The assessor's parcel number is a multi-section number, separated by dashes, that the county assessor’s office or tax department assigns to real estate. This number, along with the location of the property, is recorded on the county’s parcel maps, which help with property lines, titles, deeds and tax assessments. Assessor's parcel numbers contain three to four sets of numbers. The first is the book number of the map. The second is the page number in the book. The third set of numbers is the parcel number. Lots that are divided into condominiums, apartments or duplexes usually have a fourth set of numbers to denote the individual units.
Step 1
Check your property tax bill. The assessor's parcel number is usually located near your name and address at the top of the page. It may also appear on the payment voucher or tear-off portion of the bill that you return with your payment. It is often denoted as the assessor's parcel number, the APN or, simply, the parcel number.
Step 2
Review your Deed of Trust and other paperwork from the purchase of your home. The APN is located on the deed, as well as the appraisal and title reports. Once again, it will be listed as the assessor's parcel number, the APN or the parcel number.
Step 3
Go to your county’s assessor’s office website. Many counties provide online property search tools, which may be referred to as "Real Estate Property Search," “Parcel Maps,” “Parcel Search,” “Property Tax Information” or something similar. These sites allow you to search for information about real estate property using criteria such as the name of the owner, the address of the property, and, in some cases, the property’s state-assigned tax ID number. Enter your name, address or tax ID number, as applicable, into the search box to access information about your property, including the APN. You can also go to the assessor’s office or property tax department during regular business hours to look at the parcel map information in-person. Call before you go, because some assessor’s offices require an appointment to view parcel maps.
Step 4
Contact a real estate professional, such as a realtor or agency, to request help with finding the APN. Real estate professionals have access to property databases and can often find information about a property more quickly than a layman. Get in touch with the realtor who assisted you with your home purchase first, as he may still have documentation that contains your assessor's parcel number.
References
Writer Bio
Lauren Treadwell studied finance at Western Governors University and is an associate of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Treadwell provides content to a number of prominent organizations, including Wise Bread, FindLaw and Discover Financial. As a high school student, she offered financial literacy lessons to fellow students.