Search Richland Birth Records
Richland birth records are handled by the Benton-Franklin Health District, the shared health agency that serves both Benton and Franklin counties in the Tri-Cities area of southeastern Washington. Richland is in Benton County. Certified birth certificates can be requested through the health district's office in Kennewick, by mail, or online via VitalChek. The Washington State Department of Health also issues certified copies for births anywhere in Washington, including Richland, going back to 1907. The fee through the health district is $25 per certified copy.
Richland Overview
Where to Get Richland Birth Records
The Benton-Franklin Health District is the main local source for Richland birth records. Their office is at 7102 W Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. Even though the office address is in Kennewick, it serves all of Benton County, including Richland. The fee is $25 per certified copy. You can visit in person, mail a request, or order online. Their website at bfhd.wa.gov has the request form, ID requirements, and current hours.
The Washington State Department of Health is the state-level option. Their vital records program at doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records issues certified copies for all Washington births from 1907 onward. The state fee is also $25. Requests can go by mail or through VitalChek online. Both sources produce valid certified copies that you can use for legal purposes.
| 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 Benton County Auditor also holds some records related to historical vital documents. Their page at co.benton.wa.us/pview.aspx?id=26028 has contact information. For older Richland birth records outside the standard health department system, the auditor's office can point you in the right direction.
Online Richland Birth Certificate Orders
Online orders for Richland birth certificates go through VitalChek, the authorized service for both the Benton-Franklin Health District and the Washington State DOH. You complete the form on their site, upload a copy of your photo ID, and pay. Standard processing takes several business days for mailed delivery. Expedited options are available for an extra cost if you need the certificate sooner.
When you fill out the request, you need the full name on the birth record, the date of birth, the city or county of birth, and both parents' names as they appear on the original certificate. You also confirm your eligibility. Washington law restricts certified birth certificates to qualified applicants. That list includes the registrant, their parents, guardians, spouse, adult children, siblings, and legal representatives. Others with a direct and tangible interest may also qualify with supporting documentation. VitalChek walks you through the eligibility questions during the order process.
Note: VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the base $25 certificate cost. The total is displayed before you confirm the order.
Historical Richland Birth Records and Digital Archives
For older Richland and Benton County birth records, the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is a free public search tool. The archive indexes birth records from Washington counties going back to the early twentieth century. You can search by name, year, and county at no cost. The results show index information, not the actual certificate, but they confirm a record exists and give you the details you need to place a formal request. Benton County records are included.
The Benton County Auditor at co.benton.wa.us/pview.aspx?id=26028 may hold historical vital records that complement what the health district has. For genealogical research on Richland births from the early 1900s or from periods before centralized state registration, the auditor and the Digital Archives are both reasonable starting points. It is worth checking both before paying for a certified copy if your goal is historical research rather than legal documentation.
The Washington State DOH vital records page is shown below. It is the central source for state-issued certified birth certificates for Richland and all of Benton County.
The Washington State Department of Health vital records portal allows Richland residents to order certified birth certificates directly through the state system.
The DOH site explains eligible requesters, fee structures, processing timelines, and what to include with a mail-in request for Richland and other Washington births.
Birth Records Across the Tri-Cities
Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco together make up the Tri-Cities area. Richland is in Benton County, while Pasco is in Franklin County. Despite the county split, both areas are served by the same Benton-Franklin Health District for vital records. This shared structure means the process for getting a birth certificate is consistent across all three cities. The district's office in Kennewick handles requests from Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco without separate offices for each county.
If you are researching a birth and are not certain whether it took place in Richland or one of the other Tri-Cities, the health district can help. Their staff can confirm which county the record is registered in and guide you through the right request path. For older records where the county boundary matters more, the individual county auditor offices in Benton and Franklin can provide additional guidance.
Note: Even though the Benton-Franklin Health District covers both Benton and Franklin county births, the state records are indexed by county. If you are ordering through the DOH, be sure to specify Benton County for Richland births.
Who Can Request a Richland Birth Certificate
Washington restricts access to certified birth certificates. The record is not open public access. Qualified applicants include the person named on the record if they are 18 or older, parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, the registrant's spouse, adult children, siblings, and legal representatives. Others may qualify if they can document a direct and tangible interest, but that standard is applied case by case.
When submitting a request, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, or passport all work. If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, you may need proof of your relationship, such as a marriage certificate, court order, or similar official document. The Benton-Franklin Health District can tell you exactly what documentation they need for your specific type of request before you make the trip to their Kennewick office.
Washington adoptees born in Richland who were adopted in this state have the right to request their original birth certificate once they reach adulthood. That process runs through the state DOH, not the local health district. More information is at doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Richland in the Tri-Cities area and eastern Washington. Each has its own birth records page with local office details.
Benton County Birth Records
Richland is in Benton County, and all local vital records services for the city run through Benton County and the Benton-Franklin Health District. For more on county-level resources, additional offices, and historical record access, visit the Benton County birth records page.