Health & Human services

The City of Long Beach Vital Records office maintains birth and death records for events occurring in Long Beach. Requesting birth and death certificate copies are made by mail or in person (by appointment only).  

• Birth Records

  

  We maintain birth records for babies born in Long Beach under the age of 1 years old. Upon the infant's first birthday, records must be requested through the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office  at 800.201.8999. 
  For individuals born outside of Los Angeles County, please call the county of birth directly, as each jurisdiction has its own procedures. County Registrars and Recorders.
  
  Birth records for eligible residents can be obtained through an in-person visit or through mail. 
  

  If eligible to obtain records, there are two types of certified copies available upon request:
  

  CERTIFIED COPY	Only available to authorized persons   Must be completed in the presence of Vital Records Office staff  A sworn statement declaring under penalty of perjury that the requester is authorized by law to obtain a certified copy must be signed and completed
  CERTIFIED INFORMATION COPY	If the requester cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, there is an option to obtain a Certified Informational Copy  NOTE: An Informational Certified copy is not valid to establish identity and is for informational purpose ONLY   A sworn statement is not needed

  IN-PERSON
  

  By Appointment Only	Location	Hours	Payment Options
  Please call 562.570.4305 for an appointment	City of Long Beach Department Of Health and Human Services Vital Records 2525 Grand Ave. Long Beach, Ca. 90815	Monday - Thursday We are currently not taking walk-ins. Please make an appointment prior to your visit.	Debit/Credit Card Cash Cashier's Check Check Money Order

  Please arrive at your appointment the following:  
  

  • Birth Certificate Application Form
  • A valid form of identification with picture, such as a driver's license or passport
  • Full name of the person as it appears on the birth certificate  
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Mother’s full maiden name 
  • Form of payment

  FEES

  BIRTH CERTIFICATE	$32.00 per copy
  SAME-DAY RUSH (optional)	additional charge of $23.00

  SAME-DAY RUSH is only available for births registered by the State office of Vital Records, which can take up to 30 days after an infant's date of birth.
  
  If you choose not to pay the RUSH fee the application will be processed and mailed within 10 business days.  Birth certificates will be mailed through the regular postal service and lost or stolen mail will not be replaced by the City of Long Beach.  A new application will need to be completed and the fee paid. 
  

  REQUESTING BY MAIL
  

  STEPS FOR MAIL-IN REQUEST

  1. Download and complete the Birth Certificate Application Form         NOTE: The application must be signed in the presence of a notary republic 2. Mail in the application, sworn statement, and fee in the amount of $32.00 per copy to:         City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records                          2525 Grand Avenue. Long Beach, CA 90815   The payment of $32.00 may only be submitted through check or money order, do not send cash Make checks payable to City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services  The Office of Vital Records cannot be held responsible for fees paid in cash that are lost, misdirected, or undelivered 3. Please allow up to 2-3 weeks to receive your requested documents. The processing time begins when we have received your completed request. 4. Once your request has been received and evaluated:  ACCEPTED: The application will be processed, and a copy of the document will be mailed.  NOT ACCEPTED (due to insufficient fees/information/documentation): The application request will be mailed back to the requester with a letter explaining what needs to be corrected

   Note: Pursuant to California State Code 103650 the fee for any search of the files and records for a specific record when no certified copy is made shall be paid in advance by the applicant. If a record is not located, the fees for the birth record will be retained as payment for a record search. 

  HOME OR OUT-OF-HOSPITAL BIRTHS

  Home or Out-of-hospital births may be registered in our office by appointment only. Please gather all the necessary documentation prior to scheduling an appointment with us. The birth must have occurred within the City of Long Beach. For births which occurred outside the Long Beach city limits, please contact the Los Angeles County Public Health Department directly at 213.288.7812. 

  Any birth registered on or after the child’s first birthday must be processed by the California Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records as a Delayed Registration of Birth. 

  In order to register Out-of-Hospital or Home Births, all five criteria must be met: 

  1. Identity of the parent(s) 

  2. Pregnancy of the mother 

  3. Infant was born alive 

  4. Birth occurred in the City of Long Beach 

  5. Identity of the witness 

• Death Records

  

  The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services maintains death records for residents who died in Long Beach within one year of death ONLY.  

  All death record requests after one year must be obtained through the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office at 800-201-8999.  

  For deaths occurring outside of Los Angeles County, please contact the county of death, as each jurisdiction has its own procedures for obtaining death certificates. 

  If eligible to obtain records, there are two types of certified copies available upon request: 

  CERTIFIED COPY	Only available to authorized persons   Must be completed in the presence of Vital Records Office staff  A sworn statement declaring under penalty of perjury that the requester is authorized by law to obtain a certified copy must be signed and completed
  CERTIFIED INFORMATION COPY	If the requester cannot obtain an authorized copy under California law, there is an option to obtain a Certified Informational Copy  NOTE: An Informational Certified copy is not valid to establish identity and is for informational purpose ONLY   A sworn statement is not needed

    IN-PERSON

  By Appointment Only	Location	Hours	Payment Options
  Please call 562.570.4305 for an appointment	City of Long Beach Department Of Health and Human Services Vital Records 2525 Grand Ave. Long Beach, Ca. 90815	Monday - Thursday We are currently not taking walk-ins. Please make an appointment prior to your visit.	Debit/Credit Card Cash Cashier's Check Check Money Order

  Please arrive at your appointment the following items/information:

  • Death Certificate Application Form 
  • A valid form of identification with a picture, such as a driver's license or passport
  • Full name of the person as it appears on the birth certificate  
  • Date of Birth  
  • Place of Birth  
  • Mother’s Full Maiden Name 
  • Form of payment 

  FEES

  DEATH CERTIFICATE

  $24.00 (per copy)

  REQUESTING BY MAIL
  

  STEPS FOR MAIL-IN REQUEST

  1. Download and complete the Death Certificate Application Form         NOTE: The application must be signed in the presence of a notary republic 2. Mail in the application, sworn statement, and fee in the amount of $24.00 per copy to:         City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records                          2525 Grand Avenue. Long Beach, CA 90815   The payment of $24.00 may only be submitted through check or money order, do not send cash Make checks payable to City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services  Bank-printed personal checks must include the requester's street address The Office of Vital Records cannot be held responsible for fees paid in cash that are lost, misdirected, or undelivered.

  
  If you request that the certificate be mailed to you, we will process the application and mail it within 7-10 business days from the date that we receive the completed application in our office.

  

  Burial Permits are required by California law prior to the disposition of human remains such as burial, cremation, or scattering of cremated remains. Permits may be obtained through any California licensed funeral establishment or by applying in person at our office. 

  Burial Permits can also be applied for by the legal next of kin, the person with the right to control the disposition, and/or if the death occurred in Long Beach and/or the final resting place of the deceased is in Long Beach.  

  To apply for a Burial, Removal and/or Transit Permit, please contact the Vital Records Office at 562-570-4303. 

  BURIAL PERMIT FEE

  $12.00

  If you are a current EDRS user, please use the EDRS system to create the permits and contact the Vital Records Office at (562) 570-4303.