Vancouver WA Birth Records
Vancouver birth records are issued through Clark County Public Health, the county office responsible for certified birth certificates in Clark County. Vancouver is the fourth-largest city in Washington State, and all birth certificate requests for the city go through the Clark County Public Health office on East Fourth Plain Boulevard. This page explains how to request Vancouver birth records, who qualifies under Washington law, what the fees are, and how to access older historical records through state archives.
Vancouver Birth Records Overview
Where to Get Vancouver Birth Records
Clark County Public Health is the office to contact for Vancouver birth records. The office is at 1601 E Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver WA 98661, and serves the entire county, including the city of Vancouver. The fee is $25 per certified copy. You can visit in person, order by mail, or use VitalChek for online orders. The Clark County page for birth and death certificates is at clark.wa.gov - Birth and Death Certificates, where you can find forms, fee information, and step-by-step ordering instructions.
In-person visits to Clark County Public Health are the fastest way to get a Vancouver birth certificate. Walk-in requests are typically handled the same day. Bring a completed application, a valid government-issued photo ID, and payment. If you are not able to visit in person, you can mail your request with a notarized application, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order. Online ordering through VitalChek ships the certified copy to you after processing, which adds several business days. For most Vancouver residents, in-person service at the Fourth Plain Boulevard office is the most direct route.
| Office | Clark County Public Health |
|---|---|
| Address | 1601 E Fourth Plain Blvd Vancouver, WA 98661 |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| Online Orders | clark.wa.gov - Birth and Death Certificates |
| VitalChek | vitalchek.com |
Vancouver is both a city and the Clark County seat. That means the county health office and other county services are all within the city, making them easy to access for Vancouver residents compared to those in smaller outlying cities.
Who Can Get Vancouver Birth Records
Washington State law under RCW 70.58A.050 limits access to certified birth certificates. The change took effect January 1, 2021. Only qualified applicants can receive a certified copy of a Vancouver birth record. You qualify if you are 18 or older and named on the record. Parents of minors, legal guardians, adult children, adult siblings, and grandparents with a documented family need are also eligible. Attorneys acting for an eligible person may request records. Government agencies acting in an official capacity have access as well.
When visiting the Clark County Public Health office in person, bring a valid photo ID. A Washington driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or tribal ID are all accepted. At the counter, fill out the application form and present your ID. If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, bring proof of your relationship to that person. This could be your own birth certificate, a court order, or a legal document showing your connection. Staff review all documents before completing the request.
Mail requests require the same proof of eligibility. Send a completed application form, a photocopy of your valid ID, and payment. Check or money order made payable to Clark County Public Health. Keep a record of your mailing. Processing by mail takes longer, so plan accordingly if you need the record for a deadline.
Note: Informational copies of Vancouver birth records are available to the public but carry a statement saying they are not valid for legal or official use.
Washington State DOH and Vancouver Birth Records
The Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov vital records is the state-level source for Vancouver birth records. The DOH Center for Health Statistics holds statewide records from 1907 onward. Mail requests go to PO Box 9709, Olympia WA 98507. Phone: 360-236-4300. Email: ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov. The state charges $25 per copy, the same as Clark County. Both produce valid certified copies of Vancouver birth records.
The state office is useful if you prefer online ordering through the state system or cannot travel to the Vancouver office. Online orders through the DOH are processed through VitalChek as well. State processing times are typically longer than in-person county service. If speed matters, the Clark County office in Vancouver is the faster choice. If you just need a certified copy and aren't in a rush, either source works fine.
The image below shows the Washington State DOH vital records page, where Vancouver residents can start an online order or get mail-in instructions for birth certificates.
Visit doh.wa.gov vital records to order a Vancouver birth certificate by mail or through the state's online system.
The DOH page covers ordering options, fees, required documents, and processing times for Vancouver and all Washington State birth certificates.
Historical Vancouver Birth Records and Archives
The Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch at sos.wa.gov/archives/southwest holds pre-1907 Clark County birth records, including those from the Vancouver area. Before the state centralized vital records in 1907, birth registrations were kept at the county level. The Southwest Regional Branch covers records from Clark County and surrounding southwest Washington counties. If you are researching Vancouver family history from before statewide registration began, this branch is the right starting point.
The Clark County Auditor's recording division at clark.wa.gov/auditor/recording also has historical recorded documents that can assist with genealogy research. Property records, deeds, and other county filings sometimes help confirm family connections when a formal birth record is missing or incomplete. The Clark County Auditor's records go back well into the nineteenth century for this part of Washington.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is a free online tool that indexes historical vital records from Clark County and other Washington counties. Birth records from 1891 to 1907 registered in Clark County are searchable online through this system. Fort Vancouver Regional Library also has genealogy collections relevant to the Vancouver area. Their resources are listed at fvrl.org. The library holds local historical materials, newspaper archives, and regional genealogy guides that can supplement what you find in official records.
The Washington State Digital Archives homepage is shown below, which provides free historical birth records searches for Vancouver and Clark County.
The Washington State Digital Archives gives free online access to early Clark County birth registrations and other historical records relevant to Vancouver family history research.
The Digital Archives is a good first step before paying for a formal request, especially for Vancouver births from before 1907.
Vancouver Birth Records for Adoptees
Washington State allows adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates without a court order. If you were born in Vancouver and later adopted, you can request your original birth record through the Washington State Department of Health once you turn 18. The process is handled at the state level through doh.wa.gov. Adoptees may need to complete a different form than the standard birth certificate application, but the fee and eligibility rules are similar.
Washington State also has resources for adoptees seeking contact with birth relatives. The DOH Adoption Unit handles contact preference forms and intermediary services. For Vancouver adoptees navigating the process, starting with the state vital records page is the right move. It explains what forms are needed and how to submit a request for your original Vancouver birth record.
Note: Adoptees born in Vancouver who have questions about original birth certificate access can contact the DOH Adoption Unit directly for guidance on the forms and steps involved.
Clark County Birth Records
Vancouver is the county seat of Clark County. All certified birth certificates for Vancouver are issued through Clark County Public Health. For a full list of county offices, resources, and additional filing details, visit the Clark County birth records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Vancouver also use Clark County and state offices for birth certificates.