Pend Oreille County Birth Records
Pend Oreille County birth records from 1920 onward are issued through the Spokane Regional Health District, which serves Pend Oreille County for vital records purposes. The SRHD office is in Spokane, not in Newport. Pend Oreille is Washington's youngest county, created in 1911, and its birth certificate records start from 1920 at the regional health district level. This page covers where to go for certified copies, who qualifies under Washington's closed record law, what the fees are, and how to access the county's historical birth records that date back to 1903 at the state archives.
Pend Oreille County Overview
Spokane Regional Health District Birth Certificates
The Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) issues birth certificates for Pend Oreille County births from 1920 to present. The SRHD office is at 1101 West College Avenue, Room 180, Spokane, WA 99201-2095. Walk-in hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone: 509-324-1601. The fee is $25 per copy. The fee cannot be waived under Washington state law. All fees are nonrefundable.
SRHD serves multiple eastern Washington counties for vital records issuance. Because Pend Oreille County lacks its own local health department that issues birth certificates, the SRHD in Spokane is the designated issuing office. This means Pend Oreille residents ordering in person need to travel to Spokane, or submit by mail to the SRHD address. For births from July 1, 1907 through 1919, the Washington State Department of Health in Tumwater is the correct source since SRHD records start in 1920.
| Office | Spokane Regional Health District |
|---|---|
| Address | 1101 West College Avenue, Room 180, Spokane, WA 99201-2095 |
| Phone | 509-324-1601 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Online | srhd.org/birth-death-certificates-faqs |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy (cannot be waived) |
The SRHD birth and death certificates FAQ page explains the ordering process, required documents, and what to do if your request is denied or a record cannot be located. Check that page for any updates to hours or procedures before visiting.
The Spokane Regional Health District birth and death certificates FAQ page provides ordering instructions for Pend Oreille County and other eastern Washington counties served by SRHD.
SRHD is the issuing office for Pend Oreille County birth certificates from 1920 onward. This page covers procedures and contact details.
Note: The SRHD $25 fee cannot be waived under Washington state law, even for financial hardship; this applies to all Pend Oreille County birth certificate requests processed through SRHD.
Who Can Get a Certified Copy
Washington closed its birth records on January 1, 2021, when RCW Chapter 70.58A took effect. Certified copies of birth certificates are limited to qualified individuals under RCW 70.58A.530. The law covers: 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 with an official need.
Anyone outside the qualified list can still request a noncertified informational copy. Informational copies contain the same data but carry a stamp stating they cannot be used for legal identification. The cost is $25, same as a certified copy. Valid photo ID is required for all requests. For certified copies, written proof of the qualifying relationship is also required. Bring or include a clear copy of a driver's license or other government-issued ID, and attach supporting documents for relationship proof, such as a birth certificate showing parentage or a marriage certificate.
Under RCW 70.58A.540, some individuals have filed nondisclosure requests that restrict their records from general access. If a nondisclosure is active, SRHD will decline to release the record to anyone outside the statutory qualified list.
Note: Government-issued photo ID and proof of qualifying relationship must be included with every certified copy request submitted to SRHD for a Pend Oreille County birth certificate.
Historical Pend Oreille County Birth Records
Pend Oreille County was created on March 1, 1911, from Stevens County, making it the youngest county in Washington. Because the county wasn't established until 1911, formal county-level record keeping started that year. The Washington State Archives holds Pend Oreille County Auditor birth records from 1903 to 1935, which covers a period both before and after the county's formation. That collection contains 1,812 birth entries. Records in this collection are restricted for 100 years, meaning records are released as the restriction period ends for each entry. As of 2026, records through 1925 are generally accessible, with restrictions still applying to later entries.
The County Auditor's office in Newport holds marriage and land records from 1911. The County Clerk at the Newport courthouse holds divorce and court records from 1911 as well. For divorce records specifically, contact the Pend Oreille County Clerk at (509) 447-2435. For recorded marriage licenses, the number is (509) 447-6473. These records aren't direct birth records, but they can help fill in family history details when direct documentation is incomplete.
The Eastern Regional Archives branch handles collections from eastern Washington counties including Pend Oreille. Contact: eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov or (509) 235-7508. The Washington State Digital Archives may also have indexed portions of the Pend Oreille County birth collection, allowing online searching before committing to a visit or copy request.
The Washington State Digital Archives provides online searching of eastern Washington county records including Pend Oreille County birth registers.
Search the Digital Archives for indexed Pend Oreille County birth records from the early 20th century before contacting the physical archive branch.
Note: Pend Oreille County birth records in the state archives collection are subject to a 100-year restriction period; records before 1926 are generally accessible as of 2026, but confirm with the Eastern Regional Archives before requesting copies.
Pend Oreille County Public Records and Courthouse
The Pend Oreille County Courthouse is at 229 South Garden Avenue in Newport, WA 99156. The main courthouse phone is 509-447-4110. The courthouse houses the County Auditor, County Clerk, and other county offices. While birth certificates are not issued from the courthouse, it is the right contact point for marriage records, land records, divorce decrees, and court files. The county's public records request process for non-vital records is through the county's official records portal.
The Pend Oreille County public records request page describes how to submit a public records request for county documents that are not handled through the health district. This covers court records, property records, and other administrative documents. If you need a document that doesn't fall under vital records, this is the right place to start.
The Pend Oreille County public records request page covers how to request non-vital county documents including court and property records.
Use the county public records portal for non-vital documents such as court files, land records, and other administrative records from Pend Oreille County.
Note: Divorce decrees from Pend Oreille County are held by the Pend Oreille County Clerk at (509) 447-2435, not through SRHD or the Washington State DOH.
Washington Vital Records Law
The controlling statute for Washington birth records is RCW Chapter 70.58A. This statute governs how records are created, maintained, corrected, and released. It established the closed record system that took effect January 1, 2021, and defines the qualified requester categories. The law applies uniformly to all issuing offices across Washington, including SRHD in Spokane when it acts as the issuing office for Pend Oreille County.
One provision that specifically affects Pend Oreille County is the rule that the $25 fee cannot be waived. Under RCW 70.58.107, which was carried forward into the current statute framework, the fee is mandatory and uniform. There is no financial hardship exception, and the fee is charged regardless of whether the record is found. If a record search is conducted but the record cannot be located, the fee is still charged and the requester receives a no-record-found notice. This applies to all Washington counties and is not unique to Pend Oreille or SRHD.
RCW 70.58A.530 lists who qualifies for certified birth certificates and what documentation is required with each request.
Review this statute page for the complete qualified requester list and the documentation standards that apply to Pend Oreille County birth certificate requests.
Cities in Pend Oreille County
Pend Oreille County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated birth records page. Newport is the county seat. Residents can contact SRHD in Spokane for birth certificates or reach the county courthouse in Newport for other records.
Nearby Counties
Pend Oreille County borders three other Washington counties. Use the links below for birth records information in each neighboring county.