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Records, Permits & Licensing
Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records
The Office of Vital Records is responsible for registering all of the births and deaths that take place within the City and County of San Francisco only. Our office is located at 101 Grove Street, Room 105, directly across from City Hall at the corner of Grove and Polk. Our walk-up hours are Monday - Friday 8 AM to 4 PM except for Observed Holiday and Office Closures. Please note no applications will be accepted after 3:55 p.m.
Accepted Payment Methods:
In Person: Cash, Credit Cards (Visa and MasterCard only), or Money Order (made payable to SFDPH/OVR)
By Mail: Money Order only (made payable to SFDPH/OVR)
Effective January 1, 2022, the California Department of Public Health – Vital Records (CDPH-VR) will increase vital record fees, pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 128 (Chapter 21, Statutes of 2021).
Certified birth records will be $29 per copy
Certified death records will be $24 per copy
Mail applications with incorrect payment amount will be rejected, after January 1, 2022.
Special Notice:
Please note: DPH Office of Vital Records, 101 Grove Street, Room 105 only retains birth and death records for the most recent 3 years.
Older records are available at the Office of the County Clerk, City Hall, Room 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102.
Mail Requests:
Please ensure that you have completely filled out the application and have it notarized if you intend to receive a Certified Authorized Copy. Please read these instructions. Mail your application to:
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS
101 GROVE STREET, ROOM 105
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102
Office of Vital Records Hours:
General Public: Mon - Fri 8 AM - 4 PM. No applications will be available after 3:55 p.m. Death Registry hours: 9 - 11:30 a.m. then 1 pm - 3:30 p.m.
For general information, contact us at 415.554.2700
Are You?
- A home-birth client needing to register your home birth
- Please note that home birth registrations are only made after an appointment is scheduled. Walk-ins are not accepted.
To schedule an appointment please call our Birth Registry Line at 415-554-2722.
A funeral home needing the Funeral Home/MortuaryForm
- An individual needing to purchase a copy of a:
Birth Certificate (via mail):
Application in English
Application in Spanish
Application in Chinese
Death Certificate (via mail):
Application in English
Application in Spanish
Application in Chinese
If you wish to expedite your order, please send it via courier w/ tracking and include a return envelope w/ tracking as well.
Special Circumstances:
Various circumstances that occur may require amendments or corrections to the original Vital Record. Please view below link for detailed information on how to request such amendments or corrections.
Correcting or Amending Vital Records
Who Can Obtain Copies?
California Health and Safety Code, Section 103526, permits only authorized individuals to receive certified copies of birth records.
The law describes an authorized person as:
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The registrant or a parent or legal guardian of the registrant.
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A party entitled to receive the record as a result of a court order, or an attorney or a licensed adoption agency seeking the birth record in order to comply with the requirements of Section 3140 or 7603 of the Family Code.
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A member of a law enforcement agency or a representative of another governmental agency, as provided by law, who is conducting official business.
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A child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner of the registrant.
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An attorney representing the registrant or the registrant's estate, or any person or agency empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on behalf of the registrant or the registrant's estate. You MUST provide proof at the time you are requesting this document.