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Santa Cruz County, California Public Records

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Find the right office in Santa Cruz County. Court cases, deeds and parcels, sheriff and jail records, vital records and county filings, each linked to the office that keeps them.

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About public records in Santa Cruz County

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County profile

Santa Cruz County at a glance

State
California
County seat
Santa Cruz
Population
270,861
Area
607 sq mi
Founded
1850
Cities and towns
12

Santa Cruz County offices and records

Sheriff & Law Enforcement. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement services in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County.

Police Departments. In addition to Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, several municipal police departments operate within Santa Cruz County.

Law Enforcement & Arrests. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 5200 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (phone: 831-454-7611, website: scsheriff.com), is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas and operates Santa Cruz County's detention facilities. Inmates can be searched through the Sheriff's Office website using the online inmate locator tool at scsheriff.com/home/inmate search, which provides booking information, charges, bail amounts, and projected release dates. Municipal police departments operate in the cities of Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz County Police Department, 155 Center Street), Watsonville (Watsonville Police Department, 215 Union Street), Capitola (Capitola Police Department, 422 Capitola Avenue), and Scotts Valley (Scotts Valley Police Department, 1 Civic Center Drive).

Arrest Records. Arrest records in Santa Cruz County are maintained by Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. Residents and attorneys can request arrest records through the Sheriff's Office by submitting a formal request, often requiring identification and a fee.

Mugshots & Booking Photos. Mugshots in Santa Cruz County are taken and retained by Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These booking photos are part of the arrest record and can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office's online resources or by request.

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz, is the trial court handling all criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters within Santa Cruz County. The court operates from two main locations: the main courthouse at 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone: 831-420-2205), and the Watsonville Courthouse at 300 Segundo Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076. Santa Cruz County Assessor's Office (phone: 831-454-2002) maintains property assessment rolls and ownership information. Santa Cruz County Recorder-Clerk's Office, located at 701 Ocean Street, Room 210, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone: 831-454-2050, website: sccrecorder.com), maintains official land and property records including deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, reconveyances, liens, easements, maps, and other documents affecting real property title. Property tax information is maintained separately by Santa Cruz County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector at 701 Ocean Street, Room 100 (phone: 831-454-2510). Business license requirements in Santa Cruz County vary by city and unincorporated area jurisdiction. Santa Cruz County of Santa Cruz Planning Department (701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor, phone: 831-454-2580) handles business licenses for unincorporated areas, while each city maintains its own licensing system: City of Santa Cruz County Finance Department (809 Center Street, Room 6). Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce (santacruzchamber.org, phone: 831-457-3713) and Watsonville Chamber of Commerce provide business resources and networking opportunities for local enterprises. Divorce records (marriage dissolution decrees) are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk's Office, not the County Clerk. The California Department of Public Health Vital Records Office in Sacramento is the state-level repository for vital records statewide from 1905 forward and can be contacted at 916-445-2684 or cdph.ca.gov/vitals.

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Santa Cruz County public-records FAQs

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Where can I find mugshots or booking photos in Santa Cruz County, California?

Mugshots and booking photos for individuals arrested in Santa Cruz County can be obtained from the Santa Cruz County or serving short-term sentences. The Sheriff's Office provides access to these records through their official website. You can also visit the office in person at 5200 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, to request booking photos.

How do I get a criminal background check in Santa Cruz County, California?

To obtain a criminal background check in Santa Cruz County, you should contact the California Department of Justice (DOJ), which handles background checks statewide. Locally, you can visit the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office for fingerprinting services required by the DOJ. The DOJ's website provides instructions on how to submit your fingerprints and request a background check.

How can I look up sex offenders in Santa Cruz County, California?

You can look up sex offenders in Santa Cruz County by accessing the California Megan's Law website. This registry provides information on registered sex offenders throughout California, including Santa Cruz County. The website allows you to search by name, address, or proximity to a specific location to view offender details and compliance status.

How do I register to vote in Santa Cruz County, California?

Register to vote online at registertovote.ca.gov, the California Secretary of State's secure portal, or submit a paper application to the Santa Cruz County Elections Department at 701 Ocean Street, Room 210, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. You must register at least 15 days before an election, though conditional registration is available through Election Day at vote centers. All registered voters in Santa Cruz County automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots for every election, and you can track your ballot status at votescount.com.

How do I look up property records in Santa Cruz County, California?

Property records are maintained by the Santa Cruz County Recorder-Clerk's Office and can be searched free online at sccrecorder.com using the property address, parcel number, or owner name. The online system provides access to recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents affecting property title; viewing and printing documents costs $1 per page. For property tax information and assessed values, visit the County Assessor and Tax Collector portal at scctax.com, or use the GIS parcel viewer at gis.santacruzcounty.us to view parcel boundaries, ownership, zoning, and assessment data with aerial imagery.

How do I get a birth or death certificate in Santa Cruz County, California?

Birth and death certificates are issued by the Santa Cruz County Clerk-Recorder's Office at 701 Ocean Street, Room 210, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone: 831-454-2060). Birth certificates cost $32 for the first copy, death certificates cost $21, and only authorized individuals as defined by California law can request certified copies. Walk-in service provides same-day issuance during business hours, while mail requests typically take 2-4 weeks. Alternatively, order California vital records through the state Department of Public Health at covitalrecords.cdph.ca.gov with additional processing fees.

How do I find business license records in Santa Cruz County, California?

Business licenses in Santa Cruz County are issued by individual cities (Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola, Scotts Valley) or the County Planning Department for unincorporated areas; contact the specific jurisdiction's finance or planning department. Fictitious business name (DBA) statements are filed with the Santa Cruz County Clerk-Recorder at 831-454-2060. For formal business entity information (corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships), search the California Secretary of State's free database at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov, which provides registered agent information, entity status, filing dates, and business addresses for all California entities.

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Cities, towns and neighboring counties

Use the city page when a record was created by a municipal police department or city office; use the county page for courts, deeds, vital records and jail custody.

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