When Was My House Built? A Los Angeles Homeowner’s Guide to Finding Out

Do you ever wonder, “when was my house built” or “how old is my house?” If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. Many homeowners in Los Angeles – from Echo Park to Pasadena to Inglewood – are curious about what year their house was built. Knowing your home’s construction year (its house age) isn’t just trivia; it can be incredibly useful. In this guide, we’ll show you how to find out when a house was built (often for free!), using Los Angeles-specific resources and tips. We’ll also explain why this information matters and what to do once you’ve uncovered it. Let’s dive in!

Tricia Watts, the owner of MaxNet Homes, often meets homeowners who ask: “how can I find out when my house was built for free?” She emphasizes that understanding your home’s age helps you make informed decisions, especially if you’re considering selling or renovating. In the next sections, we’ll cover how to find out what year your house was built using various methods – many of which are free and easy for Los Angeles residents.

How to Find Out When Your Los Angeles House Was Built (Free Methods)

If you’re wondering “how do I find out what year my house was built?”, you’ll be happy to know there are several resources you can use at no cost. From online databases to old-fashioned sleuthing, here’s how to find out when a house was built in Los Angeles:

1. Check Los Angeles County Assessor Records: The LA County Assessor’s Office keeps public records on properties, including the year built. You can use the Los Angeles County Assessor Portal (online property search by address) to find details about your home. Just enter your address or Assessor’s ID Number (AIN) if you have it. The report typically includes the year built along with other info like square footage and lot size. This is a quick way to find out how old your house is by address for free. (Tip: This works for most LA County properties, whether you’re in Los Angeles city or a surrounding community like Pasadena.)
2. Use ZIMAS for City of Los Angeles Properties: If your home is within Los Angeles city limits, you have a fantastic tool at your disposal: ZIMAS (Zone Information & Map Access System). ZIMAS is a free online map that provides zoning and property data. Enter your address, and you’ll get a profile of your property. Look for the construction details – ZIMAS will list the original building permit info, including the year your house was built (original construction date). It may even show you permit dates and possibly the names of the architect or builder. This is an excellent way to find out what year a house was built if you live in neighborhoods like Hollywood, Echo Park, or anywhere in LA City. And yes, ZIMAS is completely free to use, so it’s a perfect answer to “how can I find out when my house was built for free?”.
3. Search Building Permits and Certificates (LADBS): Another Los Angeles-specific resource is the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) online records system. LADBS has building permits going back to 1905 and Certificates of Occupancy (which often show when a building was first approved for use) going back to 1940. By searching these records for your address, you can pinpoint when your house was constructed. For example, if you find the original building permit for your home in the LADBS database, it will tell you when that permit was issued (essentially when the house was built). This method can take a bit more effort (and you may need to create a free login or submit a request), but it’s a reliable way to find out the year a house was built and even get copies of original documents. Imagine seeing the handwriting of a 1920s clerk who signed off on your home’s construction!
4. Contact Your City’s Building Department (for Other LA County Cities): Not everyone lives in the City of LA. If you’re in a city like Pasadena, Inglewood, Long Beach, or Santa Monica, those cities have their own building departments and records. You can call or visit the city’s building and safety department and ask “how do I find out when my house was built” in their city. Many cities have online permit searches or will help you find the info if you provide an address. For instance, Pasadena has a Permit Center that might have historic permit records for your property. These local offices can help you find out when your house was built or even provide a copy of the original certificate of occupancy. The best part? Simply asking for this info is usually free – it might just take a little time or paperwork.
5. Look Up Your Address on Real Estate Websites: If you need a quick answer and aren’t diving into official records yet, try plugging your address into real estate listing sites like Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.com. When you view the profile of a home (even if it’s not for sale), these sites often list the “Year Built” as part of the property details. This can be a fast way to answer “how old is my house” with just a few clicks. Keep in mind, these sites get their data from public records (like the assessor), so it should be accurate. However, if something looks off, double-check with official sources. Still, as a free way to find out when a house was built, online listings are handy. (For example, you might confirm that your Inglewood bungalow was built in 1948 just by checking Zillow.)
6. Scan Your Home Purchase Documents: Think back to when you bought the house (if you did). Often, the appraisal report or the inspection report from the purchase will mention the home’s age or year built. Even the listing sheet from when the home was on the market likely had the year built. If you have a folder of closing documents, skim through to see if the construction year is noted anywhere. This isn’t a public method, but it’s how to find out what year your house was built using paperwork you may already have. And of course, it’s free because you likely have those files on hand.
7. Physical Clues and House Features: Sometimes the house itself can tell you its age. While this method isn’t as precise as an official record, it’s worth mentioning. Check your attic, basement, or crawl space for any date stamps or inscriptions. Builders sometimes scribble dates on the framing or backside of drywall. Look at the cornerstone or foundation for a year (some older homes or buildings have the year built engraved on a cornerstone or plaque). Also, consider the architectural style: a mid-century modern style suggests a 1950s-1960s build, while an Art Deco apartment building in Koreatown might scream 1920s or 1930s. Even your neighborhood’s development history can provide a clue. (For example, many tract homes in the San Fernando Valley were built in the post-WWII boom of the 1950s. If you live there, that might answer “how to tell how old your house is” within a decade or so). While these clues aren’t exact, they can help you narrow down the era if official records are hard to find.
8. Dig Deeper: Historical Records and Archives: If you have an old house and want its history by address, Los Angeles has great archives to explore. The Los Angeles Public Library has a research guide for house history – they suggest resources like city directories, historic maps, and the County Recorder’s office. For a true history buff, you can trace the history of your house by address by finding previous owners (through grant deeds at the LA County Registrar-Recorder) or looking up old newspaper mentions of your address. This is beyond just finding when the house was built, but it can uncover who built it, lived there, and how the neighborhood evolved. It might be a project, but it’s rewarding if you love history. And as a bonus, if your home turns out to be historically significant (say, it’s a 1912 Craftsman designed by a notable architect), you might even explore having it designated as a historic landmark.

Common Questions from Los Angeles Homeowners

You might still have some questions, so let’s address a few common ones. Homeowners often phrase the question of house age in different ways. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers:

• How do I find out what year my house was built? – Use any of the free resources mentioned above, like the LA County Assessor’s search or ZIMAS. Simply input your address and look for the “Year Built” field. In most cases, you’ll get an exact year your house was constructed. If those don’t work, check your city’s building department or real estate listing sites for clues.
• How can I find out when my house was built (for free)? – The good news is you usually don’t have to pay for this information. Government records are open to the public. Start with the assessor’s online portal or ZIMAS (for Los Angeles city homes). These will give you solid information at no cost. For a completely free approach, even asking neighbors or long-time residents on your block can sometimes yield insight – someone might remember when the street was developed. In short, there are plenty of ways to find out when your house was built without spending money.
• How do I find out how old my house is by address? – The key here is “by address.” Almost all modern methods revolve around your property address. Enter your address into the tools we discussed (Assessor site, ZIMAS, etc.), and the databases will fetch records tied to that location. If you’re looking for a free address-based house age lookup, that’s essentially what the assessor and city tools provide. Even typing your address into Google with a query like “what year was my home built” or “find out when a house was built [your address]” can surface quick results from real estate sites. Just be sure the source is reliable or cross-verify with official records.
• What if I can’t find any records about my house? – Occasionally, especially for very old properties (say, an old ranch house in a rural part of LA County or a building from the 1800s), you might not find data online. Don’t be discouraged. If online searches fail, you can visit the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office. They maintain historical property records (like deeds going back to the 1850s!). While those documents list ownership and transfers rather than explicitly stating “built in 1885,” they can give clues (like the first time the property was sold after a structure was built). Also, check if your area has a local historical society. Sometimes they have archives on old homes, especially if your house is in a historic district or has architectural significance. This is the deeper research route, but it rarely fails to eventually uncover when a house was built.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Make the Most of Your Home’s Story? MaxNet Homes Can Help

Knowing how old your home is can inspire you to take the next steps, whether it’s renovating that 1920s kitchen, bragging about your mid-century modern’s 1950s pedigree, or even deciding it might be time to move on. If learning your home’s age has you thinking about selling your house (perhaps you discovered it’s much older than you thought and needs significant repairs), don’t worry – you have options beyond the traditional market.

MaxNet Homes is a local Los Angeles real estate solutions company that specializes in helping homeowners in all situations. We buy houses for cash in Los Angeles, and we can close fast with no repairs or cleanup needed from you. That means if your lovely old Craftsman has a shaky foundation or your house built in 1940 needs a new roof, you don’t have to fix a thing to sell it. We take properties as-is, whether they’re 5 years old or 105 years old.

Why work with MaxNet Homes? Our founder, Tricia Watts, built this company on a straightforward and empathetic approach. We understand the attachment you might have to a long-time family home, as well as the stress that can come with selling it. Tricia’s goal is to streamline the process of selling a home, even if it’s under tough conditions or in “as-is” condition. We’ve helped homeowners in Los Angeles who needed to sell quickly due to job relocations, inheritance of old properties, or just the desire for a hassle-free sale. No matter the age or condition of the house, we treat you with respect and offer a fair, competitive cash price.

Explore Our Services: If you’re curious about selling and want to know what your home might fetch, reach out to us. There’s no obligation – we’ll simply assess your property and give you a cash offer. It’s a fast, transparent process. Plus, we handle all the paperwork and details, so you can focus on your next chapter. (Many homeowners are pleasantly surprised at how easy selling to an investor like MaxNet Homes can be compared to listing on the market.)

Your home’s story is unique, and whether it was built in 1890 or 1990, MaxNet Homes is here to help with the next step of that story. If you’d like to learn more or get a no-pressure offer, give us a call at 1-844-MAXNET8 or contact us through our website. We’re happy to answer any questions about selling a home for cash, the closing process, or even to chat about your house’s history.

Knowing when your house was built is the first step in understanding its past. When you’re ready to plan for the future – whether that’s renovating, refinancing, or selling – you now have the knowledge and resources to move forward confidently. And remember, if you ever need personalized help or want a fast, fair solution for your Los Angeles home, MaxNet Homes is just a phone call away.

Thank you for reading, and happy house-history hunting! 🏡