About Assessor Parcel Maps (2024)

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The Assessor’s Office must appraise all property in the county for property tax purposes. The first step in the assessment process is to locate and identify all parcels of property. This is done through the use of assessor’s parcel maps.

How many assessor’s maps are there?

In Sacramento County, there are more than 9,500 assessor’s maps, representing almost 475,000 parcels of land. These maps cover the entire county, including all the cities as well as the unincorporated areas.

What is an assessor's parcel number (APN)?

An assessor's parcel number is a series of fourteen numbers/digits that are used as a file number to inventory or identify property.
The first three numbers of the series are used to identify the map book the real property is located in.
The next three digits represent the page number within the map book.
The seventh digit represents a block number within a page. Not all pages have blocks. In these cases a 0 appears in this space.
The eighth, ninth, and tenth digits are used to identify the number assigned to a parcel.
The last four digits are zero if the assessment represents a fee simple estate, but unique numbers are assigned if the rights have been divided for assessment purposes (for example condominiums, possessory interests, and tax segregations).

Example:

What information is available from the assessor’s maps?

The parcel maps display the assessor’s parcel numbers, parcel and lot boundaries, and adjoining map page information. Recorded dimension, acreage, street address, street width, and recorded map information is also visible. In most instances, the dimensions are noted in feet and any acreage of one-half acre or more is displayed.

How does the Assessor’s Office obtain this information?

This office receives information from government maps, recorded maps and documents, subdivision maps, record of surveys, road surveys, and various official documents.

How long does it take for new parcel numbers to be created when a deed, parcel map or subdivision map records?

The Mapping Section processes deeds/maps in the date order they are recorded. Processing times may vary due to workload and timing in relation to the annual tax roll preparation processes. New assessor parcels are not created during May and June of each year due to annual tax roll preparation processes. Contact our office at (916) 875-0700 and a member of our Mapping staff will provide an estimate of when the new number(s) will be available.

I received a letter stating that there was a problem identifying my parcel. Do I need to record a new deed even though I used a title company?

The Sacramento County Assessor sends letters to property owners when the legal description shown on a recorded deed does not properly identify the assessor parcel. Sometimes title companies make mistakes in filing deeds, so you are not exempt if you used a title company. You should correct the document whenever possible, as it is the legal basis for your property ownership.

The Sacramento County Assessor does not verify, insure or guarantee title. If you used a title company, that should be your first stop toward getting the issue resolved. If you did not use a title company, you may need to seek legal help from an attorney or professional land surveyor. The Assessor’s Office cannot provide legal advice. Despite recording errors, the assessor is required by law to assess all property in the County based on the information available.

How can I view my property on an assessor's map?

Visit Assessor’s Parcel Maps. You will need your street address or fourteen-digit parcel number in order to bring up your map. You can locate your parcel number on your valuation notice, tax bill, deed, or by calling our office at (916) 875-0700.
Maps can be purchased for $0.25/map page in person at our office located at 3636 American River Dr, Suite 200, Sacramento. Office Hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. -5 p.m.

Is the assessor’s parcel map a legal document?

No. Assessor parcel maps are prepared for assessment purposes only and by law show information AS RECORDED rather than as obtained, for instance, from an independent onsite survey. Being based on recorded documents, the assessor parcel maps may not match exactly what is seen or measured in person and overlays on aerial photographs may not reflect actual parcel boundaries. Assessor Maps are NOT surveys and as such should not be used in either defining property lines or in resolving disputes between neighbors. The Assessor's office mapping staff is always available to answer your questions about how your property is mapped and numbered for assessment purposes.

Are the parcels on the assessor’s maps “legal” parcels?

Not necessarily. The assessor’s maps are developed and maintained for assessment purposes only. You must contact thePlanning Departmentof your local jurisdictionto confirm the legality of a given parcel.

Where can I get a copy of the legal description of my property?

A copy of the legal description for your property can be found on the most recent recorded deed. If you do not have a copy of your deed, you can get a copy at theSacramento County Clerk-Recorder's Office.

What are my property boundaries?

Your property boundaries are defined by the legal description on your deed. The language on the deed typically references distances and bearings. It may also reference a specific lot or parcel of a subdivision or parcel map which has the legal boundaries delineated on the recorded map. To identify the physical boundaries of your property, you will need to contact a licensed land surveyor or civil engineer. Professional land surveyors and civil engineers are licensed by the State of California and may be verified at theLicense Look-up for California-Licensed Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

How can I determine where the fence line should be?

If you have a disagreement with your neighbor over the placement of a fence, this is a private civil matter that cannot be resolved by the Assessor. We recommend that you contact a licensed professional land surveyor for assistance atthe LicenseLook-up for California-Licensed Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

How can I tell if there have been any surveys on my property?

Assessor's parcel maps may reference records of surveys or other recorded maps within a given area. On the assessor's parcel map, parcels or blocks of parcels with bolded corners and a reference number indicate recorded maps are available for the designated area. Recorded maps and surveys can be viewed in person at the County Clerk-Recorder'sOffice.

Please note that the lack of notation of a recorded map or survey on an assessor parcel map does not mean a recorded map or survey does not exist. Contact theCounty Clerk-Recorderto confirm the presence (or lack thereof) of a recorded map or survey.

Official Survey records are maintained on file in theSacramento County Survey Sectionwithin the Sacramento County Engineering Division located at 827 7th Street Room 2235, Sacramento, CA 95814. Contact them by phone at (916) 874-6546.

How can I find out about easem*nts on my property?

Easem*nts can be created by maps, by deeds, or by agreements between parties. An easem*nt may be referenced in the legal descriptions of a recorded deed. Documents creating easem*nts may be recorded separately from or after the original deed is recorded. Often the easiest way to locate an easem*nt is by obtaining a preliminary title report from a title company. Easem*nt information is not maintained on the assessor’s parcel maps. For public easem*nt information, contact thePlanning Departmentof the jurisdictionwhere the property is located.

Is my property located in a town/city or in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County?

The jurisdiction of your property can be verified using theAssessor’s Parcel Viewer.

Please note that the United States Post Office may designate or associate your property with the city responsible for mail delivery which may be a different jurisdiction than the jurisdiction where the property is located.

For example, your property is located in the unincorporated area of the County of Sacramento. However, the post office assigned to process the mail for your property is located nearby but in the City of Elk Grove. As a result, the property address is “Elk Grove” but the jurisdiction that governs the property is the County of Sacramento.

I want to subdivide or split my property. What do I need to do?

For questions regarding subdividing your property, contact thePlanning Department of the jurisdictionswhere your property is located.

Why does my assessed acreage not match my deed or recorded map?

The "assessed acreage" may be different than "recorded acreage" or "fee title" acreage from a deed because we only assess useable acreage. For example: if you own "fee title" to the middle of a public road that crosses your parcel, we assess the parcel acreage minus the road right-of-way.

What is the zoning of my property?

The Sacramento County Assessor does not maintain updated zoning information. For accurate zoning information, contact thePlanning Departmentof the jurisdictionwhere your property is located.

I want to sell off a portion of my property, and the lender is requiring a new parcel number on the portion to be sold. Will the Assessor comply with this request?

No, assessor's parcels maps are for assessment purposes only. The fact that an outside entity such as a lender or title company has its own requirements does not necessitate an action by the assessor. Upon recordation or close of escrow, the assessor will be required by law to assign new parcel number(s) to the newly created parcels caused by the selling of the portion of the property.

I have two or more assessor parcel numbers that I want to combine into a single assessor parcel number so I will only receive one annual property tax bill. Is this possible?

You may be eligible for an assessor parcel combination to combine your multiple parcels into a single parcel for assessment purposes. Please note that application for an Assessor Parcel Combination does not result in the immediate issuance of a new single assessor parcel number (APN).

Combining two or more properties together is possible if certain requirements are met. A parcel combination is two or more assessor parcels combined into one assessor’s parcel resulting in a single annual property tax bill. This action does not imply legal lot status nor does it constitute legal lot approval by any planning/building authority. If you have any questions regarding legal lots, you should contact the appropriatePlanning Department of the jurisdictionwhere the property is located.

To combine assessor parcels,allof the following conditions must be met:

Only the property owner or legally authorized agent can request to have a parcel combined for property tax purposes.
Taxes are current on all parcels; no delinquent taxes are due.
The recorded ownership of all parcelsmustbe exactly the same.
All parcelsmustbe in the same Tax Rate Area (TRA); unless the size of the parcel to be combined or moved across existing TRA boundaries is less than 45,000 square feet or less than $50,000 in value (R&T Code 606 (b) (c)).
All parcelsmustbe contiguous (directly adjoining each other and not separated by a roadway).
Parcels are not subject to a Williamson Act land conservation agreement.
Requests must be received by May 1 to ensure timely processing for the next property tax year.

AnAssessor's Parcel Combination Request formmust be submitted.Send completed forms by email toASR-Mapping@saccounty.netor mail to 3636 American River Dr, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95864-5952, Attention: Mapping Section.Contact the Mapping Section at (916) 875-0700 orASR-Mapping@saccounty.netif you have questions about theParcel Combination Request process.Please note that the Assessor does not process changes toParcel Maps inMay or June.

My assessor parcel number was changed. When does the parcel number change become effective?

Parcel number changes become effective in the tax roll year following the tax roll year in which they are completed. For example, a parcel number change completed in July 2016 (during the 2016-2017 tax roll year) will be effective for the 2017-2018 tax roll year and the annual property tax bill that will be mailed in October 2017.

I did not request a new assessor parcel number. Why was my assessor parcel number changed?

The Sacramento County Assessor is constantly performing parcel map maintenance. Sometimes it is necessary to administratively change your assessor parcel number (APN) due to map page layout and computer system limitations. Other reasons for changes include land divisions, lot line adjustments, mergers, parcel combinations, and tax rate code changes.

I checked my property in parcel viewer. Why are the boundaries displaced by 10 feet?

The assessor parcel maps are used by the County GIS staff to assist in the maintenance of the County GIS map. The County GIS map is the visual interactive tool used to display County map and parcel information, including parcel lines, on theAssessor Parcel Viewer.

The assessor parcel maps are based on recorded documents and therefore may not match exactly what is seen or measured in person and overlays on aerial photographs used to create the County GIS map may not reflect actual parcel boundaries. Some differences can be attributed to the curvature of the land area.

Changes to assessor maps are not simultaneously displayed on County GIS map and there can be a delay of up to 4 weeks for assessor map changes to be visible on the County GIS map.

How do I obtain Sacramento County GIS information?

The Sacramento County Assessor does not manage the GIS System in Sacramento County. You can access the GIS data via theSacramento County GIS website.