San Francisco County Birth Records
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San Francisco County Birth Records (1905-1995)
CaliforniaBirthIndex.org provides free access to San Francisco 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 San Francisco County Birth Records
Each birth record in our San Francisco County database includes:
— Full name (first, middle, last)
— Date of birth
— Sex
— Mother's maiden name
— County of birth (San Francisco 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 San Francisco County Birth Records
Use the search bar at the top of any page to find San Francisco 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 San Francisco County.
About San Francisco County
San Francisco is unique in California as both a city and a county — the two are coterminous. One of the original 27 counties, San Francisco was the center of the Gold Rush and remained California's most populous city well into the 20th century. The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed many early records. Birth records in our database begin in 1905, and the county's population peaked at about 775,000 in 1950 before declining and then recovering.
How to Get a Certified San Francisco 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.
San Francisco County County Clerk
— Address: City Hall, Room 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
— Phone: (415) 554-4950
— Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
— Website: County Clerk
Fee: $22 per certified copy. Includes a certified copy if the record is found. Fee is non-refundable even if no record is located.
Ways to Order
In Person: Visit the County Clerk at City Hall, Room 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102. Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 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: San Francisco County Clerk, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 168, San Francisco, CA 94102. 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 last 3 years, contact the San Francisco Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records at 101 Grove Street, Room 105 — phone (415) 554-2700.
San Francisco County Specifics
San Francisco's birth certificate fee of $22 is notably lower than most other California counties. The county has records going back to 1906 (post-earthquake). Note that the County Clerk handles births that occurred more than 3 years ago — a longer window than most counties' 2-year cutoff. Current turnaround time for online orders is 4-6 weeks. Applicants must bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID for in-person requests.
Authorized vs. Informational Copies
San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco County County Clerk directly at (415) 554-4950
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