Privacy Policy – LA County Assessor

Privacy Policy’s LA county assessor clarify exactly how we handle your data. When you review property appraisal steps in LA County, you share details with our office. Our privacy practices focus on transparent data collection. We gather personal data and visitor data to run our website and serve you better. We automatically collect website usage data, analytics data, and browser details. This collected data helps us fix errors and improve your experience. We value user privacy and take data protection seriously. Our office sets up strong security measures and data safeguards against unauthorized access. We build trust through open data management. You can trust that your privacy rights stay protected every time you visit our portal.

LA county assessor gives you full control over your details. We clarify our data processing methods clearly so you know what happens with your facts. We maintain strict data security to stop data leaks and hacks. You hold the right to set your privacy controls and make your own privacy choices. If you want to limit data sharing, you can easily adjust your settings. You can submit access requests to view, update, or delete your records. Our team responds instantly to these requests to help you. We respect your right to manage your own data. Read on to learn how we collect, use, and shield your data every single day.

Data We Collect

Our office collects data through two main channels: data you provide directly and data gathered automatically through your browser. California law requires us to tell you what we collect and why. The California Consumer Privacy Act gives you the right to know what personal data state agencies hold about you. We follow these rules strictly at every step of our operations.

Data You Give Voluntarily

When you contact the LA County Assessor, you may be asked to provide personal information such as your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address. These details are typically required when filing property tax appeals, requesting assessment reviews, or submitting ownership change forms. Depending on the service, you may also need to provide your parcel number, property address, and ownership information. For example, a Decline in Value application under Proposition 8 requires a property parcel number and supporting comparable sales data. These records are collected and maintained by the LA County Assessor as part of the official assessment process. The specific information required depends on the type of request being submitted.

• Name and contact details for correspondence
• Property parcel numbers for assessment lookups
• Ownership transfer documents for title updates
• Appeal forms with property valuation data
• Exemption claims for homeowner or senior benefits

Automatically Collected Data

When you visit our website at assessor.lacounty.gov, our servers collect certain technical data automatically. This includes your IP address, browser type, device type, and the pages you view. We track how long you stay on each page and which links you click. Google Analytics collects this usage data to help us know how visitors use our portal. For instance, if you search for a property on our Public Portal, we log the search query and the results you view. This data stays anonymous and never connects to your name or identity. As a result, we can improve website performance without compromising your privacy.

How We Use Your Data

We use your collected data for specific, limited purposes that serve the public interest. California Government Code Section 11015.5 governs how state agencies handle electronic data. Our office follows these legal standards at every step. We never use your data for marketing, advertising, or commercial purposes.

For Service Improvements

We analyze usage patterns to make our online tools work better for you. For example, if we notice many visitors search for property tax exemption forms, we move those forms to a more visible location on our homepage. We track error rates on our Public Portal to fix broken links and pages. In 2024, our office processed over 2.3 million property assessment records. Usage data helps us manage this volume efficiently. We identify peak traffic times and allocate server resources accordingly. This means faster page loads during busy periods like tax assessment season.

Communication and Notifications

We use your contact details to send you official notices about your property assessments. This includes annual assessment notices, change of ownership confirmations, and exemption status updates. You may receive emails about filing deadlines for the Decline in Value program or senior citizen exemption renewals. Our office sends these notices by mail as required by California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 408. We never sell your contact details to anyone. We never send marketing emails or promotional content. Our communications relate solely to property assessment matters that affect your tax obligations.

Legal and Compliance Purposes

We retain certain data to comply with state and federal legal requirements. Property assessment records must be kept for a minimum of four years under California law. Ownership transfer documents stay on file permanently as part of the public record. We share data with the LA County Auditor Controller and the LA County Tax Collector to process property tax bills. This data sharing is mandated by California Revenue and Taxation Code. We respond to court orders and lawful subpoenas when required. Our legal team reviews every request before we release any records to outside parties.

Data Protection and Security Measures

Data protection and security measures are an important part of protecting the information collected through this website. We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to help prevent unauthorized access, misuse, alteration, or disclosure of data. Although we work to maintain a secure environment, no website or online transmission can guarantee complete security.

Encryption and Secure Access

All data transmitted between your browser and our servers uses TLS 1.2 or higher encryption. This technology scrambles your data so third parties cannot read it during transmission. Our website uses HTTPS protocol, which you can verify by the padlock icon in your browser address bar. We encrypt stored data at rest using AES-256 encryption standards. This is the same encryption level used by banks and federal agencies. Our IT team tests our encryption protocols quarterly to confirm they meet current standards. For example, in January 2026, we upgraded our certificate authority to DigiCert to maintain the highest security tier.

Internal Access Restrictions

Not every employee can access your data. We use role based access control to limit what each staff member can see. Assessment clerks can view property records but cannot access payment systems. IT administrators manage servers but cannot view assessment details without supervisor approval. Every access attempt gets logged in our audit system. Managers review these logs monthly to detect any unusual activity. Staff members complete mandatory cybersecurity training every year. Anyone who violates our access policies faces disciplinary action up to termination.

Additional Security Practices

Our office follows the California Department of Technology security standards for all systems. We conduct penetration testing twice per year using independent security firms. Firewalls block unauthorized traffic from reaching our internal network. We deploy intrusion detection systems that alert our security team within minutes of any suspicious activity. Our backup systems create daily copies of all records. These backups store in a separate secure facility in Sacramento. If a system failure occurs, we can restore data within 24 hours. Our incident response plan meets the requirements of California Civil Code Section 1798.82, which mandates breach notification timelines.

Opt Out Preferences

You have the option to limit certain types of data collection and communications associated with this website. Depending on how you interact with our services, you may choose to disable cookies through your browser settings, unsubscribe from email communications, or stop providing optional information. These choices may affect the availability or functionality of some website features.

How to Limit the Use of Your Data

You can opt out of website analytics tracking by adjusting your browser settings. Most browsers let you block cookies and tracking scripts. Here are the steps to limit tracking on our website:

1. Open your browser settings menu
2. Find the privacy or security section
3. Block third party cookies
4. Enable “Do Not Track” in your browser
5. Clear existing cookies from assessor.lacounty.gov

You can opt out of email communications by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any notice we send. Our system removes you from the email list within 48 hours. If you prefer not to receive postal mail, you must submit a written request to our office. Note that certain legal notices must be sent by mail as required by California law. We cannot suppress these mandatory mailings. For optional communications like survey requests, we honor your opt out request immediately.

Sharing and Third Party Services

This website may use trusted third party services to support features such as website analytics, hosting, email communication, or embedded content. These providers may process limited information only as needed to deliver their services. We do not sell your personal information, and any data shared with third parties is handled in accordance with applicable privacy practices and service requirements.

When and Why We Share Data

We share data only when required by law or when necessary to deliver public services. The LA County Assessor office shares property assessment data with three primary county departments. The Auditor Controller uses assessment values to calculate tax rates. The Tax Collector uses those calculations to issue property tax bills. The County Clerk records ownership changes and makes them part of the public record. We share data with the California State Board of Equalization for statewide property tax reporting. In some cases, we respond to public records requests under the California Public Records Act. We redact personal details like Social Security numbers before releasing any documents.

Third Party Tools and Services

Our website uses several third party tools to function properly. Google Analytics helps us track website performance metrics. DocuSign processes electronic signatures for certain forms. These vendors must comply with our data protection standards. We sign data processing agreements with every vendor before they touch any data. These contracts require vendors to protect your data using the same standards we follow. Vendors cannot use your data for their own purposes. They cannot sell or share it with other parties. If a vendor fails to meet these terms, we terminate the agreement immediately.

Comparison of Data Access Levels

Different departments and partners have different levels of access to your data. This table shows who can see what:

Your Rights and Data Control Options

You have the right to review, update, or request the deletion of your personal information, subject to applicable laws. Depending on your location, you may also request access to the data we maintain, object to certain processing activities, or withdraw consent where permitted. We will respond to eligible requests within a reasonable timeframe.

Requesting Data Access or Deletion

You can request a copy of all personal data we hold about you. You can ask us to delete certain personal data that is not part of the public record. To submit a request, follow these steps:

1. Call our office at (213) 974-3211 during business hours
2. Submit a written request by mail to 500 W. Temple St., Room 225, Los Angeles, CA 90012
3. Use our online privacy request form at assessor.lacounty.gov/privacy
4. Provide your name, parcel number, and a valid government ID
5. Allow up to 45 days for us to process your request

We verify your identity before releasing any personal data. This step prevents unauthorized persons from accessing your records. If we cannot verify your identity, we deny the request. We provide the requested data in a readable electronic format. For deletion requests, we remove your personal contact details from our active systems. Property assessment records remain on file as required by law. We cannot delete official government records that state law mandates us to keep.

Real Scenario: Filing a Data Access Request in Los Angeles

Maria Rodriguez owns a single family home in Burbank, CA. She wanted to know what personal data the assessor held about her property. On March 3, 2026, she called (213) 974–3211 and spoke with a clerk. The clerk emailed her a blank data request form. Maria filled out the form with her parcel number 2423–015–018, her driver license number, and her mailing address. She mailed the form on March 5, 2026. Our office received it on March 7, 2026. We verified her identity against county ownership records on March 10, 2026. On March 28, 2026, we emailed her a complete data package. It included 14 documents spanning 7 years of assessment history. The package showed her assessed value went from $642,000 in 2019 to $728,000 in 2026. Maria reviewed the records and confirmed everything was correct. She paid zero fees for this request.

Updating Your Personal Details

You can update your mailing address, phone number, or email by contacting our office. Property owners must file an Ownership Change Statement with the County Recorder when property changes hands. You can update your mailing address on our website using the Change of Mailing Address form. This form requires your parcel number, new address, and a signature. We process address changes within 5 business days. If you move and forget to update your address, assessment notices may go to your old address. This can cause you to miss important filing deadlines. We recommend checking your contact details every January before assessment notices go out in July.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements, website features, or data handling practices. Any revisions will be posted on this page with the updated effective date. Continued use of the website after changes are published constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Notification of Updates

When we make material changes to this policy, we post a notice on our homepage at assessor.lacounty.gov. We place a banner at the top of the page for at least 30 days after any significant update. We send email notifications to users who have subscribed to our update list. You can subscribe by visiting our website and entering your email address in the notification signup box. Minor edits like correcting typos or updating phone numbers do not trigger a notification. Material changes include new data collection practices, new third party partnerships, or changes to your privacy rights.

Date of Last Revision

This privacy policy was last revised on July 17, 2026. The previous version was published on January 15, 2025. We review this policy every six months even if no changes are needed. Our legal team checks for new California privacy laws and regulations during each review. The next scheduled review date is January 17, 2027. We maintain an archive of all previous versions of this policy on our website. You can view any past version by visiting assessor.lacounty.gov/privacy/archive.

Property Appraisal Steps in LA County

Knowing how property appraisals work helps you to know what data we collect and why. The appraisal process follows strict legal requirements under California Revenue and Taxation Code. Here are the exact steps our office follows each year:

1. The assessor identifies all taxable property in LA County as of January 1 each year
2. Our appraisers determine the fair market value of each property
3. We apply applicable exemptions like the Homeowners Exemption of $7,000
4. We enroll the assessed value on the annual assessment roll
5. The Auditor-Controller calculates the tax rate and applies it to your assessed value
6. The Tax Collector sends you a property tax bill based on the final calculation

Proposition 13 limits assessed value increases to 2% per year unless a change in ownership or new construction occurs. Proposition 8 permits temporary reductions when market value drops below the assessed value. If you believe your assessment is incorrect, you can file an appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board. The filing period runs from July 2 to November 30 each year. Over 12,000 appeals were filed in LA County in 2024. The average appeal processing time was 9 months from filing to decision.