Find San Francisco White Pages

San Francisco white pages draw from a unique setup. The city and county are one and the same, which means a single government handles all the public records that would be split between city and county offices in most other parts of California. With about 870,000 people packed into just 47 square miles, San Francisco holds a dense collection of property records, court filings, vital records, and other public data that work as white pages tools. The assessor-recorder, superior court, and sheriff all operate under the combined city-county structure. Many of these San Francisco white pages tools are available online. Others need an in-person visit or a mailed request. This page shows you where to search and what each tool covers.

San Francisco City-County Records

San Francisco is both a city and a county. There is no separate county government. The assessor-recorder, clerk, sheriff, and superior court all fall under this combined structure. For white pages purposes, this means you do not need to switch between city and county offices when searching for someone in San Francisco. Everything is in one place, which makes the process a bit simpler than in other California cities where you have to check both city and county sources.

The San Francisco Assessor-Recorder handles property records and recorded documents. Property data is available through the city's online search tools. You can look up any parcel by address or owner name and get the assessed value, owner information, and land use details. The assessor-recorder phone number is 628-652-8100. For San Francisco white pages searches, property records are one of the fastest ways to tie a person's name to a physical address. The data covers every residential and commercial parcel in the city.

San Francisco has a high share of renters compared to most California cities. Roughly two-thirds of residents rent rather than own. That means the assessor's property database only covers about a third of the people who live here. If you are searching for a renter, you will need to use court records, voter data, or license lookups instead of the property tools.

San Francisco Recorded Documents

The assessor-recorder keeps deeds, liens, marriage records, and other documents that are filed with the city-county. San Francisco offers an online portal for recorded document searches at sf.gov. Documents from 1990 onward are available. Online copies cost $1.81 per document. In-person copies start at $9.70 for the first page, with extra pages costing less. The online fee is much lower, so that is the better option if you can search from home. Call 628-652-8100 for questions about recorded documents.

For San Francisco white pages work, the recorded document index is a strong tool. It shows who bought or sold property, who filed a lien, or who recorded a trust document. Each result includes the grantor and grantee names, the recording date, and the document type. You do not need the full document for most white pages research. The index entry alone connects a name to a real estate transaction in San Francisco. That is often enough to confirm a person's ties to a specific address or to verify that they had a real estate interest in the city at some point.

The online fee of $1.81 per document is one of the lowest in California for recorded document access. Many counties charge $4 or more per page. San Francisco's low cost makes it practical to search through several documents without the bill getting out of hand.

SF Recorded Documents Portal

San Francisco's recorded documents portal at sf.gov is the main tool for searching deeds, liens, and other filed documents in the city.

Search and download recorded documents from 1990 onward. Online copies cost $1.81, which is among the lowest document fees in California.

Search San Francisco Court Records

The San Francisco Superior Court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases for the city-county. You can search for cases online through the court's website at sfsuperiorcourt.org. The court offers an online case index where you can look up filings by party name or case number. This is free to search. Viewing full documents may have fees depending on the case type and the court's policies for that year.

Court records are one of the most useful San Francisco white pages tools. A civil case filing shows plaintiff and defendant names along with the case type. Criminal cases show charges, court dates, and outcomes. Small claims, eviction cases, and personal injury suits all appear in the public index. These records can confirm that a person has ties to San Francisco even if they don't own property here. Family law cases have some restrictions. Juvenile records are sealed. But for most civil and criminal matters, the case index is open to the public and free to search.

San Francisco Superior Court is located at the Civic Center Courthouse on McAllister Street. In-person searches give you access to records that may not be fully available online. If you need older case data or documents that are not in the online system, a trip to the courthouse may be needed.

San Francisco Sheriff Inmate Search

The San Francisco Sheriff's Department manages the county jail system. You can search for inmates through the sheriff's website. The main phone number is (415) 554-7225. San Francisco jails include County Jail facilities at the Hall of Justice and the County Jail in San Bruno. The inmate search shows current bookings with the person's name, charges, bail amount, and facility location.

This tool only covers people currently in custody. Released inmates drop from the active search. For older booking data, you need to make a public records request to the sheriff's department. The online tool updates through the day. For San Francisco white pages work, the inmate search helps when you think someone may be in jail. It confirms a name and gives a current location. Aliases may also appear in the booking records.

City Public Records Requests

San Francisco handles public records requests through its city departments. You can file a California Public Records Act request for documents held by any department, including the police, fire, planning, building inspection, and public works. The city's main records page is at sf.gov. Response times vary by department and the scope of your request, but the city must respond within 10 calendar days under state law.

Building permits are especially useful for San Francisco white pages searches. The city's Department of Building Inspection keeps records of permits tied to specific addresses. A permit filing shows who applied, the type of work, and the address where the work took place. This data can link a property owner or contractor to a location in the city. Code enforcement cases also tie names to addresses. These records are public and available through a records request or, in some cases, through the city's online data tools.

State Tools for San Francisco Searches

California state databases add more layers to San Francisco white pages research. The Secretary of State business entity search is one of the strongest. San Francisco is home to thousands of businesses, from small startups to large corporations. If someone is an officer or agent of a company here, the business search will show their name and a public address. It is free and does not need an account.

License databases help with people who work in regulated professions. The Department of Consumer Affairs, the Contractors State License Board, and the Medical Board of California all run search tools. San Francisco has one of the highest concentrations of licensed professionals in the state. Doctors, lawyers, contractors, engineers, real estate agents, and many other regulated workers have public license records that show their name and address of record. These tools are free to search and can be accessed from anywhere.

Voter registration data is another avenue for San Francisco white pages searches. Under California Elections Code Section 2194, voter files are available for approved uses. The San Francisco voter file includes names, addresses, and party preference for registered voters. Commercial use of this data is banned. For non-commercial purposes, voter records can confirm an address or show where a person is registered to vote in San Francisco.

How to Search San Francisco White Pages

Start with the assessor property search if you have an address. It shows you the owner name tied to that parcel. Then check the recorded document index for deeds and liens linked to a name. These two tools cover the property side of San Francisco white pages data. If the person rents, try the court case index. Eviction cases, civil filings, and criminal records all show names tied to the city.

For people who work in San Francisco but may not live here, try the state business search and license databases. These tools cover professionals and business owners who have a public address on file with the state. Between the property tools, court records, and state databases, you can cover most of the ground needed for a San Francisco white pages search. If you still come up empty, file a public records request with the city. Some data is only available through a formal request or an in-person visit to a city office.

Nearby Cities White Pages

San Francisco sits at the tip of a peninsula, but people who live here often have ties to East Bay cities across the bridge. If your San Francisco white pages search does not find what you need, try these nearby cities.