Find Birth Records in Bellingham

Bellingham birth records are handled by the Whatcom County Health Department, which is the local office for ordering certified birth certificates for births that occurred in Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County. If you need a certified copy of a birth record from Bellingham, you can order through the county health office in person, by mail, or online through their Permitium portal. The Washington State Department of Health is also an option for statewide records going back to 1907. For older records, the Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham holds county birth registrations from 1891 to 1907. This page explains each path and what to expect.

Where to Get Bellingham Birth Records

The Whatcom County Health Department issues certified birth certificates for all Bellingham births. The office is located at 509 Girard St in Bellingham. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can walk in during those hours to request a birth record in person. The fee is $25 per copy.

Online ordering is available through Permitium, the county's chosen vendor. Online orders are shipped via UPS. Processing and shipping take several business days depending on the order volume and UPS delivery time to your location. If you need the record quickly, in-person service at the Girard Street office is your best option.

Note that newborn birth certificates take time to process after the birth. If both parents are married, the record is usually ready in about 4 weeks. If the parents were not married at the time of birth, the record may take up to 8 weeks. Plan ahead if you need a record for a recent birth.

Bellingham Birth Records Access Rules

Washington became a closed-record state for birth certificates as of January 1, 2021. Under RCW 70.58A, only eligible individuals can receive a certified copy. If you are the person named on the birth record and are at least 18, you may request it. Parents and legal guardians may get copies for minors. Certain close relatives, legal representatives, and government agencies may also qualify with proper documentation.

When you visit the Whatcom County Health Department in person, bring a government-issued photo ID. A Washington State driver's license or ID card, a U.S. passport, or a military ID are all accepted. You fill out the request form at the counter. If you are requesting a record on behalf of someone else, bring documents that show your relationship. A parent requesting for a child typically brings their own ID and proof of parentage if not already listed on the record.

For mail requests, send the completed application, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order for the correct fee to the Girard Street address. The county staff will verify your request and mail the certificate to you. Online orders through Permitium include a built-in identity verification process.

WA State Archives Northwest Branch in Bellingham

The Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch is located right in Bellingham at 808 25th Street, Bellingham WA 98225-9123. This branch holds Whatcom County birth records from January 1891 through July 1907. These are the pre-state-registration records from the county registration era. You can research these records at the branch in person or contact the staff by phone at 360-650-3125 or by email at NWBranchArchives@sos.wa.gov.

The Bellingham City Clerk also held a Register of Births for the years 1904 to 1915. Those records are now part of the Washington State Archives collection. If you are researching a birth in Bellingham from that era, the archives branch in town is your best contact. They can tell you exactly what is in their collection for Whatcom County and what years are covered.

Marriage records from Whatcom County going back to 1870 are also held at this branch. For family history research involving the Bellingham area, the Northwest Regional Branch at sos.wa.gov/archives/northwest is an important resource. The staff there are experienced with local genealogy requests.

The image below is from the Washington State Digital Archives, the online companion to the physical archives system, where many digitized records are available for free.

Visit digitalarchives.wa.gov to search digitized historical records from Whatcom County and across Washington State.

Digitized Whatcom County birth records from the 1891 to 1907 period are available through the Digital Archives, making them accessible online without a trip to Bellingham.

Historical Bellingham Birth Record Research

The Whatcom County Historical Society at whatcomhistory.org is a useful resource for local family research. Their collections include photographs, local newspapers, and historical documents from Whatcom County. While they do not issue certified birth records, their archives can help fill gaps when no formal record exists. Historical society staff and volunteers are often familiar with local families and can point you toward other sources you may not have considered.

For statewide historical records research, the Washington State Library maintains a vital records research guide. This guide explains what records exist at each level of government, how far back they go, and where to find them. It covers both the Department of Health and the state archives system.

FamilySearch has indexed many Washington birth records and provides free access to their database. Searching by county is the most efficient approach. Whatcom County records appear in multiple FamilySearch collections covering different time periods. The site at familysearch.org is free to use.

For births from 1907 onward, the state DOH at doh.wa.gov holds the statewide index. The DOH processes mail and online requests for certified copies. If the county health office in Bellingham cannot assist with a particular record, the state office may have what you need.

Whatcom County Birth Records

Bellingham is in Whatcom County. Birth records for Bellingham residents are on file with the Whatcom County Health Department. For a full overview of county resources and related offices, visit the Whatcom County birth records page.

View Whatcom County Birth Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Bellingham. Each uses a county health office for birth records.