El Dorado County

El Dorado County is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California, straddling the boundary between the Central Valley and the High Sierra mountain range. El Dorado County seat is Placerville, a historic Gold Rush town situated at approximately 1,860 feet elevation. El Dorado County includes 1,786 square miles and has a population of approximately 193,000 residents as of recent estimates. El Dorado County extends from the Sacramento Valley floor to the crest of the Sierra Nevada, including portions of Lake Tahoe's shoreline on its eastern border. Major landmarks include Emerald Bay State Park, Desolation Wilderness, the American River Canyon, and numerous historic Gold Rush sites. El Dorado County was established February 18, 1850, as one of California's original 27 counties, named El Dorado (Spanish for 'the golden one') due to the Gold Rush discoveries at Coloma in 1848. James Marshall's discovery at Sutter's Mill sparked the California Gold Rush that transformed the state and nation. Today, El Dorado County balances tourism, agriculture (particularly wineries in the Apple Hill region), recreation, and residential communities serving both retirees and commuters to Sacramento. El Dorado County Recorder's office is located at 360 Fair Lane in Placerville, handling property records and vital statistics. El Dorado County Clerk-Recorder maintains official records, and the Assessor's office at the same Fair Lane complex manages property tax assessments. El Dorado County's unique character comes from its blend of mountain recreation, wine country, historic preservation, and proximity to both Lake Tahoe and the state capital.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Inmate information can be searched online through the Sheriff's website inmate locator, which provides booking date, charges, bail amount, and projected release dates.
• Arrest records and booking logs are public records under the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.) and can be requested from the arresting agency.
• Written requests should identify the specific records sought and can be submitted in person, by mail, or via the agency's website.

Criminal Records

Criminal records in El Dorado County, CA are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see Online Services | Superior Court of California | County of El Dorado.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in El Dorado County, CA are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Jail & Inmate Records

The El Dorado County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.

• Look up current inmates and booking information at El Dorado County, CA Detainee Lookup.
• Sheriff's Office: Sheriff - El Dorado County.
• The bond and bail process allows release of detainees under conditions set by the court; inquiries about recently arrested individuals can be directed to the jail's administrative office.

• Court records can be searched online through El Dorado County Superior Court's case index at www.eldoradocourt.org, providing access to case numbers, party names, filing dates, and hearing schedules.
• The court charges $15 for computer searches conducted by staff and varying copy fees per page for certified documents.
• Remote access fees apply for certain document types.
• Small claims cases (up to $10,000) are heard within the Superior Court system.
• Civil case filing fees begin at approximately $435, criminal records searches cost $15 per name, and certified copies are approximately $25 for the first page plus additional per-page fees.

• The office website at www.edcgov.us/government/recorder provides online access to the Official Records Index, allowing free searches by name, document number, or parcel number.
• Document images can be viewed and printed for a nominal fee through the online system.
• Recording fees are established by California Government Code and vary by document type and page count; typical deed recording costs approximately $75 for the first page.
• Certified copies cost $11 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
• The Assessor's website provides a free online property search tool showing assessed values, ownership, square footage, and property characteristics.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Government-issued photo identification is required for all vital record requests.
• The marriage license costs $85 (reduced to $61 with completion of premarital counseling).
• Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $15 each.
• Divorce records (marital dissolution decrees) are maintained by El Dorado County Superior Court, not the Clerk-Recorder, and must be requested from the court at 495 Main Street, Placerville.
• VitalChek offers expedited online ordering of California vital records for an additional service fee at www.vitalchek.com.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• Sales tax permits are obtained through the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA).