Property Nerd Lab
Mid-Century House Records Finder
Pick a place to see where the public records for an older house live: permit history, copies of original plans, the assessor record, the recorded tract map and historic status. Each row names the agency, what you can get and how to ask.
This view shows every place at once. Find your city’s heading for rows 1, 2 and 5, then its county’s heading for rows 3 and 4.
Pick a place above. Rows 1, 2 and 5 come from the city, or from the county for unincorporated areas. Rows 3 and 4 come from the county, so cities in the same county share them.
First, confirm the parcel is inside city limits. If it’s unincorporated, the county holds the permit records, and if the area was annexed after the house was built, ask both.
Palo Alto
Palo Alto handles permits for addresses inside city limits.
1 Building permit history
Who City of Palo Alto, Palo Alto Permit View.
What you can get Building, planning and code enforcement activity for a property.
How Search online by property address, date or application type, or by assessor’s parcel number.
2 Copies of original plans
Who City of Palo Alto, Planning & Development Services.
What you can get Copies of plans on file, used only for the maintenance, operations and use of the building, as the requester’s affidavit says.
How Fill out the city’s Request for Duplication of Plans packet and email it to the building division. The city writes to the owner and to the architect or engineer. If the owner doesn’t respond within 30 days, the request is voided; if the owner approves and the professional doesn’t respond within 30 days, staff may proceed.
5 Historic status
Who City of Palo Alto, Historic Preservation.
What you can get Whether a property is on the Palo Alto Historic Inventory, the official list of sites, structures and districts the city has designated, first adopted in 1979. Properties on the National Register are automatically listed in the California Register.
How Check the city’s historic registers page, which links its list of properties on the inventory.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Santa Clara County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in Palo Alto
Los Altos
Los Altos handles permits for addresses inside city limits.
1 Building permit history
Who City of Los Altos, Building Division.
What you can get A list of permits issued for the address, with dates and descriptions.
How The city’s Building page lists the division’s email and public counter hours; ask there what permit records exist for the address. For anything older, you can also ask the city clerk about a public records request.
2 Copies of original plans
Who The same building division, if it kept the plans.
What you can get Copies of approved plans, after the state’s permission steps (see “Anywhere in California” below).
How Ask the building records staff what exists for the address and how to request duplication.
5 Historic status
Who City of Los Altos, Historical Commission and planning staff.
What you can get Whether the house is a city Historic Landmark or on the Historic Resources Inventory.
How The city’s Historic Inventory page links the original inventory and lists the Historic Landmarks. The city says the current inventory list is available on request.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Santa Clara County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in Los Altos
Mountain View
Mountain View handles permits for addresses inside city limits.
1 Building permit history
Who City of Mountain View, Building Division.
What you can get Permit history from 2000 to now in the city’s online permit search, plus lists of issued and finaled permits by year.
How Search online. The city says not all permit records are online; more can be viewed in person at the Permit Center.
2 Copies of original plans
Who City of Mountain View, Building Division.
What you can get Copies of plans on file. Plans are a public record you can view, but copies need written permission from the property owner and from the licensed professional who signed the plans, or a court order.
How Bring the permission letters to the Building Division, or file the city’s Duplicate Plans Request Form with its processing fee and the city writes to the professional for you. The city says most requests take 60 to 90 days.
5 Historic status
Who City of Mountain View, Planning Division.
What you can get Whether the house is on the city’s Register of Historic Resources. A citywide survey is looking at every property built in the 1970s or earlier, and the city expects its ordinance and register update to be finished in 2026.
How Read the update page, which links the list of eligible properties, then ask the planning division about the address.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Santa Clara County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in Mountain View
Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale handles permits for addresses inside city limits.
1 Building permit history
Who City of Sunnyvale, One-Stop Permit Center.
What you can get Permit and plan history, in the city’s E-OneStop online services system.
How Search E-OneStop online, or use the computer kiosks at the Permit Center on the second floor of City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.
2 Copies of original plans
Who The same building division, if it kept the plans.
What you can get Copies of approved plans, after the state’s permission steps (see “Anywhere in California” below).
How Ask the building records staff what exists for the address and how to request duplication.
5 Historic status
Who City of Sunnyvale, Planning Division.
What you can get Whether the house is on the Heritage Resources Inventory, the city’s list of heritage houses, commercial buildings and historic districts. The city created it in 1979 and last gave it a major update in 2007.
How The city’s inventory update page links the current inventory. Ask the planning division about the address.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Santa Clara County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in Sunnyvale
Cupertino
Cupertino handles permits for addresses inside city limits.
1 Building permit history
Who City of Cupertino.
What you can get Building permits are among the city records kept online in its Digital Archives.
How Search the archives online, or file a Public Records Act request through the city’s online portal.
2 Copies of original plans
Who City of Cupertino, Building Division.
What you can get A review of plans and supporting documents.
How Submit the city’s Request for Research form. The city says it completes the research within 10 business days of the request.
5 Historic status
Who The city’s planning division.
What you can get Whether the house is on a local historic list or inside a historic district or overlay.
How Ask the planning division. A property can also appear on the National Register or California Register.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Santa Clara County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in Cupertino
Santa Clara
The City of Santa Clara handles permits for addresses inside city limits.
1 Building permit history
Who City of Santa Clara, City Clerk’s Office.
What you can get City department records, such as building permit records, through a California Public Records Act request.
How Submit a request through the city’s online public records portal, or ask in person at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 1500 Warburton Ave. The city says there is no charge to inspect records in person.
2 Copies of original plans
Who The same building division, if it kept the plans.
What you can get Copies of approved plans, after the state’s permission steps (see “Anywhere in California” below).
How Ask the building records staff what exists for the address and how to request duplication.
5 Historic status
Who City of Santa Clara, Planning Division.
What you can get Whether the house is on the city’s Historic Resource Inventory, a list kept as an appendix to the General Plan. The city treats a home 50 years old or older as a potential historic resource, then looks at its architecture, neighborhood and local significance; not every older home is a historic resource.
How Read the city’s historic preservation page, which links the inventory and an interactive map, then ask the planning division about the address.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Santa Clara County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in Santa Clara
San Jose
San Jose handles permits for addresses inside city limits.
1 Building permit history
Who City of San Jose, SJPermits.
What you can get Permit history, zoning designation, plan review status and property information.
How Use the public search on the city’s online permit services page.
2 Copies of original plans
Who The same building division, if it kept the plans.
What you can get Copies of approved plans, after the state’s permission steps (see “Anywhere in California” below).
How Ask the building records staff what exists for the address and how to request duplication.
5 Historic status
Who City of San Jose, Planning Division.
What you can get Whether the house is on the San Jose Historic Resources Inventory, which holds nearly 4,000 properties. The city notes that many structures have never been surveyed.
How Check the city’s inventory map, then ask the planning division about the address.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Santa Clara County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in San Jose
Santa Clara County records
For Palo Alto, Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara and San Jose.
3 Assessor record
Who Santa Clara County Assessor.
What you can get Free online property information, including the parcel number (APN) and the assessor’s parcel map. The online search doesn’t show owner names.
How Search by address, parcel number or map. The parcel number is more reliable, because addresses get renumbered and mistyped.
4 Recorded tract map
Who Santa Clara County Surveyor’s office and Clerk-Recorder.
What you can get The recorded subdivision (tract) map that created the lot. Record maps are indexed by the County Surveyor and sold by the Clerk-Recorder.
How Find the map in the surveyor’s record map index, then order a copy from the Clerk-Recorder. The recorded tract number on a title report or parcel record tells you which map to ask for.
San Mateo
The City of San Mateo handles permits inside city limits. The San Mateo Highlands is different: see the note below.
1 Building permit history
Who City of San Mateo, Building Division.
What you can get Current and past permit records.
How Search the city’s Customer Self-Service (CSS) Portal by address, date range, permit number or parcel number.
2 Copies of original plans
Who The same building division, if it kept the plans.
What you can get Copies of approved plans, after the state’s permission steps (see “Anywhere in California” below).
How Ask the building records staff what exists for the address and how to request duplication.
5 Historic status
Who City of San Mateo, Planning Division.
What you can get The San Mateo Historic Resources Inventory, the official list of locally designated historic resources (updated by Ordinance No. 2026-06, adopted May 18, 2026). The city’s project review page also points to properties identified in a prior historic resource evaluation or in its 1989 Historic Building survey, and says an evaluation is required when a planning application for substantial demolition is filed for a property more than 50 years old that hasn’t been surveyed.
How Read the city’s project review page, then ask the planning division about the address.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with San Mateo County, below.
San Mateo Highlands
A San Mateo County document describes the Highlands as being in an unincorporated area of the county, so its permits and plans are with San Mateo County Planning and Building, not the city. Use the county’s Public Records Act request form, sent by email, by mail or in person at the Permit Counter. Building owners and design professionals must give permission before the county provides copies of official building plans, and you can view official plans in person during office hours.
San Mateo County public records and research requests · San Mateo Highlands Eichlers
Read next: Mid-century homes in San Mateo
San Mateo County records
For San Mateo.
3 Assessor record
Who San Mateo County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder.
What you can get Assessor’s maps and recorded maps, such as subdivision maps and parcel maps, downloadable online for free. The same maps can be printed at the County Recorder Division for a fee.
How Search for the property, then use the Assessor Map link, or the All Available Recorded Maps link.
4 Recorded tract map
Who San Mateo County Public Works, Surveying & Map Checking.
What you can get Survey and subdivision maps to view, download or print.
How Use the Recorded Property Maps link under Online Research, or the county’s Property Maps Portal.
San Rafael
San Rafael handles permits inside city limits. Lucas Valley and Marinwood are outside the city: choose Unincorporated Marin.
1 Building permit history
Who City of San Rafael.
What you can get Building permits, inspections, planning and fire records, in three online systems by date: current records in OpenGov, 2000 to early 2026 in eTRAKiT, and 1940 to 2005 in ePermits. Records from 2000 to 2005 may be in both of the older two.
How Start at the city’s records search page and pick the system for the years you need.
2 Copies of original plans
Who City of San Rafael.
What you can get Plans for the 1940 to 2005 permits in ePermits. They aren’t online because they may be copyright protected.
How View them during business hours on the public kiosks on the second floor of City Hall.
5 Historic status
Who The city’s planning division.
What you can get Whether the house is on a local historic list or inside a historic district or overlay.
How Ask the planning division. A property can also appear on the National Register or California Register.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Marin County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in San Rafael
Unincorporated Marin
The Lucas Valley Eichlers sit in unincorporated Marin County, outside San Rafael’s city limits even where the mailing address says San Rafael. For unincorporated areas, the county, not a city, holds permit records.
1 Building permit history
Who County of Marin Community Development Agency, Building and Safety.
What you can get Past building permits and related documents.
How Use the Building and Safety search on the county’s records search page. The county recommends searching by parcel number (APN) or address.
2 Copies of original plans
Who County of Marin.
What you can get Copies of approved plans, after the state’s permission steps (see “Anywhere in California” below).
How Ask the county’s building records staff what exists for the parcel.
5 Historic status
Who County of Marin planning staff.
What you can get Whether the property has been evaluated as a historic resource.
How Ask county planning staff.
Rows 3 and 4, the assessor record and the recorded tract map, are with Marin County, below.
Read next: Mid-century homes in Marin County · Lucas Valley Eichler history
Marin County records
For San Rafael and Unincorporated Marin.
3 Assessor record
Who Marin County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.
What you can get Assessor records by parcel number, and the assessor’s maps by map book and page.
How Search online by parcel number. The parcel number is more reliable than the address, because addresses get renumbered and mistyped.
4 Recorded tract map
Who Marin County Recorder.
What you can get Copies of recorded subdivision maps (marked RM) and parcel maps (PM). The Recorder doesn’t keep building plans.
How Recorded maps can’t be viewed online. View them on the lobby computers during business hours, or order paper or PDF copies by book and page at the office or through the county’s webstore.
Anywhere in California
- Copies of plans. Under Health and Safety Code section 19851, plans on file can be viewed only at the building department. Copies need written permission from the licensed professional who signed them and from the property owner, or a court order. If the professional doesn’t answer the department’s request within 30 days, the law treats that as an unreasonable refusal. The department may charge a fee, and each city sets its own forms and steps.
- Plans may not exist. Section 19850 requires building departments to keep plans for the buildings they permitted, but says plans need not be filed for houses of up to two stories. So a city may have no plans for a one-story house from the 1950s or 1960s.
- Permits pulled, not work done. A permit record lists the permits that were pulled. Some work on a house from the 1950s or 1960s was permitted and inspected, and some wasn’t, so match each permit to something you can see, and each visible change to a permit.
- Older records. Older records may be partial or kept on microfilm, scanned cards or paper. If an online search turns up little for a 1950s house, that doesn’t mean nothing was ever permitted; ask the records staff what exists for the address.
- Search two ways. Search by address and by parcel number. Addresses get renumbered and mistyped; the parcel number is more reliable.
The law: Health and Safety Code 19850 · Health and Safety Code 19851
What this finder can’t do
It points to where records live; it doesn’t search them, and it isn’t a title search. Agencies change their systems, forms and links, so call the agency to confirm before you rely on a record or a step. Rows without a link use general steps; ask the agency named. This is general information, not legal advice.