Los Angeles County services are split among County departments, the Superior Court, incorporated cities, and other public agencies. The sections below show where to start for common requests and explain several responsibilities that are easy to confuse.
Not every service connected with Los Angeles County is handled by County government. Cities provide many local services inside their boundaries, courts operate separately from County departments, and offices that deal with the same subject can have very different responsibilities.
Independent website: This website is not operated by or affiliated with Los Angeles County, the Superior Court of California, the State of California, or any federal agency. This site does not accept government payments, issue official records, process applications, determine eligibility, or make decisions involving taxes, court cases, benefits, licenses, or public services.
Where to Start
Start with what you need to do. These common requests show which office or system to use, what information to have ready, and what to know before continuing.
| Task | Where to start | What to have ready | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check an assessed property value | Los Angeles County Assessor | Property address or Assessor Identification Number (AIN) | The Assessor determines assessed values and maintains assessment information. It does not collect property tax payments. |
| Look up parcel or assessment information | Property Search | Street address or AIN | Property search records can help identify a parcel and show assessment information, but they are separate from the property tax bill. |
| View or pay a property tax bill | Property Tax | AIN or identifying information from the tax bill | Property tax billing and collection are handled separately from the Assessor’s valuation work. |
| Question a tax payment or delinquent bill | Treasurer and Tax Collector | AIN, bill number, tax year, or payment information | Use this office for billing, collection, payment history, delinquent property taxes, and other tax collection questions. |
| Find a court case | Court Case Search | Case number or full name of a party or defendant | Court case information is maintained by the Los Angeles Superior Court, not by a Los Angeles County administrative department. |
| Find someone in County custody | Inmate Search | Full legal name and booking number, if known | The Sheriff’s Department maintains custody information for people held in the Los Angeles County jail system. |
| Request a Los Angeles County birth record | Birth Certificate | Full name, date of birth, and place of birth | Identification and eligibility rules can differ depending on whether you need an authorized or informational copy. |
| Apply for a marriage license | Marriage License | Required identification and information for both parties | Applying for a marriage license is different from requesting a copy of an existing marriage record. |
| Apply for food, cash, or health assistance | Public Social Services | Program needed and relevant household information | Documents, interviews, renewal rules, and eligibility requirements depend on the program. |
County, City, or Another Agency?
Los Angeles County includes 88 incorporated cities as well as unincorporated communities. Living within Los Angeles County does not mean every local service is provided by County government.
County departments handle some services across the county and also provide many city-type services in unincorporated areas. Incorporated cities may run their own police, planning, building, public works, animal services, libraries, and other local programs.
City of Los Angeles vs. Los Angeles County
The City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County are separate local governments. The City of Los Angeles is one of the incorporated cities within Los Angeles County and has its own departments for many municipal services.
Los Angeles County departments handle county-level services and provide many municipal services in unincorporated communities. An address that uses “Los Angeles” as the mailing city does not by itself tell you whether a service is handled by the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, or another agency.
Check the Jurisdiction of an Address
A mailing city or ZIP Code does not always show which local government serves a property. This matters in Los Angeles County because some unincorporated communities use mailing addresses associated with nearby cities.
For location-based services, use the LA County Jurisdiction Lookup to check whether a property is inside an incorporated city or an unincorporated County area. Use the exact street address or parcel information when available.
See also Los Angeles County Cities and Los Angeles County ZIP Codes. City names and ZIP Codes are useful for finding an area, but they do not always show which government agency serves a specific property.
Public Health in Long Beach and Pasadena
Los Angeles County Public Health serves most of the county, but Long Beach and Pasadena operate their own public health departments. Residents in those cities may need to use the city health department for certain services instead of Los Angeles County Public Health.
Animal Services
The Department of Animal Care and Control provides animal care centers, field services, licensing, and other animal-related services in the areas it serves. Not every incorporated city in Los Angeles County uses the County department for animal services.
Before reporting an animal issue or visiting a shelter, check which animal services agency serves the address where the issue occurred.
Public Works and Local Infrastructure
Los Angeles County Public Works handles roads, flood-control systems, building services, water and sewer infrastructure, and other public works functions in areas under County authority. Incorporated cities may have their own public works and building departments.
A road, drainage, building, or infrastructure question may therefore belong to Los Angeles County, an incorporated city, the State of California, or another public agency.
Similar Offices, Different Responsibilities
Several Los Angeles County offices work in the same general subject area but handle different parts of the process. Knowing the difference can save time when searching records, asking about a bill, or contacting an office.
Property Value vs. Property Tax
The Assessor and the Treasurer and Tax Collector both deal with property, but they do different jobs.
The Assessor handles assessed value, parcel characteristics, ownership information appearing in assessment records, and Assessor Identification Numbers. The Treasurer and Tax Collector handles property tax bills, payments, payment history, delinquent taxes, and other collection matters.
County Records vs. Court Records
Los Angeles County departments maintain records related to their own work, but court case information belongs to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, which operates separately from County administrative departments.
For a civil, criminal, family law, probate, or small claims case, start with Court Case Search. Search options, fees, online availability, and document access vary by case type.
County Sheriff vs. Local Police
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department operates County jail facilities, patrols unincorporated areas, and provides law enforcement services to cities that contract with the department.
Other incorporated cities have their own police departments. An incident somewhere in Los Angeles County does not automatically mean the Sheriff’s Department is the correct agency for a police report or local law enforcement request.
To locate someone held in the County jail system, start with Inmate Search. For a local incident or report, first check the city or unincorporated community where it happened.
Before You Search
A case number, AIN, full legal name, or exact address can save time when searching government records. The best identifier depends on what you are looking for.
Court Cases
If you know the case number, use it before trying a name search. A case number is more precise and helps avoid confusion when several people or businesses have similar names.
If you do not know the case number, try to have:
- The full legal name of a party or criminal defendant
- The approximate year the case was filed
- The case type, such as civil, criminal, family law, probate, or small claims
- The courthouse or filing location, if known
Use Court Case Search when you are trying to locate a specific case. Use Superior Court for broader information about filing, case types, court services, and courthouse functions.
Property Records
Property searches usually begin with a street address or Assessor Identification Number. An AIN is especially useful because it identifies the parcel in the County assessment system.
Use Property Search for parcel information, the Assessor for assessed value questions, and Property Tax or the Treasurer and Tax Collector when the issue involves a tax bill, payment, or collection matter.
Birth Records and Marriage Services
The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk handles several major records and County Clerk services. The process depends on the type of record or service you need.
Birth Record Requests
A birth record request generally requires the person’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth. The County distinguishes between authorized certified copies and informational certified copies, and identification or authorization requirements can differ.
An informational copy is not the same as a certified copy that can be used to establish identity. Check Birth Certificate before ordering so you know which type of copy fits your purpose.
Marriage License or Marriage Record?
A marriage license is obtained before a marriage takes place. A marriage record request is for an existing recorded marriage. They are separate services even though both are handled through the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
If you are preparing to marry, start with Marriage License. If you need an existing record, check the record-request information on the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk page.
Public Benefits and Assistance
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services handles major assistance programs involving food, cash assistance, health coverage, and other support for qualifying households.
Online applications and account management for several programs are available through California’s BenefitsCal system. Requirements vary by program and household circumstances, so it helps to know which benefit you need before gathering documents.
You may need household information, income records, identity documents, housing expenses, or other documents requested for the program. Not every applicant needs the same paperwork.
Not Sure Where to Start?
If you know what kind of help you need but are not sure which County department handles it, browse the Los Angeles County Departments directory for department responsibilities and contact information. The official resources below can also help you find a service by type or location.
LA County Services Locator
Use the LA County Services Locator to search by service type and location. It can help you find County services, facilities, libraries, parks, consumer services, veterans services, and other resources near an address, city, or ZIP Code.
County Operator
For general information about Los Angeles County departments and services, call the County Operator at (213) 974-1234. Operator assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Quick Contact Guide
These general public contacts can help when an online service does not answer your question. Before calling, have any relevant parcel number, case information, record details, tax information, or program information ready.
| Office | Use this contact for | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County Assessor | Assessment records, assessed value, parcel questions, and AIN information | (213) 974-3211 |
| Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk | Birth, death and marriage records, marriage licenses, and County Clerk services | (800) 201-8999 |
| Department of Public Social Services | CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal and other DPSS program questions | (866) 613-3777 |
| Sheriff’s Department | General Sheriff’s Department information and help finding the correct service | (213) 229-1700 |
| Treasurer and Tax Collector | Property tax billing, collection, payments and related tax questions | (213) 974-2111 |
How We Check Information
We compare service information with instructions, forms, search tools, and contact details published by the responsible agencies. We focus on differences that affect where someone needs to start, including jurisdiction, required identifiers, online options, and services handled by offices with similar names. Confirm current requirements with the agency handling your request before applying, paying, or making a time-sensitive decision.
City names and ZIP Codes can help locate an area, but they do not always show which local government serves a specific address.