Search Yakima Birth Records
Yakima birth records are available through the Yakima Health District, the county-level office that issues certified birth certificates for Yakima County. Yakima is the county seat, and its health district serves all residents in the county. This page explains how to get a Yakima birth record, who qualifies under Washington State law, what fees to expect, and how to find older historical records through state archive collections. The Washington State Department of Health also holds Yakima birth records from 1907 forward.
Yakima Birth Records Overview
Where to Get Yakima Birth Records
The Yakima Health District is the local source for Yakima birth records. The office is at 1210 Ahtanum Ridge Dr, Union Gap WA 98903, just south of the city of Yakima. The fee is $25 per certified copy. In-person requests, mail orders, and online ordering through VitalChek are all available. The health district's page is at yakimacounty.us/healthdistrict. That page has current contact information, office hours, and instructions for requesting Yakima birth certificates.
The office address in Union Gap is close to the Yakima city limits. If you live in Yakima proper, the drive is short. In-person visits are handled the same day in most cases. Bring a completed application, valid photo ID, and the $25 fee. If you are mailing your request, send a completed form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order. Mail orders take longer than in-person visits. Online ordering through VitalChek adds additional processing and shipping time. For Yakima birth records you need quickly, the in-person visit to Union Gap is the most direct route.
| Office | Yakima Health District |
|---|---|
| Address | 1210 Ahtanum Ridge Dr Union Gap, WA 98903 |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| Website | yakimacounty.us/healthdistrict |
| VitalChek | vitalchek.com |
Yakima is the county seat and the largest city in Yakima County. All birth certificate requests for the county, whether from the city or from smaller surrounding communities, go through the same Yakima Health District office.
Who Can Access Yakima Birth Records
Washington moved to a closed-record system for birth certificates on January 1, 2021. Under RCW 70.58A, only qualified applicants can receive a certified copy of a Yakima birth record. You are eligible if you are 18 or older and your name is on the record. Parents can get records for minor children. Legal guardians with documentation of their role qualify too. Adult children, adult siblings, grandparents with a documented family need, and attorneys acting for an eligible person are also on the list. Government agencies with official purposes have access.
When you visit the Yakima Health District office in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Accepted forms include a Washington State driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or tribal ID. At the counter, fill out a request form and present your ID before paying. If you are requesting a record for someone else, bring proof of your relationship to them. A birth certificate that shows the connection, a court order, or a legal power of attorney document all work. Staff will check your documents before processing the request.
For mail requests, the same eligibility rules apply. Send your completed application, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order payable to Yakima Health District. Processing by mail adds time to the overall wait. If the record is needed for a specific deadline, factor in shipping on both ends when deciding whether to mail or visit in person.
Note: Informational copies of Yakima birth records carry a notation that they are not valid for legal or official uses such as passports, benefits applications, or school enrollment.
Washington State DOH and Yakima Birth Records
The Washington State Department of Health holds Yakima birth records from 1907 to the present as part of its statewide collection. The DOH Center for Health Statistics is at PO Box 9709, Olympia WA 98507. Phone: 360-236-4300. Email: ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov. Ordering information and forms are at doh.wa.gov vital records. The state charges $25 per copy, the same as the Yakima Health District. Both sources produce valid certified copies.
State-level ordering is useful if you cannot travel to Union Gap or prefer to handle everything remotely. Online state orders go through VitalChek. The state's processing time runs longer than a same-day in-person visit at the county. But for Yakima residents who are traveling or living outside the area, the state online system is a practical option. Both routes get you the same certified copy of a Yakima birth record.
The Washington State DOH vital records page is shown below, where Yakima residents can start an online order or find mail-in instructions for birth certificates.
Visit doh.wa.gov vital records to order a Yakima birth certificate through the state and review eligibility rules and fees.
The DOH page covers all ordering options, fees, required ID, and processing times for Yakima and all Washington State birth certificates.
Historical Yakima Birth Records and Archives
For births in the Yakima area before 1907, the Washington State Archives is the place to look. The Central Regional Branch at sos.wa.gov/archives is located in Ellensburg and holds pre-statewide registration records from Yakima County and other central Washington counties. Before 1907, birth registrations were kept at the local county level. These older records were eventually transferred to state archive collections. The Central Regional Branch is the main archive resource for pre-1907 Yakima County birth records.
The Yakima County Auditor's office at yakimacounty.us maintains historical county records that can assist with genealogy work. Property records, deeds, and early county filings sometimes help establish family connections when a formal birth record is missing or hard to find. These recorded documents go back well into the territorial period for parts of Yakima County.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is a free online tool that includes historical vital records from Yakima County. You can search for early birth registrations from the area without making a formal request and without paying a fee. The Yakima Valley Genealogical Society at yvgs.net is a local organization that offers genealogical research assistance for Yakima and the surrounding valley. The society maintains its own collections and can help with specific research questions about Yakima birth records and family history.
Below is the Washington State Digital Archives homepage, a free starting point for researching historical Yakima birth records and Yakima County vital records from the early twentieth century.
The Washington State Digital Archives provides free searchable access to historical Yakima County birth records, including those from before statewide registration in 1907.
The Digital Archives index is searchable online at no cost and is a practical first step for Yakima genealogy research before making a paid request.
Yakima Birth Records for Adoptees
Washington State law permits adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates without going to court. If you were born in Yakima and were later adopted, you can request your original birth record once you turn 18. The process is handled through the Washington State Department of Health, not the county health district. Apply at doh.wa.gov. Adoptees typically need to use a specific form available on the DOH website. The fee is the same as a standard birth certificate request, and the same eligibility documentation is required.
The DOH Adoption Unit handles contact preference forms and intermediary services for birth relatives. If you are a Yakima adoptee looking for contact with birth family members, or if you want to file a contact preference form of your own, the DOH Adoption Unit is the right point of contact. The state page explains what is available under Washington law and how to submit requests related to original Yakima birth records.
Note: Yakima adoptees seeking original birth certificates should start at the state DOH vital records page, since the Yakima Health District handles current-record requests and the state handles original adoptee records.
Genealogy Resources for Yakima Birth Records
Beyond the official health district and state DOH, several resources can help you find Yakima birth records for genealogy purposes. The Yakima Valley Genealogical Society at yvgs.net is the primary local organization for genealogy research in the region. Members can access the society's collections and request research assistance for Yakima County family lines. The society's holdings include local cemetery records, family histories, and indexes that complement official birth records.
The Washington State Library's vital records guide at washstatelib.libguides.com covers multiple sources for birth records research across Washington. It points to archives, historical society collections, and online databases that can help with Yakima family history. For complex genealogy cases where a standard birth record is unavailable, layering multiple sources is often the most effective approach.
Yakima County Birth Records
Yakima is the county seat of Yakima County. Certified birth certificates for Yakima residents are issued through the Yakima Health District. For a full overview of county offices, resources, and additional filing details, visit the Yakima County birth records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities in central and eastern Washington also use county health offices for birth records.