Kitsap County Birth Records Search
Kitsap County birth records are available through the Kitsap Public Health District in Bremerton, which processes certified birth certificate requests for Washington State births from 1907 to the present. You can request records in person, by mail, or by phone through VitalChek. This page covers how to get a birth certificate in Kitsap County, what it costs, who qualifies, and where to find older historical records.
Kitsap County Overview
Kitsap Public Health District
The Kitsap Public Health District in Bremerton is the local office for birth certificate requests in Kitsap County. The office handles Washington State birth records and accepts walk-in, mail, and phone requests. The public health district is separate from the county courthouse in Port Orchard. Most certificate requests for modern births go through the health district, not the auditor or courthouse.
| Office | Kitsap Public Health District |
|---|---|
| Address | 345 6th Street, Suite 300 Bremerton, WA 98337 |
| Phone | 360-728-2235 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Online | kitsappublichealth.org/vitalrecords |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| VitalChek Phone | 1-866-687-1464 (24/7) |
Kitsap County was created on January 16, 1857, carved out of King and Jefferson counties. The county is named after Chief Kitsap of the Suquamish Tribe, a historical figure of significance to the region. Port Orchard is the county seat, but the public health district is in Bremerton, the county's largest city. If you are visiting in person for a birth certificate, head to the Bremerton address above, not the Port Orchard courthouse.
Wait at least 15 days after a birth before applying for a certificate. If parentage is being added to the record, wait at least 30 days. These waiting periods exist because hospitals and birthing facilities have up to 10 days to register a birth, and it takes additional time for the record to be processed and made available for certified copy requests. Requesting too soon will result in a "record not found" response, and fees are still charged in that case.
Identity and proof of relationship documentation are required under Washington's 2021 law changes. Bring a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport. If you are requesting on behalf of a qualifying family member, bring a document that shows your relationship, such as your own birth certificate or a marriage certificate.
Kitsap Public Health District vital records page provides current procedures, required documentation, and fee information for local birth certificate requests.
The health district page is the authoritative local source for current walk-in hours, fees, and application procedures for Kitsap County birth records.
Note: The Kitsap Public Health District is in Bremerton, not in the county seat of Port Orchard; confirm the address before traveling to request a birth certificate in person.
Ordering a Kitsap County Birth Certificate
Kitsap County residents have three main options for ordering a birth certificate: in person at the Bremerton health district office, by mail, or by phone through VitalChek at 1-866-687-1464. The VitalChek phone line is available around the clock every day of the week. Online ordering through VitalChek is another option. Online orders typically process in three to seven business days.
VitalChek orders include the $25 base certificate fee plus an $8.50 VitalChek service fee and a $7.00 processing fee. Expedited shipping is available for an additional charge. These fees are on top of the standard certificate fee and are nonrefundable. If you want to avoid extra fees and have time to wait, mailing a request directly to the Washington State DOH at PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507 costs only the $25 per-copy fee. Mail requests to the state take roughly eight to ten weeks.
For in-person orders at the Bremerton health district office, most requests are processed during the same visit. You will need to bring your photo ID and any required relationship documentation. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Do not arrive at the very end of the day without calling ahead, as staff may have a cutoff time for new requests. The health district phone is 360-728-2235.
The Washington State DOH birth record ordering page has the current application form and instructions for each ordering method. The state office can also be reached at 360-236-4300 on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for questions, or by email at ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov.
Washington State DOH Birth Record Ordering provides an alternative ordering path through the state office at the standard $25 fee.
The state ordering page outlines all available methods and fees for requesting a certified Washington birth certificate.
Note: Fees are nonrefundable even if the record is not found or the request is denied, so confirm the birth information you have is accurate before submitting your application.
Washington Law and Qualified Applicants
Washington birth record access is governed by RCW Chapter 70.58A, the state vital statistics act. Washington became a closed record state on January 1, 2021, meaning certified copies are only available to people who qualify under the statute. This change affects how Kitsap Public Health District and all other Washington vital records offices process requests.
Under RCW 70.58A.530, the qualified applicant categories are: the person named on the record, their spouse or domestic partner, children, parents, stepparents, stepchildren, siblings, grandparents, great-grandparents, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, legal guardians, legal representatives, authorized representatives, and government agencies or courts with a lawful need. People who fall outside this list can request a noncertified informational copy instead. Informational copies are available to the general public and contain the same data but are stamped as not valid for legal or official use.
RCW 70.58A.540 addresses nondisclosure protections on certain records. Records with a nondisclosure flag are restricted beyond the standard access rules. These restrictions most commonly apply to records involving adoption or sealed parentage. If you encounter a nondisclosure restriction, the health district or state DOH can walk you through how to proceed.
Note: Even if you qualify for a certified copy, you must provide proof of identity and proof of your qualifying relationship before the certificate will be released.
Historical Kitsap County Birth Records
The Kitsap County Auditor holds birth records from 1891 through 1907, death records from 1892 through 1907, and marriage records starting in 1892. The County Clerk holds court records dating back to 1888. These historical records are an important resource for genealogical research, particularly for families with roots in the Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Bainbridge Island areas. The county courthouse is at 614 Division Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366.
Historical birth records for Kitsap County include early auditor birth records on microfilm (GEN MICRO 979.776) as well as Delayed Birth Records covering 1941 to 1943. Delayed birth records were created when people who had been born earlier sought to establish an official birth record, often for use in government programs or documentation. These records show up separately from the standard annual registration rolls and can fill in gaps for people born before formal registration began.
The Washington State Digital Archives holds indexed early Kitsap County birth records. You can search by name and date range using the free online tool. This is the fastest way to check whether an early Kitsap County birth appears in the historical record without traveling to the county or a state archive branch. The Kitsap County Auditor's office can also provide guidance on what historical records are available locally and how to request copies.
Kitsap County Auditor holds historical birth, death, and marriage records from 1891 to 1907 and can assist with historical records research.
The county auditor's office is the local point of contact for historical birth records that predate the 1907 statewide registration system.
For physical access to microfilm and original documents, the Washington State Archives genealogy page describes the Northwest Regional Archives branch, which covers Kitsap County. Contacting the branch ahead of your visit is recommended to confirm holdings and access procedures.
Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to early Kitsap County birth record indexes and images.
The digital archives search tool lets you look up early Kitsap County birth records by name without visiting an archive in person.
Note: Kitsap County also has Delayed Birth Records from 1941 to 1943 at the State Archives, which can be useful for documenting births that were not registered at the time they occurred.
Additional Resources
The Washington State DOH certificates FAQ answers common questions about the certified versus informational copy distinction, what forms of ID are accepted, and what to do if a request is denied. It is a practical resource before you start the application process. The FAQ is updated to reflect the current rules under the 2021 law changes.
The Washington State Library genealogy guide is a comprehensive reference for family history research in Kitsap County and statewide. It covers available record types, which archives hold them, and how to access both modern and historical birth records. The guide is free to use online.
Note: The state DOH can be reached by email at ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov for written questions about birth certificate requests, eligibility, and ordering options for Kitsap County births.
Cities in Kitsap County
Bremerton is the largest city in Kitsap County and the only city in the county that meets the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Browse birth records resources for counties that border Kitsap County.