State-by-State Guide: How To Find Property Owners In Florida, Texas, California & More
Whether you’re a real estate investor, a curious neighbor, or a homeowner doing research, there are many reasons why you might want to find out who owns a specific property. Thankfully, public records make it easier than ever to access this information. However, each state has its own process and database systems for accessing ownership details.
This state-by-state guide will walk you through how to perform a property owner search in Florida, Texas, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. These six states represent some of the most in-demand areas for property research due to their population sizes, housing markets, and investment activity.
Let’s break it down state by state.
Florida Property Owner Search
Florida makes it relatively simple to look up property ownership due to its broad public records access laws. Each county in Florida maintains its own property appraiser’s website where you can conduct a Florida property owner search by address, owner name, or parcel number.
How to Search:
- Visit the website of the County Property Appraiser where the property is located.
- Use the property search tool to look up by:
- Address
- Owner name
- Parcel ID
- View the property details, including owner name, purchase history, assessed value, and tax information.
Example:
- Miami-Dade County: https://www.miamidade.gov/pa
- Orange County (Orlando): https://www.ocpafl.org
📝 Pro Tip: Florida also offers access to deed and mortgage documents through the Clerk of Court’s website in each county.
Texas Property Owner Search
Like Florida, Texas also allows public access to property records at the county level. You’ll need to visit the County Appraisal District (CAD) website where the property is located to begin your Texas property owner search.
How to Search:
- Go to the relevant CAD website (e.g., Harris County Appraisal District for Houston).
- Use the property search tool to look up the property by:
- Address
- Owner’s name
- Account or parcel number
- Review the property details, including ownership, value history, and land use.
Example:
- Travis County (Austin): https://www.traviscad.org
- Harris County (Houston): https://hcad.org
📝 Pro Tip: For additional ownership documentation, you can check with the County Clerk’s office for deed records.
California Property Owner Search
California provides public access to property records, but the level of online access varies by county. To perform a California property owner search, you’ll typically need to combine resources from the County Assessor, Recorder’s Office, and Tax Collector.
How to Search:
- Visit the County Assessor’s website to search for property characteristics and assessed values.
- Ownership information may require contacting the County Recorder’s Office, where deeds and legal ownership documents are filed.
- Use online portals when available, or call/email for ownership records.
Example:
- Los Angeles County Assessor: https://assessor.lacounty.gov
- San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk: https://arcc.sdcounty.ca.go
- Pro Tip: Some counties charge a small fee to view or download ownership documents, especially recorded deeds.
New York Property Owner Search
Performing a New York property owner search can be straightforward—if you know which borough or county you’re working in. For NYC, property ownership data is centralized under the Department of Finance. Outside of NYC, each county manages its own records.
How to Search (NYC):
- Visit NYC’s ACRIS portal: https://a836-acris.nyc.gov
- Search property documents by:
- Address
- Owner name
- Parcel ID
- Access recorded deeds, mortgages, and ownership changes.
How to Search (Upstate NY):
- Use the county Real Property Database (e.g., Monroe County, Erie County).
- Search by address or owner to retrieve property assessment and ownership details.
📝 Pro Tip: ACRIS is extremely detailed and ideal for checking NYC property transfers and ownership histories.
Pennsylvania Property Owner Search
In Pennsylvania, public access to property records is managed at the county level, often through the County Assessment Office or Recorder of Deeds. A Pennsylvania property owner search will involve using these resources based on location.
How to Search:
- Visit the County Assessor or Recorder’s Office website.
- Search by:
- Property address
- Parcel number
- Owner name
- Access owner name, property value, tax assessments, and recorded deed info.
Example:
Philadelphia: https://property.phila.gov
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh): https://www2.alleghenycounty.us/RealEstate
📝 Pro Tip: Many counties provide GIS (mapping) tools where you can click on parcels to reveal ownership and land data.
Ohio Property Owner Search
Ohio offers online databases to search property ownership in most counties, primarily through the County Auditor’s Office. These portals provide access to property records by address, name, or parcel number.
How to Search:
- Go to your county’s Auditor’s website.
- Use the property search tool to look up:
- Address
- Owner name
- Parcel ID
- View ownership details, assessment data, tax info, and property characteristics.
Example:
- Franklin County (Columbus): https://audr-apps.franklincountyohio.gov
- Cuyahoga County (Cleveland): https://fiscalofficer.cuyahogacounty.us
📝 Pro Tip: Most counties in Ohio have excellent search tools that allow filtering by land use, neighborhood, or tax status.
Common Tools & Tips Across All States
While each state and county handles property records differently, some common tips can help you succeed in any property owner search:
- Use County Websites First: Local government sites are the most accurate and often free.
- Search Multiple Ways: Try using the address, parcel ID, or even previous owner names.
- Check for GIS Mapping Tools: These visual tools allow you to click and view parcel data instantly.
- Look at Deeds: The deed is the official record of ownership. It’s usually found at the Recorder or Clerk’s office.
- Use Paid Databases When Needed: For large-scale searches or deeper reports, paid platforms like PropStream, Reonomy, or TLO can help.
Summary Table
| State | Primary Search Platform | Key Tip |
| Florida | County Property Appraiser | Search by address or parcel number |
| Texas | County Appraisal District | Use CAD websites + County Clerk |
| California | Assessor + Recorder Office | Ownership may require a deed lookup |
| New York | ACRIS (NYC) or County Sites (Upstate) | NYC has the most detailed database |
| Pennsylvania | County Assessor or Recorder of Deeds | GIS maps are very helpful |
| Ohio | County Auditor Website | Strong filtering and search tools |
Whether you’re verifying ownership, doing due diligence for an investment, or just satisfying curiosity, understanding how to perform a property owner search by state is an invaluable skill. From Florida to California, and Texas to New York, there are reliable and often free tools that can give you detailed ownership information with just a few clicks.
So the next time you wonder, “Who owns that house?” — now you know exactly where to look.
At Official Property Records, we are committed to providing accurate, up-to-date, and reliable property record information to individuals, real estate professionals, and businesses. Our platform offers seamless access to essential property details, including ownership history, legal records, and market trends, helping users make informed decisions. By leveraging advanced technology and trusted sources, we ensure transparency and efficiency in property data retrieval. Whether you’re a homeowner, buyer, investor, or industry professional, our goal is to simplify the process of obtaining verified property records, making research and decision-making easier and more accessible.