About Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California is the most populous county in the United States, with over 10 million residents as of 2023 estimates, and covers approximately 4,753 square miles of diverse terrain from Pacific coastline to desert valleys. Los Angeles County Seat is the City of Los Angeles, located in the downtown civic center area. Los Angeles County includes 88 incorporated cities including Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Burbank, and Torrance, along with numerous unincorporated communities.
- Los Angeles County's economy generates over $1 trillion in annual output, making it one of the largest metropolitan economies globally.
Los Angeles County spans the greater Los Angeles Basin, the San Gabriel Valley, the San Fernando Valley, portions of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Antelope Valley, and Catalina Island. Major landmarks include Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Getty Center, Dodger Stadium, and numerous beaches along 75 miles of coastline. Founded in 1850 as one of California's original 27 counties, Los Angeles County has evolved from ranching and agriculture into a global center for entertainment, international trade, aerospace, technology, and tourism.
Los Angeles County Recorder is located at 12400 E. Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk serves as both the elections administrator and keeper of vital records, with the main office at 12400 E.
Los Angeles County Assessor, responsible for property valuations, maintains offices at 500 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. What makes Los Angeles County unique is its unparalleled diversity, with residents speaking over 200 languages, its role as the entertainment capital of the world, and its position as the gateway for Pacific Rim trade through the Ports of Los Angeles County and Long Beach, which together form the busiest port complex in the Western Hemisphere.
Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement
Sheriff & Law Enforcement
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is the largest sheriff's department in the world, with approximately 10,000 sworn deputies. LASD provides law enforcement services to unincorporated LA County and 42 contract cities. It operates 7 jail facilities, including Twin Towers Correctional Facility, Men's Central Jail, and Century Regional Detention Center, collectively housing roughly 17,000 inmates, making it the world's largest local jail system. LASD also runs 23 patrol stations countywide.
- Records requests go to the LASD Records Bureau for Under SB 2 (2023), LASD must proactively release sustained officer misconduct and use-of-force incident records.
Police Departments
Los Angeles County is policed by a complex multi-agency patchwork. LAPD serves the City of Los Angeles across 21 geographic divisions and approximately 9,000 sworn officers. LASD serves unincorporated areas and 42 contract cities from 23 patrol stations. Independent municipal departments include Long Beach PD, Pasadena PD, Burbank PD, Glendale PD, Santa Monica PD, and 41 others. The LA Metro Transit Authority has its own transit police force. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) covers freeways and unincorporated areas. LAPD crime data is published at data.lacity.org.
Law Enforcement & Arrests
Law enforcement in Los Angeles County is provided by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), headquartered at 211 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, phone (213) 229-1700, website lasd.org. The LASD is the largest sheriff's department in the United States, serving unincorporated areas and 42 contract cities, operating 23 stations, and managing Los Angeles County jail system with approximately 17,000 inmates across multiple facilities. To look up inmates in Los Angeles County jails, use the Inmate Information Center at app5.lasd.org/iic or call (213) 473-6100.
- Arrest records in Los Angeles County are public records under the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250 et seq.) and can be requested from the arresting agency.
- Most municipal police departments maintain their own records bureaus that handle arrest record requests, though processing times and fees vary by agency.
The jail system includes Men's Central Jail, Twin Towers Correctional Facility, Century Regional Detention Facility (women), and North County Correctional Facility in Castaic. Monica Police Department, Torrance Police Department, El Segundo Police Department, Culver City Police Department, and dozens of others across Los Angeles County's 88 cities. The LASD provides arrest logs and booking information through its website, with mugshots/booking photos typically available through the inmate locator system or by submitting a written public records request to the specific law enforcement agency.
The California Public Records Act requires agencies to respond within 10 days and provide records unless specific exemptions apply. Some booking photos and arrest information are also available through third-party aggregator websites, though official records should be obtained directly from the arresting agency for legal purposes. Los Angeles County World Airports Police and LA Port Police provide specialized law enforcement at LAX and the seaport.
Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records
Criminal Records
Criminal records in Los Angeles County are maintained at multiple levels. Felony and misdemeanor convictions are held by the LA Superior Court District Clerk and searchable online at lacourt.org. State-level criminal history is maintained by the California DOJ and accessible via Live Scan fingerprint background checks through authorized providers (oag.ca.gov/fingerprints). Name-based checks ($25) are available for non-criminal-justice purposes. The FBI maintains a national criminal history database (NCIC) accessible to law enforcement.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in Los Angeles County are maintained by the arresting agency, LAPD (21 geographic divisions), LASD (23 patrol stations), or one of 46 independent city police departments. Under the California Public Records Act, arrest records are public unless sealed or expunged by court order. LAPD arrest data is published on the LA City open data portal (data.lacity.org). LASD arrest records may be requested from the LASD Records Bureau. California Proposition 57 (2016) and AB 1950 (2021) have modified certain sentence and probation rules that affect record visibility.
Jail & Inmate Records
LASD operates 7 major detention facilities in Los Angeles County: Twin Towers Correctional Facility (downtown LA, largest in the US), Men's Central Jail (MCJ), Century Regional Detention Center (Lynwood, houses women), Pitchess Detention Center (Castaic, 4 camps), North County Correctional Facility, East Facility, and South Facility. Each city with its own police department may also operate a city jail for short-term holds. To find a current inmate, use the LASD Inmate Information Center (app5.lasd.org) and search by name or booking number.
- Bail bond information, court dates, and housing location are available online.
Mugshots & Booking Photos
Booking photos (mugshots) in Los Angeles County are maintained by the arresting agency. LASD booking photos are accessible through the online Inmate Information Center for current and recently released detainees. LAPD booking photos are not routinely published online; requests must be submitted to the LAPD Records and Identification Division. California law (AB 1475, 2014) limits commercial mugshot websites from charging removal fees, providing some consumer protection. For historical booking photos, submit a formal CPRA request to the relevant agency Records Bureau.
Courts & Case Records
The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles is the largest unified trial court system in the United States, serving Los Angeles County's 10 million residents through 36 courthouse locations and over 600 judicial officers. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse (central civil) is located at 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center is at 210 W.
- To search court records in Los Angeles County, use the online case access system at lacourt.org/casesummary/ui/ which provides free access to case information for civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters.
- Remote access fees are waived for basic case summary information, though certified documents and full docket access may require fees ranging from $0.50 per page for copies to $15 for certified documents.
Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; and other major courthouses serve communities throughout Los Angeles County including Van Nuys, Torrance, Pasadena, Pomona, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Burbank, Alhambra, Beverly Hills, Compton, Downey, and many others. The court's main phone number is listed on the office’s official website, and the official website is lacourt.org. The Superior Court has jurisdiction over all criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors, infractions), civil cases (unlimited and limited jurisdiction), family law, probate, juvenile dependency and delinquency, mental health, and small claims matters.
California eliminated separate municipal and justice courts in 1998, consolidating all trial court functions into the Superior Court system. The Civil Case Information Portal and Criminal Case Information Portal allow searches by case number, party name, or attorney. In-person record searches can be conducted at any courthouse during business hours.
Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.503 and Government Code § 69954, most court records are presumed to be public unless sealed by court order or protected by statute. The court also maintains an online tentative rulings system, calendars, and jury service information. Probate matters are handled at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, and family law cases are heard at multiple locations including the Mosk Courthouse and regional courthouses.
Property & Public Records
Property and land records in Los Angeles County are maintained by the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, with the main office located at 12400 E. Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650, phone (800) 201-8999, website lavote.gov. The Recorder Division is responsible for recording and maintaining documents affecting real property including grant deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, reconveyances, liens (mechanics liens, judgment liens, tax liens), easements, maps, homestead declarations, notices of default, and powers of attorney.
- Earlier records from 1850-1987 require in-person research or requests.
- The Recorder's office charges $0.50 per page for copies and $5 for certified copies, with recording fees starting at $15 for the first page.
- Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector at ttc.lacounty.gov manages tax bill payment and provides online access to current and delinquent property tax information.
- Certified copies of recorded documents can be ordered online, by mail, or in person, with expedited service available for additional fees.
Los Angeles County has been recording property documents since 1850, maintaining millions of images in its database. The online property records search is available at lavote.gov/home/records/property-document-recording/record-search, offering free searches of the Grantor-Grantee Index and Official Records Index dating back to 1988, with document images available for purchase and download at $1.15 per page. Property tax assessment records are maintained separately by Los Angeles County Assessor at 500 W.
Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, phone (213) 974-3211, website assessor.lacounty.gov. The Assessor's online property information system at portal.assessor.lacounty.gov provides free access to property tax assessments, assessed values, ownership information, property characteristics, and sales data for all parcels in Los Angeles County. For GIS mapping and parcel information, Los Angeles County maintains Los Angeles County Enterprise GIS portal at egis.lacounty.gov, offering detailed parcel maps, zoning information, and geographic data layers.
Vital Records
Vital records in Los Angeles County are managed by the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, located at 12400 E. Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650, phone (800) 201-8999, website lavote.gov. Birth certificates for births occurring in Los Angeles County from 1905 to present can be obtained from the County Registrar-Recorder office, with fees of $28 for the first certified copy and $14 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
- Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks for mail requests and same-day or next-day service for walk-in requests at the Norwalk office.
- Death certificates for deaths in Los Angeles County are available for $21 for the first certified copy and $14 for additional copies, with similar eligibility requirements and processing times.
- Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk at the same locations, with a current fee of $91 and no waiting period or blood test required in California; marriage licenses are valid for 90 days.
- Confidential marriage licenses are also available for $96.
- Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $16 each.
Applicants must provide valid photo identification and proof of relationship or demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record as required by California Health and Safety Code § 102425. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder office operates satellite offices for vital records services including downtown Los Angeles at 12400 E. Imperial Highway.
Divorce records (dissolution of marriage) are not maintained by the County Clerk but are court records available through the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles at the courthouse where the divorce was granted. For vital records occurring outside Los Angeles County or more than 100 years ago, contact the California Department of Public Health, Vital Records at cdph.ca.gov, MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410, phone (916) 445-2684.
Online ordering for Los Angeles County vital records is available through VitalChek at lavote.gov with expedited processing and delivery options for additional fees. All vital records requests must comply with California Health and Safety Code Division 102 governing confidentiality and authorized access to vital records.
Business & Licensing
Business and licensing records in Los Angeles County are maintained by multiple agencies depending on the type of business activity. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk records Fictitious Business Name (DBA) statements at 12400 E. Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650, phone (800) 201-8999, website lavote.gov. FBN filings cost $26 for one business name and one registrant, with additional fees for multiple names or registrants, and must be renewed every five years. Los Angeles County Clerk maintains a searchable database of active fictitious business names.
- Business licenses are issued by individual cities within Los Angeles County rather than by Los Angeles County government; each of the 88 incorporated cities maintains its own business licensing requirements and fees.
- Sales tax permits are issued by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration at cdtfa.ca.gov.
- Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce at [commercial link removed], phone (213) 580-7500, provides business development resources, though it does not maintain official licensing records.
For formal business entity formation and registration (corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships), searches are conducted through the California Secretary of State Business Search at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, which provides free online access to information on all registered business entities in California including status, registration date, agent for service of process, and entity number. The City of Los Angeles Office of Finance at finance.lacity.org handles business tax registration for businesses operating within city limits Unincorporated areas may require permits from Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning or Department of Public Works.
State professional licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, healthcare providers, real estate agents) are issued by California licensing boards searchable at dca.ca.gov. Building permits, zoning approvals, and land use permits for unincorporated Los Angeles County are handled by the Department of Regional Planning at planning.lacounty.gov, 320 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, phone, with online permit tracking available.
Environmental health permits for food facilities are issued by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health at publichealth.lacounty.gov.
Elections & Voter Records
Elections in Los Angeles County are administered by the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, located at 12400 E. Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650, phone (during election periods) or, website lavote.gov. This office serves over 5.8 million registered voters, making it the largest elections jurisdiction in the United States. Voter registration in Los Angeles County can be completed online at registertovote.ca.gov (California Secretary of State), by mail using a paper registration form, or in person at the Registrar-Recorder office or Department of Motor Vehicles.
- California offers same-day conditional voter registration during the 14-day period before and including Election Day, allowing eligible residents to register and vote provisionally.
- The November 2024 general election saw approximately 69% turnout among registered voters in Los Angeles County, reflecting strong participation in the presidential election.
- Every registered voter in Los Angeles County automatically receives a vote-by-mail ballot for each election under California's universal vote-by-mail system; no separate request is required.
The registration deadline for most elections is 15 days before Election Day for traditional registration. California offers pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the next election. To find your polling place in Los Angeles County, use the online lookup tool at lavote.gov or call the voter information line.
Los Angeles County implemented the Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP) system, replacing traditional precinct polling places with Vote Centers that allow any registered voter in Los Angeles County to vote at any Vote Center location during an 11-day voting period before and including Election Day. Over 1,000 Vote Centers are established countywide for major elections. Election records that are public in Los Angeles County include voter registration rolls (with limited personal information redacted under California law), campaign finance disclosure statements filed by candidates and committees (available at ethics.lacounty.gov and cal-access.sos.ca.gov), candidate declarations and statements, official election results by precinct and district, and vote counts.
Statement of Vote documents providing detailed precinct-level results are published after each election at lavote.gov. The next major election is the November 3, 2026 General Election, which will include U.S. House of Representatives races for California's congressional districts, one U.
Senate seat, California constitutional offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction), State Assembly and State Senate seats, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors seats, judicial offices, local city and school district races, and ballot measures. Ballots are mailed approximately 29 days before each election and can be returned by mail (postmarked by Election Day), at any Vote Center, or at over 400 secure Ballot Drop Box locations throughout Los Angeles County. California Elections Code and the California Public Records Act (Government Code § 6250 et seq.) govern public access to election records, with transparency provisions requiring disclosure of campaign contributions over $100, independent expenditures, lobbying activities, and election administration data.
Los Angeles County maintains strong election transparency with real-time election night reporting, detailed voter turnout statistics by community, and open data portals providing downloadable election results datasets.
Economy & Demographics
Los Angeles County's economy is the largest of any county in the United States, generating over $1 trillion in gross domestic product annually, which would rank it among the top 20 national economies globally if it were a separate country. Los Angeles County's median household income is approximately $76,000 as of recent estimates, though this varies significantly across the diverse communities within Los Angeles County.
Major economic sectors include entertainment and media production (film, television, music, digital content), international trade and logistics centered on the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, aerospace and defense manufacturing with companies like SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing, tourism and hospitality serving over 50 million visitors annually, technology and digital media with tech corridor emerging in Santa Monica and Playa Vista, healthcare with major medical centers including UCLA Health and Cedars-Sinai, fashion and apparel with the largest concentration of fashion manufacturing in the United States, professional services, finance, and higher education.
Top employers include the County of Los Angeles government (over 100,000 employees), Los Angeles Unified School District, University of California Los Angeles, Kaiser Permanente, Northrop Grumman, Disney, Warner Bros, Universal Studios, Amazon, and numerous healthcare systems. The unemployment rate has historically tracked close to the California state average, approximately 4-5% in recent years following recovery from the pandemic.
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach together handle approximately 40% of all U.S. container traffic, supporting over 1 million jobs regionally. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the second-busiest airport in the United States and a major economic engine. Agricultural production continues in northern areas of the county including the Antelope Valley and eastern regions. Los Angeles County is headquarters to numerous Fortune 500 companies and maintains significant venture capital investment activity, particularly in technology, entertainment, and biotechnology sectors.
Transparency Score
Court Records: Yes: Online | Property: Yes: Free Search | Arrest/Jail: Yes: Online | Vital Records: Yes: Multiple Locations | Business: Yes: Online | Elections: Yes: Online | Overall Score: 9/10, Los Angeles County provides excellent digital access to public records through well-maintained portals, though the sheer size of the county can make navigation complex for some users.
Official Government Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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Cities & Towns in Los Angeles County
Explore public records for 60 cities and communities in Los Angeles County, California.