Step by step: find a property owner for free
- Identify the county. Search "[address] county" or use the county shown on a map. Owner records are kept by the county (in some states, the township or town).
- Search the assessor. Go to the county assessor's (or appraisal district's, or property appraiser's) website and search by address. The record shows owner name(s), mailing address, parcel number, values and building details.
- Check the GIS parcel viewer. Many counties publish a map where clicking a parcel shows the owner.
- Pull the deed if needed. The recorder, county clerk or register of deeds indexes deeds by owner name and parcel number. Many have online search; copies may cost a small fee.
- Trace business owners. For an LLC or corporation, search the state secretary of state's business database for the registered agent and principal office.
What the assessor office is called in your state
| State examples | Office that holds owner records |
|---|---|
| Most states | County assessor |
| Texas | County appraisal district (CAD) |
| Florida | County property appraiser |
| Georgia, others | County tax assessor or board of assessors |
| New England, New York, New Jersey | Town or municipal assessor |
Why can't I find the owner's name?
- Some states let protected groups (for example law enforcement officers, judges or domestic-violence survivors) keep their name off public property search.
- The owner may be a trust, LLC or nominee rather than a person.
- Very recent sales may not be on the roll until the next update.
How do I look up property owners in bulk?
Checking county websites one address at a time does not scale. A property data API normalizes owner records across counties. With Parceled, `search_parcels` returns the owner and mailing address for a coordinate (1 credit), and `search_properties` filters a county, ZIP or map area by owner name or by likely renter-occupied homes. See property owner lookup API.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to look up who owns a house?
Yes. Property ownership records are public in every US state. How you use contact information is regulated separately (for example telemarketing and anti-harassment laws).
Can I find the owner's phone number from the address?
Not from county records; assessors publish names and mailing addresses, not phone numbers. Phone and email come from commercial contact data providers.