chino. Property tax information is available through the San Bernardino County Tax Collector at www.sbcounty.gov/atc.

Major employers in Chino include the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (operating both the California Institution for Men and California Institution for Women, which together employ thousands), Kaiser Permanente medical facilities, Chino Valley Unified School District, and numerous logistics and distribution centers serving the Inland Empire. The city's strategic location near major freeways (SR-60, SR-71, SR-91) and proximity to Ontario International Airport has attracted warehousing and distribution operations for national retailers and e-commerce companies. Manufacturing remains significant, with food processing, machinery, and industrial products produced locally. The Shoppes at Chino Hills and numerous auto dealerships along the Auto Center Drive corridor contribute to retail employment. According to recent census estimates, Chino's median household income is approximately $85,000, somewhat higher than the San Bernardino County median. The city has experienced residential growth as housing developments have replaced former dairy operations, making it increasingly a bedroom community for workers commuting to Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties. Chino Hills, the adjacent affluent residential community, influences the regional economy. The Chino Airport supports aviation-related businesses and the Planes of Fame Air Museum attracts tourism dollars, though tourism is not a dominant sector compared to industrial and residential economic drivers.

The Chino Police Department, located at 5450 Philadelphia Street, Chino, CA 91710 (phone: 909-334-3000, website: www.chinopd.org), provides law enforcement services to the city. Citizens can request police reports, incident reports, traffic collision reports, and crime statistics by visiting the Records Division in person or submitting written requests. Reports typically require a case number and requestor identification; fees apply for copies. The department maintains an online crime mapping tool and publishes crime statistics on its website. For areas of unincorporated San Bernardino County near Chino, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (headquarters: 655 East Third Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415, phone: 909-387-3700, website: www.sbcountysheriff.org) provides patrol and investigation services. Arrest and booking records for Chino and all of San Bernardino County can be searched through the Sheriff's Inmate Locator system at www.sbcountysheriff.org/inmate-locator, which shows current inmates at West Valley Detention Center (Rancho Cucamonga), Central Detention Center (San Bernardino), and other county facilities. The inmate search displays booking photos, charges, booking date and time, bail amount, and housing location. Public records requests for law enforcement documents in California are governed by the California Public Records Act (Government Code §6250 et seq.) and the California Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act. Certain records such as ongoing investigation files, personnel records, and confidential informant information may be exempt. Requests should be submitted in writing to the Records Custodian at the specific agency, with response required within 10 days.

Birth certificates cost $28 for certified copies from the county and $33 from the state. Authorized applicants include the registrant (if 18+), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, and others with court orders or tangible interest. Online ordering is available through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with additional convenience fees. Death certificates are issued by the same offices with identical fees and authorization requirements; the county maintains records for deaths occurring in San Bernardino County, while the state office holds records statewide from 1905 forward. Marriage licenses are issued by the San Bernardino County Clerk (same address and phone, fee $91 for public license, $96 for confidential license). Couples must apply in person; the license is valid for 90 days and the ceremony must occur in California. Certified marriage certificates cost $17. Divorce records are obtained from the Superior Court that granted the dissolution; these are court records rather than vital records. California law requires valid government-issued photo ID for all vital records requests, with additional documentation for non-parent applicants. Genealogical records older than 75 years (births) or immediate public records (deaths) may have reduced restrictions.

Fictitious business name statements (DBAs or "doing business as" names) must be filed with the San Bernardino County Clerk at 222 West Hospitality Lane, Second Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415 (phone: 909-387-8306). The filing fee is $26 for the first business name and $8 for each additional name on the same filing; publication in a county newspaper is required within 30 days. The county maintains a searchable FBN database at www.sbcounty.gov/arc. California corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and other business entities are registered with the California Secretary of State (1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, website: bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov). The Secretary of State's business search portal at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov allows free searches of entity names, status, registration date, agent for service of process, and officers/managers. Statement of Information filings provide updated business addresses and management. UCC financing statements (liens on business personal property) are also filed with and searchable through the Secretary of State. Commercial property assessments for tax purposes can be researched through the San Bernardino County Assessor's online parcel system as described in the property records section above.

Elections for Chino residents are administered by the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters, located at 777 East Rialto Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0770 (phone: 909-387-8300, website: www.sbcountyelections.com). California residents can register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov up to 15 days before an election; conditional voter registration is available through Election Day at vote centers and the Registrar's office. Voters must provide their California driver license or ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Chino operates under a council-manager form of government with a five-member city council elected to four-year staggered terms. Municipal elections are held in November of even-numbered years and consolidated with county and state elections. The Mayor is selected by rotation among council members. The next Chino City Council election will be in November 2026 for council seats in Districts 2 and 4. Candidate information, campaign finance disclosures, and local ballot measures are available through the city clerk's office at Chino City Hall and through the county election website. San Bernardino County voters can find their assigned polling place or vote center location at www.sbcountyelections.com/polling-places by entering their address. California has transitioned to a vote center model in many counties, allowing voters to visit any vote center in their county during early voting or on Election Day rather than being assigned a specific precinct. In the November 2024 presidential election, San Bernardino County reported approximately 53% voter turnout with over 565,000 ballots cast from 1,065,000 registered voters. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Chino and San Bernardino County voters will decide races including California Governor, all statewide constitutional offices, U.S. Senate (Class III seat), U.S. House of Representatives (Chino residents are in California's 31st Congressional District), California State Senate and State Assembly seats, San Bernardino County Supervisors (District 5 covers Chino), county constitutional officers, judicial seats, and local school board positions. California uses all-mail ballot elections countywide—every registered voter automatically receives a vote-by-mail ballot approximately 29 days before the election, which can be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day), dropped in official ballot drop boxes, or turned in at any vote center. Voters may also vote in person at vote centers during the early voting period or on Election Day. Public election records in California include voter registration files (available to qualified requestors under Elections Code §2188), campaign finance reports through the California Fair Political Practices Commission at www.fppc.ca.gov and local filing officers, candidate statements and filings, precinct-level election results, and vote center activity reports.