Kern County, CA Property Records
Property records in Kern, California document important details about real estate within Kern County, including ownership history, recorded deeds, parcel information, legal descriptions, liens, transfers, and assessed values. These records are useful for buyers, sellers, property owners, lenders, researchers, and legal professionals who need to verify ownership, review transaction history, estimate tax obligations, or confirm recorded interests in a property.
Official Kern property records are maintained by county offices, primarily the Kern County Assessor-Recorder. Users can access recorded documents and related real estate information through the county’s online services or by contacting the office directly. For official searches and county-provided resources, visit the Kern County Assessor-Recorder’s page for official property records.
Kern County, CA Property Records & Statistics
Kern County has a median rent of $1,099.50, compared with $1,260 across California and $840.25 nationally. Rent in the county runs below the state figure and above the national figure, a gap that reflects how much housing costs here differ from the rest of the state. Renter-occupied housing accounts for 40.05% of occupied homes, against 33.49% statewide and 21.81% across the country, so renters make up a larger part of the market than they do in California overall.
The median home value in Kern County is $226,900, below California's $403,775 and above the national median of $173,750. The median property tax rate is 0.88%, higher than the state rate of 0.69% and higher than the national rate of 0.74%. Together, these figures show what it costs to buy a home here and to carry it year after year.
Median household income is $50,333.50, below the state figure of $78,109.75 and below the national figure of $65,108. The unemployment rate of 5.54% compares with 3.72% in California and 2.87% nationally, so the local job market is weaker than the state's and weaker than the nation's.
Overall, these numbers show how rents, home prices, taxes, and paychecks line up in Kern County, and how that picture compares with California and the country.
Median Rent
Median Property Tax Rate
Median Home Value
Median Income
Unemployment Rate
Renter Occupied Housing
Property Records, Assessments, and Valuations in Kern
Kern County property records cover tax assessments, recorded deeds and mortgages, property valuations, and foreclosure filings. The county has 440,597 total parcels, including 355,390 residential and 15,534 commercial parcels, and tax records cover 91.25% of the population for the 2025 assessment year. Recorded documents include 1,691,907 deeds and 703,632 mortgages, and valuation data is available for 218,611 properties, with the latest valuation update on August 19, 2025.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Parcels | 440,597 |
| Residential Parcels | 355,390 |
| Commercial Parcels | 15,534 |
| Tax Record Coverage | 91.25% |
| Assessment Year | 2025 |
| Deed Records | 1,691,907 |
| Mortgage Records | 703,632 |
| Properties with Valuation Data | 218,611 |
| Latest Valuation Update | August 19, 2025 |
| Notice of Trustee Sale Records | 478,639 |
Assignment and Release Records
Assignment and release records track what happens to a mortgage after it is recorded. An assignment shows that a mortgage was transferred from one lender or loan holder to another, while a release shows that a mortgage was paid off and the lien removed from the property.
Kern County has 832,966 assignment and release records available for research. They include 174,833 assignment documents recorded from January 3, 2005 through September 2, 2025, and 656,945 release documents recorded from October 1, 2001 through September 2, 2025, along with 1,188 other documents.
For property research, these records help show who holds a mortgage on a property and whether earlier loans have been satisfied. Buyers, owners, and researchers can use them to confirm that past mortgages were released, trace a loan as it moved between lenders, and spot liens that may still be open before a sale or refinance. The recording dates also make it easier to focus on documents filed during a particular period in a property's history.
How to Search Kern County, CA Property Records
Property records in Kern County are maintained through the Kern County Assessor-Recorder. The office keeps recorded deeds, mortgages, and related real estate documents, and county records cover 440,597 parcels. Searches can be done online, by phone, or in person, and the records show owners, recorded transactions, loans, and liens.
To look up recorded documents, use the Kern County official records search, the online portal for searching official records. For background on the office and its services, visit the Kern County Assessor-Recorder website. Document requirements and request forms are available on the Kern County recorder forms page. Recorders and title companies can also review the Kern County electronic recording information.
Tax payments are made through the Kern County Treasurer and Tax Collector, and parcel boundaries are on the Kern County Mapping & GIS page.
You can also reach the office in person at 1530 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301, or by phone at 661-868-6400. It is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Before searching, have the property address, owner name, or document number ready. Enter the most complete details you have, review the matching results, and open the record that fits the property you are researching. If a record doesn't appear online, call the office and ask staff to help.
Kern Registrar of Deeds
The Kern County Probate Office is located at 1530 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA, 93301 and can be reached at 661-868-6400. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Records can be accessed through kerncounty.com or the official website kerncounty.com.
Kern County Assessor-Recorder
Kern County Property Records FAQ
How can I search Kern County property records by address?
Start with the Kern County official records search and enter the property address or the owner's name to locate recorded documents tied to the property. If the address doesn't return a match, try a shorter version of the street name. You can also call the Kern County Assessor-Recorder at 661-868-6400 for help finding a record.
How can I find property owners in Kern County?
Ownership is shown in recorded deeds, which you can search through the Kern County official records search. Search by name or property details and review the most recent deed for the parcel. For help confirming current ownership, call the Kern County Assessor-Recorder at 661-868-6400 or visit the office at 1530 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301.
How can I check a property's assessed value in Kern County?
The county's latest assessment year is 2025. The Kern County Assessor-Recorder maintains assessment records, and its Property Tax Portal is the place to look up a parcel. The office can also be reached at 661-868-6400.
Where can I find Kern County property tax bills and payment records?
Pay online through the Kern County Treasurer and Tax Collector, which accepts cards and no-fee electronic checks. The Pay Property Taxes page explains the options, and the office at 1115 Truxtun Avenue, 2nd Floor, handles missing bills at 661-868-3490.
How can I find deeds and other recorded documents in Kern County?
Deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents can be searched through the Kern County official records search. For copies or recording requirements, see the recorder forms or visit the Kern County Assessor-Recorder at 1530 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301. The office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and can be reached at 661-868-6400.
Where can I access Kern County parcel maps and GIS information?
The Assessor-Recorder's Mapping & GIS page offers parcel maps and downloadable GIS data, including the county's zoning layer for unincorporated areas.
How can I check permits and zoning information in Kern County?
Zoning and land use applications go through the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department at kernplanning.com, 2700 M Street, Suite 100, Bakersfield, phone 661-862-5263. Building permits are handled by Kern County Public Works at 661-862-8650.
How can I create a list of property owners in Kern County?
The Kern County official records search supports record-by-record searches, which can be used to build a list one property at a time. For larger or bulk requests, call the Kern County Assessor-Recorder at 661-868-6400 to ask what is available, and review the recorder forms for request requirements.