SERVICE
Get a birth certificate for someone under 3
Birth certificates are available in-person, and by mail.
What to know
Cost
$29per copy
Time
30 minutes on average
What to know
Cost
$29per copy
Time
30 minutes on average
What to do
Go to the Office of Vital Records at City Hall, Office of the County Clerk, Room 160, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
Get a birth certificate in person
Apply to get a birth certificate in person. The birth certificate must be for someone:
- Born in San Francisco
- Born less than 3 years ago
The person applying must bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID. We will accept IDs from foreign governments.
Payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, personal check, money order, cashier's check or cash.
We charge for every search, so you will pay the fee even if we cannot find the record.
To save time, please bring a completed application.
Get a birth certificate by mail
Fill out the form
Download the application. Fill out the form.
Get the statement notarized
Take your form to a notary public and have it notarized.
You don’t need to have your application notarized for an Informational Copy; however, your certificate will have “Informational: Not a valid document to establish identity” printed on the document.
Mail the application
You must include:
- Your application
- Notarized sworn statement
- Prepaid and addressed return envelope
- A money order, cashier's check or personal check for $29 per copy
Mail to:
San Francisco Department of Public Health
Office of Vital Records
101 Grove Street, Room 105
San Francisco, CA 94102
You should get the birth certificate in 5 to 10 business days.
Expedited service
If you need your certificate quickly, please include a pre-paid self-address express envelope (USPS, UPS or FedEx) instead of a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Special cases
Get a birth certificate for someone else
You can also apply for a Certified Authorized Copy of a birth certificate if you:
- Have a certified court order
- Have a valid Power of Attorney document
- Are an authorized attorney (with supporting documents)
- Are a licensed adoption agency (with an order of relinquishment)
- Work for another government agency (with work ID and a letter from a supervisor authorizing your request)
Correcting or amending birth certificates
Correcting or amending birth records is done at the state level. Go to the California Department of Public Health page to amend records.
Who can get a birth certificate
You can apply for a Certified Authorized Copy of a birth certificate for:
- Yourself
- Your child
- Your spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or state-registered domestic partner
Anyone can request an informational copy of a birth certificate.
Related
Partner agencies
Contact us
Address
Room 105
San Francisco, CA 94102