Pierce County Birth Records
Pierce County birth records are issued by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, which serves both the City of Tacoma and all of Pierce County. Birth certificates are available for Washington births from July 1, 1907 to present. The TPCHD charges $39 per certified copy, which is higher than the standard state rate of $25, so it's worth comparing options before you order. Walk-in service at the Tacoma office often processes same-day. This page covers local ordering, fees, who qualifies for certified copies, online options through VitalChek, and where to find historical Pierce County birth records dating back to the late 19th century.
Pierce County Overview
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Birth Records
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is at 3629 South D Street in Tacoma, WA 98418-6813. Phone: (253) 649-1401. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in requests are often processed the same day, which makes in-person visits the fastest option for getting a birth certificate. Valid government-issued photo ID is required. You also need to demonstrate a qualifying relationship to receive a certified copy under Washington's closed record law.
The TPCHD fee is $39 per certified copy. This is higher than the $25 base rate charged by the Washington State DOH and most other county health offices in Washington. The difference matters if you need multiple copies. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards. The fee is nonrefundable once a request is submitted. Online ordering through VitalChek is also available with additional processing fees on top of the $39 base. Noncertified informational copies are available to anyone, with the same $39 fee and no eligibility requirement beyond a valid ID.
| Office | Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 3629 South D Street, Tacoma, WA 98418-6813 |
| Phone | (253) 649-1401 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Online | tpchd.org/info/birth-and-death-records |
| Fee | $39 per certified copy (higher than state rate) |
| Payment | Cash, check, money order, credit/debit card |
The TPCHD birth and death records page has current ordering instructions, VitalChek links for online orders, and information about what documentation to bring or send. If you're ordering online through VitalChek, note that the VitalChek service fee and delivery fee are charged on top of the $39 base fee.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department birth records page covers local ordering options, fees, and required documents for Pierce County birth certificate requests.
TPCHD handles birth certificate requests for all Pierce County births from 1907 to present, with walk-in same-day service available in Tacoma.
Note: The TPCHD charges $39 per certified copy, which is $14 more than the $25 base fee at the Washington State DOH; if cost is a factor and you don't need same-day service, ordering through the state may be more economical.
Pierce County Online Records Portal
Pierce County maintains a general records portal at piercecountywa.gov that covers various county records available online. For birth certificates specifically, the portal links to the TPCHD and VitalChek. The portal also covers Superior Court records, property records, and other county documents. Superior Court cases for divorce and family law matters from 1991 onward are available online through the court's own search system. For birth records, the TPCHD is the correct contact point, not the Superior Court or the county records portal directly.
Tacoma birth records from 1887 are available at Pierce County Health or through the Washington State Library. These older records predate the 1891 statewide auditor registration requirement and reflect early municipal record-keeping in Tacoma before the county-wide system was established. If you need a birth record from that early period and the TPCHD cannot locate it, the Washington State Library's genealogy holdings are worth checking.
The Pierce County records online portal links to various county databases including Superior Court case records and other public documents.
The Pierce County records portal covers multiple record types available online; for birth certificates, follow links to TPCHD or VitalChek from this portal.
Note: Pierce County Superior Court divorce records from 1991 onward are available online, but birth certificates must be requested through the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, not through the court's online portal.
Certified and Informational Copies
Washington's vital records law, RCW Chapter 70.58A, limits certified copies to qualified individuals. The qualifying categories under RCW 70.58A.530 include: the person named on the certificate (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 courts or government agencies acting in official capacities. The closed record rules apply to all birth certificates regardless of the year of birth.
Anyone who doesn't qualify can still request a noncertified informational copy. Both copies cost $39 at TPCHD. The informational copy has the same birth data but is stamped to show it cannot be used as legal identification. A valid government-issued photo ID must be presented for all requests at the TPCHD office. For certified copies, you must also bring or include documentation proving your qualifying relationship. The TPCHD will not release a certified copy if the eligibility requirement isn't met, and the fee is still charged for the search.
Under RCW 70.58A.540, some birth records are under nondisclosure orders. If a nondisclosure is active, neither certified nor informational copies will be issued to anyone outside the qualified list. TPCHD will confirm that a restriction exists but generally won't explain the specific reason for it.
Note: Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all birth certificate requests at TPCHD, whether you're requesting a certified copy or a noncertified informational copy.
Historical Pierce County Birth Records
Pierce County has one of the longer historical birth record collections in Washington. Tacoma city birth records date back to 1887, reflecting early municipal record-keeping before the county-wide system started in 1891. The Pierce County Auditor birth records from 1891 to 1907 contain 2,422 entries and are available at the Washington State Digital Archives. A separate collection covers the McNeil Island Area Register of Births from 1914 to 1923, which documented births in the McNeil Island community during that period. Marriage records from 1876 to 1947 and from 1984 to 2023 are also available at the state archives.
The Washington State Digital Archives is the easiest way to access the Pierce County auditor birth records from 1891 to 1907. The collection is indexed and searchable by name, date, and record type. Because the collection has been digitized, you don't need to visit a physical archive to search these records. Copies of specific records can generally be ordered online or by mail from the archives. For the McNeil Island collection and other less common holdings, contact the Washington State Archives directly to confirm availability.
The Washington State Digital Archives holds the Pierce County Auditor birth records from 1891 to 1907, searchable online by name and date.
Search Pierce County historical birth records including 2,422 auditor entries from 1891 to 1907 through the Digital Archives free database.
The Washington State Library also maintains genealogy resources that may help with Pierce County research, particularly for the pre-1891 Tacoma records. The library's collection includes city directories, newspaper archives, and other reference materials that can help establish birth dates and parentage when vital records are absent. The Washington State Library genealogy guide describes the statewide holdings and how to access them.
Note: Some early Tacoma birth records from 1887 to 1891 may be held by TPCHD or the Washington State Library rather than the standard auditor collection at the Digital Archives; contact TPCHD if you need records from before 1891.
State DOH as an Alternative for Pierce County
If the $39 TPCHD fee is a concern, or if you prefer online ordering without additional VitalChek fees on top of $39, the Washington State Department of Health can also process Pierce County birth certificate requests. The state base fee is $25 per copy. Online/phone orders through VitalChek add $8.50 plus $7.00. In-person appointments add $13.50 plus $2.50. All state fees are nonrefundable. Mail orders take 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek orders arrive in 3 to 7 business days. Phone: 360-236-4300. VitalChek: 1-866-687-1464. Mail: PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507.
The state office is at 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 (by appointment). The state applies the same closed record rules as TPCHD. If you qualify for a certified copy through TPCHD, you'll qualify through the state office as well. The same documentation requirements apply either way. For same-day service, the TPCHD walk-in option in Tacoma is more convenient for local residents. The DOH ordering page explains the state's process in full.
Note: Ordering a Pierce County birth certificate through the Washington State DOH costs $25 base versus $39 at TPCHD; the tradeoff is longer processing time for mail orders and no same-day service outside the Tumwater appointment option.
Cities in Pierce County
Pierce County includes several cities and communities large enough for dedicated birth records pages. Each city page covers local courthouse information and resources for that area.
Nearby Counties
Pierce County borders several other Washington counties. Each county page below has local birth records contact information.