Pacific County Birth Records Search

Pacific County birth records are handled by Pacific County Public Health and Human Services, which has two office locations in South Bend and Long Beach. Both certified and noncertified informational copies are available, but online ordering is not offered. Requests must be made in person or by mail. This page covers both local office locations, who qualifies for certified copies, the fees involved, how the state DOH can help if local service isn't possible, and where to find historical Pacific County birth records dating back to 1891. Pacific County is one of Washington's original counties, created in 1851.

Pacific County Birth Certificate Offices

Pacific County Public Health and Human Services operates two offices that handle vital records requests. The South Bend office is at 1216 Robert Bush Drive and is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. The Long Beach office is at 7013 Sandridge Road and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Both offices can issue certified and noncertified birth certificates for Washington births from July 1, 1907 to present. Neither office offers online ordering. All requests must be submitted in person or by mail.

If you need to submit by mail, send your written request to the South Bend office at the address below. Include a clear copy of your government-issued photo ID, any documentation proving your relationship to the person named on the record, and a check or money order for $25 made out to Pacific County Public Health. Do not send cash. The Courthouse in South Bend is at 300 Memorial Drive. Phone for the courthouse is 360-875-9334.

The Pacific County Public Health vital records page has current instructions, both office addresses, and information about what documents to bring or send with your request.

The Pacific County Public Health vital records page shows both office locations and service hours for birth certificate requests.

This page shows current contact details for both Pacific County offices and what to include when submitting a mail request.

Certified and Noncertified Copies

Washington closed its birth records on January 1, 2021. Under RCW 70.58A.530, certified copies are restricted to qualified individuals. The qualified categories are: the person named on the record (if 18 or older), a spouse or domestic partner, a parent, a stepparent, a child, a stepchild, a sibling, a grandparent, a great-grandparent, a grandchild, a great-grandchild, a legal guardian, a legal representative, an authorized representative, and government agencies or courts acting officially.

Anyone outside that list can request a noncertified informational copy. This copy has the same birth data but carries a stamp indicating it has no legal standing for identification purposes. Both types cost $25 per copy and fees are nonrefundable. Pacific County issues both types at either office location. When submitting a mail request for a certified copy, you must include documentation of your qualifying relationship as well as photo ID. For informational copies, only a valid ID is needed, though you still need to clearly identify the record you're requesting.

Under RCW Chapter 70.58A, nondisclosure requests may restrict access to certain records even for informational copies. If a record is subject to a nondisclosure under RCW 70.58A.540, the office will not release it to anyone outside the qualified list.

Historical Pacific County Birth Records

Pacific County was established in February 1851 from Lewis County, making it one of Washington Territory's original counties. The County Auditor recorded births from 1891 through 1905 and kept marriage records going back to 1868. The courthouse at 300 Memorial Drive in South Bend has been a records repository for the county for well over a century. The state archives hold the Pacific County Auditor Birth Register from 1891 through 1915 under reference GEN MICRO 979.792 BIRTH 1891-1915. That's an extended range similar to Okanogan County, giving researchers records that overlap with the early state registration period.

The Washington State Archives also holds Pacific County marriage records from 1872 to 1947 and from 1996 to 2024. These are useful companion records for genealogy research, particularly when trying to connect birth documentation with family structure. The Washington State Digital Archives has indexed many Pacific County records, and you can search there by name and record type without visiting a physical location. If the digitized version is incomplete or unclear, the physical archive can provide copies of original documents.

The Washington State Digital Archives has indexes for Pacific County auditor birth records from the 1891 to 1915 period.

Search pre-1907 and early 20th century Pacific County birth records through this free state archive database.

The Washington State Library Pacific County research guide is a useful reference for anyone doing in-depth genealogy work on Pacific County families. The guide lists available collections, explains what's been digitized, and points to physical holdings at libraries and archives across the state. It's worth checking before making a long research trip to confirm that the records you need are actually available in a given location.

The Washington State Library Pacific County research guide lists genealogy and historical records resources for Pacific County.

Use this guide to identify what Pacific County records are available through libraries and archives across Washington State.

Washington State DOH as an Alternative

If in-person and mail requests to Pacific County are not practical, the Washington State Department of Health can process Pacific County birth certificate requests. The state office offers online ordering through VitalChek, which Pacific County does not provide. This makes the state DOH the better option if you want to place a request without mailing a physical form or visiting an office.

State DOH fees: $25 per copy by mail; $25 plus $8.50 service fee plus $7.00 delivery for VitalChek online or phone orders; $25 plus $13.50 appointment fee plus $2.50 for in-person service at the Tumwater office. All fees nonrefundable. Mail takes 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek orders arrive in 3 to 7 business days. Phone: 360-236-4300. VitalChek: 1-866-687-1464. Mail to: PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507. The DOH ordering page has complete instructions and links to the VitalChek portal.

Washington Birth Record Statutes

Birth records in Washington are governed by RCW Chapter 70.58A, the Revised Uniform Vital Statistics Act. This statute establishes the rules for record creation, maintenance, access, and amendment. It defines who qualifies for certified copies, what an informational copy is, when nondisclosure applies, and how the state DOH and county offices share responsibilities for record issuance. The law applies uniformly across all 39 Washington counties including Pacific.

For Pacific County specifically, the law means that the two local health offices must follow the same access rules as the state office. The same eligibility criteria apply whether you walk into the South Bend or Long Beach office. The county cannot grant access to anyone the statute doesn't authorize. If a request is denied, the requester can contact the state DOH to appeal or explore whether an alternative process is available for their specific situation.

RCW Chapter 70.58A sets out the legal framework for all Washington birth certificate access and vital records management.

Read the full text of Washington's vital records statute to understand the rules that apply to Pacific County birth certificate requests.

Cities in Pacific County

Pacific County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated birth records page. South Bend is the county seat. Both the South Bend and Long Beach offices of Pacific County Public Health handle birth certificate requests for residents throughout the county.

Nearby Counties

Pacific County neighbors the following Washington counties. Each link leads to that county's birth records page.