California Birth Records
Search California birth records online
To access the archives, simply enter the full name of the person or relative you'd like to start your research with…
California has been maintaining birth records since 1905 when the state government made it mandatory to begin recording vital records such as births. Some birth records before 1905 are available, but only at the specific county office where the person was born, and NOT at the main office in Sacramento.
California is a closed record state, which means that certified copies can only be requested by the person named on the birth certificate, as well as their immediate family members (including spouse) and lawyers representing them. Interestingly though, everybody else can request "informational" copies, which are printed on plain paper.
California Vital Records Office
The office that handles birth records for the entire state of California from 1905-2024 is The Department of Health, where they provide birth records, marriage records, divorce records, and death records.
- California Department of Public Health
- Vital Record Statistic Office
- 304 S Street
- P.O. Box 730241
- Sacramento, CA 95811-6974
- Phone: 916-445-2684
- Email: VRmail@cdph.ca.gov
- Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- URL: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/default.aspx
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