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California · San Joaquin Valley · #420 Most Populous County in the US
Kings County, California
California's central valley dairy, cotton, and military county - from Hanford's charming Victorian courthouse city and its extraordinary China Alley history to Naval Air Station Lemoore and its F-35 mission, Corcoran's state prison economy, and the Kings River's agricultural irrigation network that makes this one of California's most productive farming counties. Property tax, courts, public records, and senior services for Kings County residents.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Kings County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Office: Kings County OES – (559) 852-2700 | countyofkings.com
Alert System: Kings County Alert; CA Alert; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Hanford Civic Auditorium; Kings County Fairgrounds; contact OES
FEMA Region: Region 9
Notes: San Joaquin Valley agricultural county; Hanford is county seat; Lemoore Naval Air Station (NAS Lemoore – the Navy’s largest air-to-ground strike aircraft base, home of many carrier-based FA/18 squadrons) creates unique military-civilian emergency coordination needs; Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) risk; earthquake risk; extreme heat; tule fog in winter; flooding (Kings River and smaller channels)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Kings County Public Works – (559) 852-2700
Transit: Kings County Area Public Transit (KCAPTA) – (559) 582-1557; limited service; primarily auto-dependent
Notes: Hwy 43 runs north-south; Hwy 198 east-west (connects Hanford to Visalia and Lemoore to Coalinga); I-5 runs through the western portion; NAS Lemoore creates significant military traffic; Fresno is the nearest major airport (30 miles north on Hwy 99); very rural and agricultural county
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Kings County Development Services – (559) 852-2740 | countyofkings.com
Services: County permits; Hanford (active, separate), Corcoran, Lemoore, Avenal, Kettleman City separate
Notes: NAS Lemoore-related development; agricultural processing facilities; Kings County is growing as Fresno-metro exurb; dairy and farm construction; Corcoran State Prison generates institutional construction; limited residential development
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Kings County Veterans Services – (559) 852-2700
VA Medical: VA Central California (Fresno) – (559) 225-6100; accessible; NAS Lemoore Tricare for active duty
Services: Benefits claims, VA healthcare enrollment; NAS Lemoore military community services; large active duty and veteran community
Notes: NAS Lemoore creates a significant active duty and military family population; Fresno VA is the primary VA facility; strong military community support infrastructure; Kings County has high veteran concentration due to NAS Lemoore
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Kings County Library – (559) 582-0261 | kingscountylibrary.org
Branches: Hanford, Corcoran, Lemoore, Avenal, Kettleman City
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, Spanish-language materials, children’s programs; military community resources at Lemoore branch
Notes: Library system serves a diverse community including significant military families; Lemoore branch serves the NAS Lemoore community; bilingual Spanish materials essential for agricultural worker community; Corcoran branch serves a community with a state prison as the dominant employer
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park (accessible via Hwy 198 north through Visalia – arguably the most spectacular drive in the Sierra Nevada; Generals Highway through the sequoias); NAS Lemoore Military Recreation (for military personnel – extensive); Hanford Carnegie Museum; Hanford’s historic Fox Theater (beautifully restored 1920s theater); Lake Kaweah (Tulare County border – accessible); Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino (Tachi Yokuts Tribe – the most significant Native American enterprise in Kings County, a major entertainment destination); Superior Dairy (Hanford – legendary Central Valley ice cream parlor beloved by generations)
Notes: Kings County’s proximity to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks via Hwy 198 is its greatest natural asset; the drive from Hanford through Visalia and up the mountain to the Giant Forest is one of California’s most dramatic experiences; Tachi Palace is a significant economic and cultural institution for the Tachi Yokuts Tribe; Superior Dairy in Hanford is a Central Valley institution beloved for generations – its enormous ice cream portions are a pilgrimage destination; NAS Lemoore’s air shows (Top Gun meets public events) are impressive local spectacles
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Kings County GIS – countyofkings.com; USGS; NAS Lemoore airspace mapping (restricted); Valley Fever distribution through CDPH
Notes: County GIS; NAS Lemoore flight corridors and restricted airspace mapping; agricultural field mapping; Valley Fever distribution data
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Kings County Animal Control – (559) 852-2627
Notes: Rural agricultural county; livestock management important; dairy operations; Kings County Humane Society; NAS Lemoore community has many families with pets; Valley Fever exposure is a risk for dogs (dogs are highly susceptible to Valley Fever and Kings County has significant canine Valley Fever burden)
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Kings County Public Works – (559) 852-2700
Recycling: CalRecycle compliance; limited programs relative to Bay Area
Environmental: California SWRCB; San Joaquin RWQCB; SJVAPCD (air quality – Kings County is in non-attainment); USBR (Pine Flat Dam; Kings River); USDA (agricultural programs); NAS Lemoore environmental management (jet fuel contamination – NAS Lemoore has PFAS and fuel contamination sites under Navy remediation); groundwater overdraft (SGMA implementation)
Notes: NAS Lemoore has documented PFAS contamination in groundwater from historical use of firefighting foam – the Navy is conducting remediation and providing alternative water supplies to affected communities; the Kings River’s water management involves complex water rights and the USBR’s Pine Flat Dam; groundwater overdraft is a critical issue throughout Kings County – SGMA implementation is requiring significant reduction in agricultural groundwater pumping; air quality in the San Joaquin Valley (PM 2.5 and ozone non-attainment) affects Kings County residents; Valley Fever pathogen distribution in the soil is affected by drought and agricultural soil disturbance
About Kings County
Kings County is a central California county and the 420th most populous in the United States, covering 1,391 square miles of the San Joaquin Valley south of Fresno.
Hanford (the county seat, population ~58,000) is Kings County’s largest and most historically distinctive city – a community with a surprising depth of cultural heritage for a valley agricultural town. China Alley – a preserved block of late 19th-century Chinese American buildings including the Taoist Temple (still in regular religious use, one of the oldest in California) – reflects the significant Chinese workforce that helped build the area’s irrigation infrastructure and formed the backbone of early agricultural labor. The Hanford Carnegie Museum, the restored Fox Theatre, and the well-preserved downtown square make Hanford one of the most architecturally interesting county seats in the Central Valley.
Naval Air Station Lemoore (NAS Lemoore) – the largest master jet base on the West Coast – is Kings County’s largest employer, home to Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and the Navy’s West Coast F/A-18 Hornet and F-35C Lightning II training and operational squadrons. NAS Lemoore’s 18,000+ military and civilian personnel make it the dominant economic force in the county alongside agriculture.
Lemoore (population ~27,000) is the community directly adjacent to NAS Lemoore, with residential development heavily oriented toward military families.
Corcoran (population ~21,000) is known primarily for the California State Prison, Corcoran and the adjacent Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran – the prison complex is a major employer in the county’s southern tier.
Kings County’s agricultural output includes cotton (significant remaining acreage), dairy, grain crops, and tomatoes grown on the Kings River’s flat, fertile floodplain.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
California’s Proposition 13 caps annual assessed value increases at 2% until a change of ownership triggers reassessment.
The appeal process: File with the Kings County Assessment Appeals Board at 1400 W. Lacey Boulevard, Hanford, CA 93230, phone 559-852-2480. General filing period: July 2 through November 30. California has no estate tax.
OWNWELL CTA: Kings County Assessment Appeals Board: July 2–November 30. NAS Lemoore military community provides stable demand. No CA estate tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Recommended
Kings County Assessment Appeals Board: July 2–November 30. NAS Lemoore military community provides stable demand. No CA estate tax. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
Superior Court (Probate): The Kings County Superior Court at 1426 S. Drive, Hanford, CA 93230, phone 559-582-1010, handles probate, estate administration, guardianships, and all civil and criminal matters.
County Clerk-Recorder: The Kings County Clerk-Recorder at 1400 W. Lacey Boulevard, Hanford, phone 559-852-2480, maintains real property records. Land records searchable online.
Senior Services
The Kings County Department of Social Services, Senior Services at 1400 W. Lacey Boulevard, Hanford, CA 93230, phone 559-852-4900, serves the county’s senior population. Adventist Health Hanford provides significant healthcare.
Recommended
Assisted living, memory care, and independent living across Kings County - from Hanford and Lemoore to Corcoran, Avenal, and the Kings River communities.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK-RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses)
1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 852-2461
County Clerk
(559) 852-2465
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Kings County Superior Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
No dedicated Kings County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Kings County Superior Court Hanford Courthouse, 1640 Kings County Drive, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 582-1010 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
California recently increased its small-estate thresholds substantially, so check this first – more estates now qualify to skip full probate than in past years.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates with personal property valued at $208,850 or less (for deaths on or after April 1, 2025; holds through March 31, 2028). No court filing needed – present the signed affidavit directly to the bank or institution holding the property. Must wait at least 40 days after the death, and no probate proceeding can already be pending.
Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property, Primary Residence – for a decedent’s primary California residence valued at $750,000 or less (Judicial Council Form DE-310). Requires a 40-day wait, notice to heirs, and a probate referee appraisal.
Affidavit for Real Property of Small Value – for other (non-primary-residence) California real property valued at $69,625 or less (Form DE-305). Requires a 6-month wait.
Formal Probate – required when the estate exceeds these thresholds. California typically uses the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA), letting the personal representative handle most matters without a court hearing for each step.
California is a community property state – a surviving spouse already owns their half of community property, and can often use a simplified Spousal Property Petition (Form DE-221) instead.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 40 days after the death.
Confirm total qualifying California personal property (excluding trust assets, joint tenancy, POD/TOD accounts, and beneficiary-designated accounts) is $208,850 or less, using date-of-death values.
Complete the affidavit under Probate Code § 13100.
Present it with a certified death certificate directly to the bank or institution – no court filing required. Collecting property this way makes you personally liable for the decedent’s unsecured debts up to the value received (Prob. Code § 13109).
IF USING THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE PETITION OR SMALL REAL PROPERTY AFFIDAVIT
Confirm the property qualifies and the applicable waiting period has passed (40 days for the primary-residence petition; 6 months for the small real property affidavit).
File the petition (Form DE-310) or affidavit (Form DE-305) with the Kings County Superior Court.
A probate referee appraises the property; heirs receive notice.
Once approved, the property transfers without full probate administration.
If formal probate is required
Deliver the original will (if any) to the court clerk within 30 days of learning of the death (Prob. Code § 8200).
File a Petition for Probate (Form DE-111) to admit the will and request appointment as personal representative.
The court issues Letters Testamentary (Form DE-150) or Letters of Administration.
If Independent Administration authority is granted, the personal representative can act on most matters without separate court hearings.
Notice to creditors and an inventory/appraisal (with a probate referee) follow, along with payment of debts and taxes.
The estate closes with a final petition for distribution.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit / real property affidavits: no court filing fee for the personal-property affidavit; filing fees apply to the DE-310 primary-residence petition and DE-305 small real property affidavit.
Formal probate filing fee: several hundred dollars, varying somewhat by county.
Personal representative and attorney compensation: statutory fee schedule based on estate size (Prob. Code §§ 10800–10810) – a percentage that declines as the estate grows.
No California state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
1444 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 852-2700
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CA Voter Registration
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(559) 852-2579
Medi-Cal
(800) 300-1506
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Kings County Public Health – (559) 852-2630
Services: Immunizations, WIC, STI/HIV testing, environmental health, vital records, restaurant inspections; Valley Fever surveillance; NAS Lemoore military family health coordination; agricultural worker health
Hospital: Adventist Health Hanford – (559) 582-9000; Central Valley General Hospital (Hanford); Corcoran District Hospital; NAS Lemoore Naval Hospital (military only)
Notes: Kings County has multiple hospitals reflecting the military and agricultural community’s healthcare needs; Valley Fever is a significant health concern; agricultural worker health (pesticide exposure, heat illness); NAS Lemoore Naval Hospital serves active duty military; mental health services for military families; CalVet coordination
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