South Hill Birth Records
South Hill birth records are available through the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, the office that handles certified birth certificates for all of Pierce County. South Hill is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, so there is no separate city vital records office. If you need a birth certificate for someone born in South Hill, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is where you apply. The Washington State Department of Health also holds statewide birth records from 1907 onward and accepts mail and online orders. This page explains both options, who qualifies, what things cost, and where to look for older records.
South Hill Birth Records Overview
Where to Get South Hill Birth Records
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department handles certified birth certificates for South Hill. The office is at 3629 S D St in Tacoma. South Hill is an unincorporated part of Pierce County located southeast of Puyallup. Since it has no incorporated city government, all vital records for South Hill residents go through the Pierce County health system. The Tacoma office serves the entire county, including South Hill, Puyallup, Spanaway, Lakewood, and other Pierce County communities.
The fee for a birth certificate at Tacoma-Pierce County Health is $39 per copy. That fee covers the certificate itself as well as the search. If no record is found, a portion of the fee may be retained. You can order in person at the Tacoma office, by mail, or online. For online orders, the department's ordering page is at tpchd.org - Birth and Death Records. That page also has the mail-in form and instructions for in-person visits. VitalChek handles online orders for the county and typically takes four to five business days to process.
| Office | Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 3629 S D St Tacoma, WA 98418 |
| Fee | $39 per certified copy |
| Online Orders | tpchd.org - Birth and Death Records |
South Hill has no city hall or municipal offices for vital records. Pierce County Auditor's office at piercecountywa.gov handles county-level administrative records but does not issue certified birth certificates. For a certified copy, go to the health department.
Who Can Request South Hill Birth Records
Washington State's closed-record law under RCW 70.58A, which took effect January 1, 2021, limits who can get a certified birth certificate. If you are the person named on the record and are 18 or older, you qualify. Parents and legal guardians can get records for minors. Adult children, adult siblings, and grandparents with a documented need may also be eligible. Attorneys representing a qualified requestor and certain government agencies can access records for official purposes.
Bring a government-issued photo ID when requesting in person. A Washington driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or tribal ID all qualify. If you are requesting for someone else, bring proof of your relationship. A parent requesting a child's certificate needs their own ID and the child's birth information. For other relationships, additional documentation may be required. The health department staff will let you know what is needed.
Mail requests require a completed application, a copy of your ID, and payment. Personal checks, money orders, and in some cases credit cards are accepted depending on the current process. Mail orders take longer than in-person service. Allow a few weeks for processing and delivery.
Note: Informational copies of South Hill birth records are available to the general public but cannot be used for legal purposes like passport applications or school enrollment.
Washington DOH and South Hill Birth Records
The Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov holds birth records for South Hill from 1907 forward. The state is an alternative to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and is useful if you prefer to handle your request by mail or online without driving to Tacoma. The DOH Center for Health Statistics maintains records statewide and processes requests on a rolling basis. Phone contact is available at 360-236-4300 and email at ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov.
The Pierce County fee of $39 is higher than the state fee of $25. If cost is a factor and you are not in a hurry, the state office may be worth considering. Both sources produce a valid certified copy. The difference is price and processing time. The county office is faster for in-person orders. The state is a viable option for mail or online requests where a few extra days of processing does not matter.
The screenshot below shows the Washington State Digital Archives, a free online database that holds early Pierce County birth records useful for South Hill genealogy research.
The Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to early Pierce County birth registrations and historical vital records relevant to South Hill families.
The Digital Archives is especially useful for South Hill genealogy work involving families from the early 1900s and before statewide registration began.
Historical South Hill Birth Records and Genealogy
For South Hill birth records before 1907, the Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch is the primary source. That branch holds pre-1907 Pierce County records that predate statewide vital records collection. To contact the archives or find out what they hold, visit sos.wa.gov/archives and look for the Southwest Regional Branch information.
The Tacoma Public Library Northwest Room at tacomapubliclibrary.org/northwest-room is another strong resource for Pierce County genealogy. The Northwest Room holds historical documents, newspapers, photographs, and genealogical collections related to Tacoma and Pierce County, including communities like South Hill. If you are researching a South Hill family from decades past and need supporting documents to complement a birth record, the Northwest Room staff can often point you toward useful materials.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov indexes early Pierce County birth registrations online at no cost. It is a good first stop for genealogy work before contacting physical archives.
Pierce County Birth Records
South Hill is an unincorporated area of Pierce County. All birth certificates for South Hill residents flow through Pierce County's health system. For a full overview of Pierce County offices and resources for birth records, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near South Hill and use county health offices for birth records.