Find Birth Records in Pasco
Pasco birth records are managed through the Benton-Franklin Health District, which serves Franklin County where Pasco serves as the county seat. Certified birth certificates for births that took place in Pasco can be requested through the health district office in Kennewick, through the Washington State Department of Health, or online via VitalChek. Pasco is one of the three Tri-Cities communities along with Kennewick and Richland. The state has kept official birth records since 1907, and older records may also be found through the Washington State Digital Archives at no cost.
Pasco Overview
Where to Get Pasco Birth Records
Pasco is the county seat of Franklin County. Birth records for the city are handled by the Benton-Franklin Health District, a shared agency that serves both Benton and Franklin counties across the Tri-Cities region. The district's main office is located in Kennewick at 7102 W Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. Even though the office is in Kennewick, it serves Franklin County and can process requests for birth certificates from Pasco births. The fee is $25 per certified copy.
You can contact the Benton-Franklin Health District through their website at bfhd.wa.gov to find current hours, request forms, and information on what documents you need to bring. The district processes requests in person, by mail, and through VitalChek online. If you cannot visit in person, the mail and online routes both work well and are commonly used by Pasco residents.
| Office | Benton-Franklin Health District - Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 7102 W Okanogan Place Kennewick, WA 99336 |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| Website | bfhd.wa.gov |
The Washington State Department of Health is the other main option. Their vital records program at doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records issues certified copies for births anywhere in Washington going back to 1907. The state fee is $25 per copy. State requests can be submitted online through VitalChek or by mail.
Online Pasco Birth Certificate Requests
Ordering a Pasco birth certificate online is straightforward through VitalChek. This is the approved online service for both the Benton-Franklin Health District and the Washington State DOH. You complete the request form online, upload a copy of your ID, and pay. Most orders are mailed out within several business days. You can also choose expedited processing for an extra fee.
To place an order, you need the full name on the birth record, the date of birth, the city or county of birth, and the full names of both parents as listed on the certificate. You also need to confirm your relationship to the person named on the record, because Washington restricts access to certified birth certificates. Qualified requesters include the person named on the record, their parents, legal guardians, spouse, adult children, and siblings, along with legal representatives. If you fall outside that list, you will need to show a direct and tangible interest in the record.
Note: VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the base $25 certificate cost. Check their site for the current total before submitting.
Washington State Records and Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is a free tool for researching older Pasco birth records. The archive holds index data for births going back to the early twentieth century. You can search by name, county, and year. This resource does not give you a certified copy, but it helps confirm that a record exists and can help you locate it before submitting a paid request. Franklin County records are included in the database.
The Franklin County Auditor also holds historical records. The county website at co.franklin.wa.us has contact information for the auditor's office, which may have older indexes or records that complement what the health district holds. If you are doing genealogical research on Pasco-area births from the early 1900s, checking both the Digital Archives and the county auditor is a good approach.
The screenshot below shows the Washington State DOH vital records page, which is where online certificate requests start for Pasco residents who prefer to go through the state rather than the local health district.
The Washington State Department of Health vital records portal lets Pasco residents order certified birth certificates directly from the state.
The DOH site explains fees, eligible requesters, processing times, and what to include with a mail-in request for Pasco and other Washington births.
Birth Records in the Tri-Cities Area
Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland form the Tri-Cities region of southeastern Washington. All three cities are served by the Benton-Franklin Health District for local vital records. Pasco and Richland are in different counties, Pasco in Franklin and Richland in Benton, but the shared health district structure means the process for requesting birth certificates is similar across all three cities. The office is in Kennewick, which is accessible from all three communities.
If you are researching a birth and are unsure whether it took place in Pasco or one of the neighboring cities, you can contact the Benton-Franklin Health District directly. Their staff can help you confirm which county the record is filed under and direct you to the right request process. For older records from before the health district was established, the Franklin County Auditor and the Washington Digital Archives are both worth checking.
Note: If you need a birth certificate for someone born in Kennewick or Richland, the same Benton-Franklin Health District handles those requests as well.
Who Can Request a Pasco Birth Certificate
Washington State law controls who can receive a certified birth certificate. This is not a public-access document the way some other records are. The law limits requests to the person named on the record (if 18 or older), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, spouses, adult children, siblings, and legal representatives acting on behalf of any of these parties.
When you submit a request, you must provide a valid photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport. If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, you may need to provide proof of your relationship. That can mean showing a marriage certificate, a court order, or another document that connects you to the registrant. The Benton-Franklin Health District's website explains what is required for each type of requester.
Adoptees seeking their original birth certificate have rights under Washington law. Adults who were adopted in Washington can request their original birth certificate through the DOH. The state also offers contact preference forms and a sibling registry for people searching for biological family members. Start at doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records for that process.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Pasco in eastern Washington. Each has its own page with local birth record office details.
Franklin County Birth Records
Pasco is the county seat of Franklin County, and county-level vital records services cover the entire area. For more details on Franklin County birth records, office locations, and historical record access, visit the Franklin County page.