An approved tentative map does not, by itself, show a recorded land division. LA County Planning’s application list places tentative maps in the subdivision process for creating lots or units, then sends final-map recordation inquiries to Public Works or EPIC-LA. For a particular project, carry the tract or parcel map number and any phase from the approval file into the final-map and recorded-copy trail.
Keep the map identity through final review
The County’s final-map submittal checklist asks for the tract or parcel map number, phase if applicable, site address, and Assessor Parcel Numbers (APNs) of existing lots in that final-map area. It also asks for a full-size final map stamped by Public Works.
Treat the existing APNs as input identifiers, not evidence of newly recorded parcels. Keep the approval letter and map sheets together so a later file can be compared against the original phase and boundary.
Separate Planning’s holds from the final-map outcome
Planning may issue a hold or missing-information letter. Clearing its holds leads to a recommendation to Public Works, the lead for final-map clearance. Other departments may retain holds.
Keep a three-part follow-up card for the project:
- Map identity: Write the number, phase and existing APNs once; flag any mismatch between copies.
- Review trail: Log the issuing department, date and hold or clearance. Ask that office about unanswered items.
- Recorded-copy trail: Save any recording reference and copy. If none is located, record the office, search terms and date of the attempt.
A Planning recommendation establishes that Planning cleared its own holds; it does not establish that every department cleared the map or that the map was recorded.
Download the recorded tract or parcel map from Public Works
Public Works’ Land Records site is the fastest route to the recorded map itself. Its tract map page searches by tract number (for example 38680 or a phased number such as 70974-01) or by map book and page; the PDF names follow the book and page, so TR 1268-011 is Map Book 1268, page 11. The parcel map page works the same way. Multi-page parcel maps are listed by their first page, and a map with a Certificate of Correction is included in the same file.
If you only have a location, the Land Records Viewer maps tract, parcel, tentative tract and tentative parcel maps, records of survey and corner records. You can filter by jurisdiction, including Unincorporated, and by date. A tentative map in that viewer is not a recorded one, so match the final map’s book and page before treating the division as complete. To see an original map, Public Works points to the Registrar-Recorder. Public Works’ own Survey public counter is at 900 S. Fremont Ave., Alhambra, fourth floor, Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Find the recorded copy as a separate record
GIS-NET Public documents an AIN, address or intersection search and tract/parcel-map layers for unincorporated LA County. Use it to gather a candidate map reference when the site is in its coverage area. A map-layer hit is a lead, not the recorded copy.
The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk maintains filed real estate records and offers copy requests in person, online, by fax or by mail. Its viewing instructions describe in-person, name-and-recording-year indexes rather than an online Recorder index. For older files, those instructions place 1851–1957 records on the lower level and 1958–present records on the second floor at Norwalk. Its record-identification guidance expressly says RR/CC does not maintain real estate records by address or APN; it names document number or names, recording year and title as identification details. Keep the map number and phase for the subdivision inquiry with Public Works, then ask which recording reference and copy route apply.
If no matching recorded copy is located, retain the map and phase, any document number or names, the likely recording year, and where and when you searched. Ask Public Works to reconcile the subdivision map with a recording reference, and ask RR/CC how to locate or request the corresponding filed copy. An absent online copy or map-layer result does not establish that no record exists, that work was illegal, or that a property is safe. Even a recorded final map does not prove a building permit was issued, an inspection passed, or occupancy was approved. For the separate question of an older building permit, the old building-permit lookup guide explains how to log searches and seek older permit files; that permit path is not a subdivision-map copy route.
In a wholly fictional example, suppose a file contains a tentative approval for a two-phase tract and a later letter clearing Planning’s holds for Phase 1. Preserve both records under the same tract number, then seek the Phase 1 final map and its recording reference. Do not describe Phase 2 as recorded or infer successor APNs from the tentative approval. If the property may lie inside an incorporated city, establish the responsible planning jurisdiction before applying an unincorporated-county GIS route; the city-versus-county records guide explains that general jurisdiction check for a separate permit search.
For a house inside one of the county’s cities, the city holds the building permits. In Monrovia, start with Monrovia building permit history, which covers the 1911–1947 Permit Book and OnBase.
LA County Planning, Public Works Land Records and Registrar-Recorder pages checked October 20, 2026.