El Dorado County Birth Records
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El Dorado County Birth Records (1905-1995)
CaliforniaBirthIndex.org provides free access to El Dorado County birth records from 1905 to 1995. Search by name to find birth dates, parents' names, and county of birth — completely free, no registration required.
What You'll Find in El Dorado County Birth Records
Each birth record in our El Dorado County database includes:
— Full name (first, middle, last)
— Date of birth
— Sex
— Mother's maiden name
— County of birth (El Dorado County)
The California Birth Index does not include time of birth, hospital name, or parents' first names. For those details, you'll need a certified birth certificate (see below).
How to Search El Dorado County Birth Records
Use the search bar at the top of any page to find El Dorado County birth records by first and last name. You can also search by parents' names to find siblings or children born to specific parents in El Dorado County.
About El Dorado County
El Dorado County is one of California's original 27 counties, created in 1850 and named after the legendary city of gold. The county is where James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma on January 24, 1848, sparking the California Gold Rush. The county seat moved from Coloma to Placerville in 1857 as gold diminished. El Dorado County straddles the Sierra Nevada from the foothills to Lake Tahoe, and its population grew from about 16,000 in 1950 to nearly 126,000 by 1990, driven by Sacramento suburban expansion and Tahoe tourism.
How to Get a Certified El Dorado County Birth Certificate
While CaliforniaBirthIndex.org provides free index information, you'll need a certified birth certificate for official purposes like passports, driver's licenses, or proving identity.
El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk
— Address: 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667
— Phone: (530) 621-5490
— Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
— Website: Recorder-Clerk
Fee: $32 per certified copy. As of January 1, 2026. Personal checks have a 15 working day hold period.
Ways to Order
In Person: Visit the Recorder-Clerk at 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667. Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Most in-person requests are processed the same day or within a few business days.
By Mail: Send a completed application with payment (check or money order) to: El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk, 360 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA 95667. Allow 2-4 weeks for processing and delivery.
Through the State: You can also order from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for $31 per copy. See our guide: How to Get a Certified Birth Certificate.
Recent Births
For births within the current and previous calendar year, contact the El Dorado County Office of Vital Statistics. For older records, contact the Recorder-Clerk's office.
El Dorado County Specifics
El Dorado County has two office locations: the main office in Placerville and a satellite office in South Lake Tahoe at 3368 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Suite 108 (by appointment only). The county has its own self-service online portal at recorderclerkservice.edcgov.us for ordering vital records. Note that personal checks are subject to a 15 working day hold.
Authorized vs. Informational Copies
El Dorado County issues two types of certified birth certificates:
— Authorized copy: Can be used to establish identity (for passports, driver's licenses, etc.). Only available to the person named on the certificate, their parents, legal guardians, or other authorized individuals.
— Informational copy: Marked "Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity." Available to anyone but cannot be used for identification purposes.
What If I Can't Find a Record?
If you can't find a El Dorado County birth record in our database, consider:
— Trying alternate name spellings or maiden names
— The birth may have occurred in a neighboring county
— Pre-1905 births are not included in the California Birth Index
— Contact the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk directly at (530) 621-5490
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