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Do Santa Barbara County Tax Assessor’s Records Tell You If an Improvement to a Home is Permitted?

The answer is no.  The Assessor’s records tell you only what the county assessor has discovered (through its many methods) about a property, it does not tell you if improvements have been permitted.  Just this past week, I investigated two properties in Lompoc for a client.  I always recommend that clients perform such an investigation.  Both properties had garage conversions.  In one of these cases, I investigated because the listing agent asserted that a garage conversion was permitted.  It was a foreclosed home and it did have covered parking in the rear.  Usually, the city will require covered parking in order to allow a garage conversion.  And, in both cases the county records included the square footage of the garage conversions.  However, when I went down and checked with the City of Lompoc, neither home had permits for a garage conversion.  It is important for home buyers to understand that they should check out permitting issues themselves, and that they should check the permit history, and not just rely on the Santa Barbara County Tax Assessor’s records when determining the permit status of improvements to a home.

Tni LeBlanc, Broker
Mint Properties

  • This blog article does not offer legal advice.  The information provided is for informational purposes only.  Readers are advised to consult with an attorney regarding permit issues.

Copyright © Tni LeBlanc 2010 *Do Santa Barbara County Tax Assessor’s Records Tell You If an Improvement to a Home is Permitted?*

Santa Maria Real Estate Blog

In July 2006, Mint Properties opened an office in the Mission Creek Plaza on Santa Maria Way. Tni’s stated aim is to offer the highest quality representation and professional service to her clients. Independence affords her the ability to avoid a volume driven approach; the result is prompt, reliable, individualized service coupled with straightforward advice. Indeed, she brings the same level of professionalism to real estate as she did to the law.

#1 Agent in Number of Residential Sales Transactions (2016)
in Santa Maria (per CCRMLS)

$125 Million in Career Sales

REALTOR® of the Year (2014)
(voted by Santa Maria Association of REALTORS®)



Tni LeBlanc, REALTOR®, J.D.
Mint Properties
(805) 878-9879 (mobile/text)
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