How to find out who owns a piece of land
Land ownership in the US is public record. Here is the fastest way to find an owner, and how to confirm it.
1. Tap the parcel on a map
Open the CLILU parcel map, zoom to the land and tap it. The panel shows the owner of record, the owner's mailing address, acreage, assessed value and, where the county publishes it, the last sale. If you are standing on the property, CLILU Pro's "Track my parcel" uses your phone's GPS to show the parcel you are on.
2. Search by address or owner name
The search box finds parcels by street address, owner name or parcel ID across every county CLILU covers. Searching an owner's name lists the other parcels they own.
3. Confirm with the county
For anything that matters, check the county assessor (or appraisal district) for the current tax record and the county clerk or recorder for the deed. The deed shows the legal owner and how title is held; the tax record can lag behind a recent sale.
4. When the owner is an LLC or trust
Search the company name with the Secretary of State where it is registered to find its registered agent. A trust usually names a trustee in the deed.
Contacting an owner
The mailing address in the tax record is where the county sends the tax bill, so a letter there usually reaches the owner. If you are reaching out to many owners, follow anti-spam and telemarketing laws, and respect anyone who asks you to stop.
Privacy
Owners can ask CLILU to withhold their name; see the removal request page. Property data may not be used for credit, insurance, employment or housing decisions.
Common questions
Is property ownership public record?
Yes. In every state, the owner of record for real estate is public, kept by the county (or parish, borough or town) assessor and recorder. Some states let judges, police and other protected people shield their home address.
How can I find a property owner's phone number?
Property records list the owner's name and mailing address, not phone numbers. You can write to the mailing address; phone 'skip tracing' services exist but have legal limits on how the numbers can be used.
Why does the owner name look like a company or trust?
Many properties are held by LLCs, trusts or companies. State business-entity searches (usually at the Secretary of State) list the company's registered agent and sometimes its managers.
How current is the owner shown on a map?
County tax rolls update on their own schedules; CLILU re-checks county records weekly. A very recent sale may not appear until the county records the deed and updates its roll.