California vital records · Birth Certificate
California Birth Certificate
How to get a certified California birth certificate: the official fee, processing time, who is eligible, what ID to bring, and every county office that issues birth records — or order online and skip the visit.
- $31.00
- Birth Certificate fee
- 5–7 weeks
- Processing time
- 93
- Offices issuing
- 61
- Counties
How to get a California birth certificate
- 1Online (fastest). Prepare your application through our partner Vital Records Online ↗. Your request is checked for errors before it reaches the California office.
- 2In person. Visit one of the 93 county offices that issue birth records; most print certified copies while you wait.
- 3By mail. Send the application form (VS 111) ↗, a copy of your ID and the $31.00 fee to California Department of Public Health – Vital Records, California Department of Public Health, Vital Records - MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410.
California birth certificate fees, processing & requirements
- Fee
- $29
- Additional copy
- $29
- Rush fee
- NA “CDPH-VR Vital Records office cannot accommodate expedited requests.”
- Processing time
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Rush processing
- NA “CDPH-VR Vital Records office cannot accommodate expedited requests.”
Who can request
- Adoption Agencies
- Attorneys
- Children
- Government Officials
- Grandparents
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Guardian
- Other Person Empowered by Statute
- Other Person by Court Order
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Siblings
- Spouse
Required information
- Date of Birth
- Father's Name
- Full Name at Birth
- Mailing Address
- Mother's Name
- Phone Number
- Place of Birth
- Purpose for the Certificate
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Notarization: Yes
California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR)
- Address
- California Department of Public Health Vital Records - MS 5103 P.O. Box 997410 Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
- Mailing
- California Department of Public Health Vital Records - MS 5103 P.O. Box 997410 Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
- Phone
- (916) 445-2684
- Website
- Official site ↗
- Hours
- Monday through Friday, 8AM – 4PM (by telephone, they do not have public counter)
Skip the trip. Order a California birth certificate online through our partner, Vital Records Online — application review, status updates and delivery to your door.
Order online ↗Where to get a birth certificate in California: county offices
93 offices in 61 California counties are confirmed to issue birth records. Fees shown are the office's own published fee; others charge the state fee of $31.00.
- Alameda County 1
- Alpine County 2
- Amador County 1
- Berkeley County 1
- Butte County 2
- Calaveras County 1
- Colusa County 2
- Contra Costa County 1
- Del Norte County 1
- El Dorado County 2
- Fresno County 2
- Glenn County 1
- Humboldt County 1
- Imperial County 2
- Inyo County 1
- Kern County 1
- Kings County 2
- Lake County 2
- Lassen County 1
- Long Beach County 1
- Los Angeles County 2
- Madera County 2
- Marin County 2
- Mariposa County 1
- Mendocino County 1
- Merced County 2
- Modoc County 1
- Mono County 1
- Monterey County 1
- Napa County 2
- Nevada County 2
- Orange County 2
- Pasadena County 1
- Placer County 1
- Plumas County 2
- Riverside County 1
- Sacramento County 2
- San Benito County 2
- San Bernardino County 2
- San Diego County 2
- San Francisco County 2
- San Joaquin County 2
- San Luis Obispo County 2
- San Mateo County 2
- Santa Barbara County 2
- Santa Clara County 1
- Santa Cruz County 2
- Shasta County 2
- Sierra County 1
- Siskiyou County 1
- Solano County 1
- Sonoma County 2
- Stanislaus County 2
- Sutter County 2
- Tehama County 1
- Trinity County 1
- Tulare County 2
- Tuolumne County 1
- Ventura County 1
- Yolo County 1
- Yuba County 2
| Office | County | Phone | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County Clerk-Recorder's Office 1106 Madison Street, Oakland · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Alameda | 888-280-7708 | $34.00 |
| City of Berkeley - Vital Statistics 1947 Center Street, Berkeley · Vital Records Offices | Alameda | (510) 981-5320 | $29.00 |
| Alpine County Assessor / Recorders office 99 Water Street, Markleeville · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Alpine | (530) 694-2283 | $29.00 |
| Alpine County Health & Human Services 75 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville | Alpine | 530-694-2235 | $29.00 |
| Amador County Recorder 810 Court Street, Jackson · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Amador | (209) 223-6468 | $29.00 |
| Butte County Clerk-Recorder 155 Nelson Avenue, Oroville · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Butte | (530) 552-3400 | $29.00 |
| Butte County Public Health 202 Mira Loma Drive, Oroville · Health Departments | Butte | (530) 552-3996 | $29.00 |
| Calaveras County Clerk-Recorder 891 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Calaveras | (209) 754-6460 | $29.00 |
| Colusa County Clerk/Recorder 546 Jay Street, Ste. 200, Colusa · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Colusa | (530) 458-0500 | $29.00 |
| Colusa County Public Health 251 E. Webster St, Colusa · Health Departments | Colusa | (530) 458-0380 | $29.00 |
| Contra Costa Recorder 555 Escobar St., Martinez · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Contra Costa | 925-335-7900 | $36.00 |
| Del Norte County Clerk/Recorder 981 H Street, Suite 160, Crescent City · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Del Norte | (707) 464-7216 | $29.00 |
| El Dorado County Office of Vital Statistics 931 Spring Street, Placerville · Vital Records Offices | El Dorado | (530) 621-6121 | $32.00 |
| El Dorado County Recorder 360 Fair Lane, Placerville · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | El Dorado | (530) 621-5490 | $32.00 |
| Fresno County Public Health
Vital Statistics 1221 Fulton St, Fresno · Health Departments | Fresno | (559) 600-3310 | $29.00 |
| Fresno County Recorder 1250 Van Ness Ave, Fresno · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Fresno | (559) 600‐3476 | $29.00 |
| Glenn County Clerk-Recorder’s Office 516 West Sycamore Street, 2nd Floor, Willows · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Glenn | (530) 934-6412 | $29.00 |
| Humboldt County Recorder
Vital Record Division 825 5th Street, 5th Floor, Eureka · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Humboldt | (707) 445-7382 | $29.00 |
| Imperial County - Public Health Department 935 Broadway Street, El Centro · Health Departments | Imperial | (442) 265-1460 | $29.00 |
| Imperial County Clerk/Recorder 940 W. Main Street, Suite 202, El Centro · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Imperial | (442)265-1075 | $32.00 |
| Inyo County Recorder 168 N. Edwards Street, Independence · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Inyo | 760-878-0222 | $29.00 |
| Kern County Recorder's Office 1655 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Kern | 661-868-6400 | $29.00 |
| Kings County Clerk/Recorder 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Kings | (559) 852-2470 | $32.00 |
| Kings County Department of Public Health 330 Campus Drive
Building 3, Hanford · Health Departments | Kings | (559) 852-2604 | $32.00 |
| COUNTY OF LAKE
ASSESSOR-RECORDER 255 N. Forbes Street, Lakeport · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Lake | 707 / 263-2293 | $29.00 |
| Lake County Health Services Department Vital Records 922 Bevins Court, Lakeport · Health Departments | Lake | 707-263-1090 | $29.00 |
| Lassen County Recorder 220 S. Lassen Street Suite 5, Susanville · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Lassen | (530) 251-8234 | $29.00 |
| City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records 2525 Grand Avenue, Room 201, Long Beach · Health Departments | Los Angeles | (562) 570-4305 | $32.00 |
| City of Pasadena Public Health Department
Vital Records Office 1845 N. Fair Oaks Ave, Rm 1610, Pasadena · Health Departments | Los Angeles | (626) 744-6010 | $32.00 |
| COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 313 N. FIGUEROA ST. RM L-1, Los Angeles · Health Departments | Los Angeles | (213) 288-7812 | $32.00 |
| LOS ANGELES COUNTY - REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK 12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Los Angeles | (800) 201-8999 | $32.00 |
| Madera County Department of Public Health
Office of Vital Statistics 1604 Sunrise Ave, Madera · Health Departments | Madera | (559) 675-7893 | $29.00 |
| Madera County Recorder 200 W. 4th Street, Madera · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Madera | (559) 675-7724) | $29.00 |
| Marin County Department of Health and Human Services
Vital Statistics Office 10 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael · Health Departments | Marin | (415) 473-6876 | $29.00 |
| Marin County Recorder’s office 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 232, San Rafael · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Marin | (415) 473-6094 | $29.00 |
| Mariposa County Recorder 4982 10th Street, Mariposa · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Mariposa | (209) 966-5719 | $29.00 |
| Mendocino County Clerk 501 Low Gap Rd., Room 1020, Ukiah · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Mendocino | (707) 234-6822 | $29.00 |
| Merced County Clerk-Recorders Office 2222 M St., Merced · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Merced | (209) 385-7627 | $29.00 |
| Merced County Department of Public Health – Office of Vital Records 260 E.15th Street, Merced · Health Departments | Merced | (209) 381-1015 | $29.00 |
| Modoc County Recorder Office 204 S. Court Street. Rm 106, Alturas · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Modoc | (530) 233-6217 | $29.00 |
| Mono County Vital Records 74 N. School Street, Annex I, Bridgeport · Vital Records Offices | Mono | (760) 932-5530 | $29.00 |
| Monterey County Recorder 168 W Alisal St # 1, Salinas · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Monterey | (831) 755-5041 or (831) 647-7741 | $29.00 |
| Health and Human Services Agency
Public Health Division, Office of Vital Statistics 2751 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Bldg. B, Napa · Health Departments | Napa | (707) 253-4506 | $32.00 |
| Napa County Recorder-County Clerk 1127 First St Ste. A, Napa · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Napa | 707-253-4247 | $32.00 |
| Nevada County Public Health
Vital Records Office 500 Crown Point Circle, Suite 110, Grass Valley · Health Departments | Nevada | (530) 265-7264 | $29.00 |
| Nevada County Recorder 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Nevada | (530) 265-1221 | $29.00 |
| Orange County Clerk-Recorder 601 N. Ross St., Santa Ana · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Orange | (714) 834-2500 | $32.00 |
| Orange County Health Care Agency
Office of Vital Records 200 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 100-B, Santa Ana · Vital Records Offices | Orange | (714) 480-6700 | $32.00 |
| Placer County Clerk/Recorder 2954 Richardson Drive, Auburn · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Placer | (530) 886-5600 | $32.00 |
| Plumas County Clerk-Recorder's Office 520 Main Street, Room 102, Quincy · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Plumas | (530) 283-6218 | $29.00 |
| Plumas County Public Health Agency 270 County Hospital Road, Suite 206, Quincy · Health Departments | Plumas | 1-800-801-6330 or 530-283-6337 | $29.00 |
| Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Riverside | (951) 955-6200 | $32.00 |
| Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder 5229 Hazel Avenue, Suite B, Fair Oaks · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | Sacramento | (916) 874-6334 | $32.00 |
| Sacramento Department of Health Services
Vital Records 7001 East Parkway, Suite 650, Sacramento · Health Departments | Sacramento | (916) 875-5345 | $32.00 |
| San Benito County County Clerk 440 5th Street
Second Floor, Rm 206, Hollister · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | San Benito | 831-636-4029 | $29.00 |
| San Benito County Health & Human Services Agency
Public Health Services 351 Tres Pinos Road, Suite A-202, Hollister · Health Departments | San Benito | 831-637-5367 | $29.00 |
| San Bernardino County Department of Public Health 340 N. Mountain View Ave, San Bernardino · Health Departments | San Bernardino | 800.782.4264 | $32.00 |
| San Bernardino County Recorder-Clerk 222 W. Hospitality Lane-1st Floor, San Bernardino · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | San Bernardino | (855) 732-2575 | $32.00 |
| San Diego Health and Human Services
Office of Vital Records and Statistics 5560 Overland Avenue, Suite 130, San Diego · Vital Records Offices | San Diego | 619-692-5733 | $32.00 |
| San Diego Recorder/County Clerk County Administration Center
1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260, San Diego · County & Circuit Clerk Offices | San Diego | (619) 237-0502 | $32.00 |
Showing 60 of 93 offices — open a county above for the full list.
More California vital records
Compare fees nationwide: birth certificate cost & wait time by state.
California birth certificate FAQs
How much does a California birth certificate cost?
A certified California birth certificate costs $31.00 ($29), and additional copies ordered at the same time are $29. County offices that publish their own fee charge between $29.00 and $36.00.
How long does it take to get a birth certificate in California?
Standard processing is 10 to 12 weeks. Expedited service: NA “CDPH-VR Vital Records office cannot accommodate expedited requests.” (NA “CDPH-VR Vital Records office cannot accommodate expedited requests.”). In-person requests at a county office are often same-day.
Where do I get a birth certificate in California?
93 California offices across 61 counties issue birth records: county clerks, registers of deeds and health departments listed on this page. You can also apply by mail to the state vital records office (California Department of Public Health – Vital Records), or order online.
Who can request a California birth certificate?
California issues certified copies to: Adoption Agencies, Attorneys, Children, Government Officials, Grandparents, Law Enforcement, Legal Guardian, Other Person Empowered by Statute, Other Person by Court Order, Parents, Person on Record, Siblings, Spouse.
Can I order a California birth certificate online?
Yes. Prepare and submit your California birth certificate application online through our partner, Vital Records Online, and skip the in-person visit.
Public records: California Public Records Act. Fees and processing times are set by California and its counties and change without notice — confirm with the office before applying.