An assessor’s parcel number, or APN, is a unique identifier assigned to a parcel by the local assessor for property assessment and tax purposes. You can usually find it by searching your county assessor’s website, checking your property tax bill or reviewing property records.
The terminology varies by location. Your county may call it an APN, assessor’s identification number, property identification number, parcel ID or another similar term, but the purpose is largely the same: helping local government identify a specific parcel.
Key Takeaways
- The fastest way to find an APN is often an address search on your county assessor’s website.
- Property tax bills commonly display the parcel number alongside other identifying information about the property.
- Parcel-number formats vary by county, so there is no single APN format used nationwide.
- An APN can help you locate tax, assessment, sale-history and other public records tied to a property.
- An assessor’s parcel number is not the same thing as the property’s legal description.
What Is an APN in Real Estate?
An assessor’s parcel number is an identification number or code assigned to a parcel of property by the local assessor.
Assessors use parcel numbers to organize property records and connect individual parcels with information used for assessment and taxation.
Depending on the jurisdiction, searching an APN may help you locate information such as:
- Property tax assessments
- Ownership information
- Lot size and basic property characteristics
- Assessor parcel maps
- Previous assessments
- Sale or transfer information
The exact records available vary by county. If you want to research beyond the assessor’s database, our guide to public property records explains which local offices typically maintain deeds, permits, liens and other information.
How Do I Find My Property’s APN?
You don’t usually need special access to find a parcel number. Try these five methods, starting with the county assessor.
1. Search Your County Assessor’s Website
For many properties, this is the easiest method.
Search online for the assessor’s office in the county where the property is located. Many offices provide a public property-search tool that lets you search by street address or owner name.
The property page may display the parcel number along with assessment, tax and property information.
The terminology can differ. Look for phrases such as:
- Assessor’s parcel number or APN
- Parcel ID
- Property ID
- Assessor’s identification number or AIN
- Property index number or PIN
If the county does not provide an online search, contact the assessor’s office directly. Staff can usually tell you how to locate the appropriate parcel record.
2. Check the APN Format Used by Your County
Parcel numbers often contain several sets of numbers or letters, but the format is not standardized nationwide.
Some counties organize APNs around assessor map books, pages and individual parcels. Others use different numbering systems or include letters when parcels have been divided.
That means a number such as 123-456-789 may be perfectly normal in one county while another jurisdiction uses a completely different format.
If you’re unsure whether you’ve found the right number, compare it with the format shown on the county assessor’s own website or parcel map.
3. Look at Your Property Tax Bill
If you own the property, your property tax bill is often the fastest place to look.
The parcel number is commonly printed near the property address, owner information or assessed value.
If your mortgage servicer pays property taxes from an escrow account and you do not have a paper bill handy, you may still be able to retrieve the tax record from your county’s website.
Keep in mind that a tax-bill number and a parcel number are not always the same thing. Look specifically for the APN, parcel ID or equivalent property identifier.
4. Review Your Property Documents
Your parcel number may also appear in documents associated with your purchase or ownership of the property.
Depending on the jurisdiction and document, you may find it on:
- Your deed
- Your title report
- A mortgage or deed of trust
- An assessor’s parcel map
- Other recorded property documents
The APN can help connect those records to the correct parcel, but it should not be confused with the formal description of the land.
If you need that instead, see how to find a property’s legal description.
5. Ask Your Real Estate Agent or Closing Professional
If you’re buying rather than researching a property you already own, your real estate agent may be able to pull the parcel number from listing or property data.
A title company, attorney or other professional handling the transaction may also have documents identifying the parcel.
This can be useful when an address search returns multiple parcels or when the property involves vacant land, multiple lots or a newly created parcel.
Can You Find an APN From an Address?
Usually. Many assessor websites let you enter a street address and return the parcel record associated with it.
But an address and a parcel do not always have a one-to-one relationship.
One property transaction can include multiple parcels, while vacant land may not have a conventional street address at all. New subdivisions can also experience delays before updated parcel information appears across every database.
If an address search gives you an unexpected result, verify the parcel through the assessor’s map, deed or title documents.
Is an APN the Same as a Parcel Number?
Usually, APN is simply one name for the identifier a local assessor uses to track a parcel.
Other names can include:
- Assessor’s identification number
- Parcel identification number
- Property identification number
- Property index number
- Parcel ID
The terminology varies by state and county, so use the language of the local assessor when searching records.
Is an APN the Same as a Legal Description?
No. They can both help identify property, but they serve different purposes.
| Assessor’s parcel number | Legal description | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Identifies a parcel in the assessor’s records | Formally describes the land |
| Assigned or created by | Local assessing authority | Derived from land records, surveys or recorded plats |
| Typical format | Number or alphanumeric code | Lot and block, metes and bounds, government survey or another recognized description |
| Can it change? | Yes, particularly when parcels are divided, combined or reconfigured | The description can change when the legal configuration of the property changes |
An APN is an efficient way to locate a parcel in government databases. The legal description is what formally describes the land itself.
What Can You Look Up With an APN?
Once you have the parcel number, you can often use it to search other property information.
Depending on your county, an APN may help you find:
- Current assessed value
- Property tax information
- Owner information
- Parcel maps
- Lot size
- Past assessments
- Recorded property documents
- Previous sales or transfers
This can make the APN particularly useful when researching a home you’re considering buying.
For example, you can use public records to compare the property’s current listing with government information or investigate its prior transaction history. Our guide to finding the sale history of a home explains how to take that research further.
Can an APN Tell You Where the Property Lines Are?
Not by itself.
The APN identifies the parcel in the assessor’s records, and an assessor’s parcel map may show the parcel’s general configuration and recorded dimensions.
That does not mean the APN or assessor’s map should be treated as a property-line survey.
If the precise location of a boundary matters because you’re installing a fence, building an addition or dealing with a dispute, a professional survey may be appropriate.
Can an APN Change?
Yes. A parcel number may change when the underlying parcel changes.
For example, a new APN may be created when land is:
- Subdivided into multiple parcels
- Combined with another parcel
- Adjusted through a boundary change
That is one reason older deeds and property records may show a parcel number that differs from the current assessor’s database.
If you’re researching historical information, search both the current property and earlier records rather than assuming the present APN has always been used.
Bottom Line
The easiest way to find an assessor’s parcel number is usually to search the county assessor’s website by property address. If that doesn’t work, check the property tax bill, deed or title documents, or ask a real estate or closing professional.
Just remember that parcel numbering systems vary by jurisdiction. The APN is a useful key for finding property records, but it is not a substitute for the legal description or a professional survey when the precise identity or boundaries of the land matter.
FAQ
What does APN stand for?
APN usually stands for assessor’s parcel number. It is an identifier assigned to a parcel by a local assessor for assessment and property-tax purposes.
Where is the APN on a property tax bill?
The location varies, but the parcel number is commonly printed near the property address, assessed value or owner information. It may also be labeled parcel ID, property ID, AIN or another local term.
Can I look up an APN for free?
Often. Many county assessor websites provide free property searches by address, owner name or parcel number.
Is an APN the same as a tax ID number?
Sometimes the terms are used for the same property identifier, but terminology varies by jurisdiction. Check the local assessor’s definitions if you’re unsure which number a form or agency is requesting.
Does every property have an APN?
Taxing jurisdictions generally assign parcel identifiers to the properties they assess, but newly created or reconfigured parcels can take time to appear in updated records.
Can I find the owner of a property using an APN?
Often. Many assessor databases allow parcel-number searches that return publicly available ownership and assessment information, although the information displayed varies by jurisdiction.
Does an APN show property boundaries?
The APN itself does not. It may lead you to an assessor’s parcel map showing the parcel’s general configuration, but assessor maps should not automatically be treated as surveys establishing precise boundary locations.
