Before you buy, it helps to look a property up yourself. Here are the official places to check taxes, hazards, zoning and schools, all in one list.
Taxes and ownership
- San Diego County Assessor / Recorder / County Clerk — Assessed values, exemptions such as the Homeowners’ Exemption, parcel information and recorded documents.
- San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector — Property tax bills and payments.
Hazard maps
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — FEMA’s official public source for flood maps.
- CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer — The state’s fire hazard zones. They show hazard, not a forecast, and your city or county has the final say on its local designation.
- California Geological Survey EQ Zapp — Search an address to see whether it sits inside a mapped earthquake hazard zone (fault rupture, liquefaction or landslide).
Zoning, permits and schools
- San Diego County Office of Education School Finder — Find schools and districts. Boundaries and enrollment steps are set by each district, so confirm with the district itself.
How to use these
- Have the street address and, if you can, the parcel number from the listing.
- Write down what each site shows, then ask your agent and lender how it affects the purchase.
- Maps and records are updated on their own schedules. A property’s official records and your inspection reports are the final word.
Found something you do not understand? Book a 15-minute call or send Rudy the address with the contact form, and he will help you read it.
These are public websites run by governments and agencies. Rudy does not control them and cannot guarantee their content. This list is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.
Related reading
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- Ask Rudy: San Diego County Real Estate Questions, Answered — Ask Rudy: San Diego County real estate questions answered in plain English, from buying and selling to…
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