Kennewick Birth Records
Kennewick birth records are maintained by the Benton-Franklin Health District and the Washington State Department of Health. If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate for someone born in Kennewick, the health district office is your local starting point. You can also order directly through the state vital records office. Kennewick is part of the Tri-Cities area along with Richland and Pasco, all in Benton County. This guide covers how to search, request, and get copies of birth records tied to Kennewick and the surrounding area.
Kennewick Birth Records Overview
Kennewick Birth Certificates at the Local Level
The Benton-Franklin Health District serves both Benton and Franklin counties, including Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco. This office can issue certified copies of birth certificates for births that took place in the district. The fee is $25 per copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs the same amount.
The health district is one of two main options for getting Kennewick birth records. The other is the Washington State Department of Health in Olympia. Both offices draw from the same registry. If you live close to Kennewick, the local district office may be more convenient. If you prefer to order by mail or online, the state office handles those requests as well.
| Office | Benton-Franklin Health District |
|---|---|
| Address | 7102 W Okanogan Place Kennewick, WA 99336 |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| Website | bfhd.wa.gov |
When you visit or contact the health district, be ready to show a valid government-issued photo ID. Washington restricts who can get certified copies of birth records. Under RCW 70.58A, birth records became confidential as of January 1, 2021. Qualified applicants include the person named on the certificate, parents or legal guardians, certain family members, and legal representatives.
Washington State Vital Records for Kennewick
The Washington State Department of Health maintains birth certificates for all births in the state going back to 1907. You can order Kennewick birth records through the state vital records office if the health district is not convenient or if you prefer to order by mail or online. The state office processes requests from anywhere in the country.
You have three ways to order from the state. You can apply in person at the DOH office in Olympia, send a mail request with a completed application form and a notarized ID copy, or order online through VitalChek. VitalChek is the authorized third-party vendor for Washington State vital records orders. The online option is fastest for most people. The state office generally processes mailed requests within two to three weeks. In-person requests are handled the same day.
The DOH website at doh.wa.gov has the current application forms, fee schedule, and ID requirements. The fee for a state-issued copy is the same as the local office, $25 per copy. You will need to fill out a short application with the subject's name, date of birth, city of birth, and parents' names if known.
Note: Washington uses a two-tier system. The standard certified copy works for most legal purposes. A heirloom copy is available for an added fee and looks more decorative, but it carries the same legal weight.
Historical Kennewick Birth Records
For births that happened before 1907, Washington did not maintain a statewide birth registry. Records from that period were kept locally or by churches, and many have gaps. The best source for pre-1907 births in the Kennewick and Benton County area is the Washington State Digital Archives. This free online database holds birth, death, and marriage records from counties across the state, including older records from eastern Washington.
The Benton County Auditor also holds historical vital records that were filed at the county level. These records predate the state system and can fill gaps when the state registry does not have what you need. The county auditor's office in Prosser keeps these older records and may be able to assist with searches.
Genealogical research for the Kennewick area can take several paths. The Digital Archives is a good first stop. From there, you can move to the county auditor's records, local library collections, and church registries. Kennewick is part of a historically active settlement area along the Columbia River, so records from the late 1800s can turn up in a number of places.
Washington State Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to historical birth records from counties across the state, including Benton County records relevant to Kennewick residents.
Using the Digital Archives, you can search Kennewick and Benton County birth records by name and year without paying any fee. Older records are often available here when they are not in the state vital records system.
Who Can Get Kennewick Birth Records
Washington restricts access to certified birth certificates. These are not public records in the same way that court filings are. Under RCW 70.58A, which took effect on January 1, 2021, birth records are confidential. Only qualified individuals can get a certified copy.
Qualified applicants for Kennewick birth records include:
- The person named on the birth certificate (if 18 or older)
- A parent or legal guardian of the person named
- A sibling, child, or grandparent with a direct and legitimate interest
- A legal representative or authorized agent
- Government agencies acting in an official capacity
If you are a genealogist or researcher and do not fall into one of these categories, you can still access older records through the Digital Archives or by requesting informational copies in some cases. Informational copies are marked as such and are not accepted for legal use like passport applications or school enrollment. Contact the Benton-Franklin Health District or the DOH for guidance if you are unsure which type of copy fits your need.
Birth Records in the Tri-Cities Area
Kennewick is one of the three cities that make up the Tri-Cities metro area. Richland and Pasco are the other two. All three cities are in Benton County, and all use the Benton-Franklin Health District for local vital records services. If someone was born in any of the three cities, the process for getting a birth certificate is the same regardless of which city the birth took place in.
The Benton-Franklin Health District covers both Benton and Franklin counties. So if you are looking for birth records from Pasco, which is in Franklin County, the same district office handles that as well. This makes the health district a practical single point of contact for anyone researching births across the Tri-Cities area. The $25 fee applies for all birth certificate requests at the local level regardless of which Tri-Cities city the birth occurred in.
For statewide searches covering births in other Washington cities or counties, use the DOH vital records portal. You can order certified copies of Washington State birth certificates from anywhere in the country through VitalChek or by mailing the DOH directly.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Kennewick. Each one handles birth records through its local health district or county office.
Benton County Birth Records
Kennewick is in Benton County. County-level birth records and the county auditor's historical files are maintained through the county. For more details on Benton County birth records resources and offices, visit the county page.