Santa Barbara County Birth Records
Search Birth Records:
Santa Barbara County Birth Records (1905-1995)
CaliforniaBirthIndex.org provides free access to Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County Birth Records
Each birth record in our Santa Barbara County database includes:
— Full name (first, middle, last)
— Date of birth
— Sex
— Mother's maiden name
— County of birth (Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County Birth Records
Use the search bar at the top of any page to find Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County.
About Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County is one of California's original 27 counties, established in 1850. Named after the Santa Barbara Mission founded in 1786, the county has a distinct Spanish colonial heritage. While tourism and the University of California at Santa Barbara drove growth in the coastal areas, the northern part of the county around Santa Maria developed as an agricultural center. The county grew from about 99,000 in 1940 to nearly 370,000 by 1990, with growth spread between the Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc areas.
How to Get a Certified Santa Barbara 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.
Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder
— Address: 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
— Phone: (805) 568-2251
— Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
— Website: Clerk-Recorder
Fee: $32 per certified copy. As of January 1, 2026 (AB 64 $2 increase). A $2 mailing fee per order applies to mail requests.
Ways to Order
In Person: Visit the Clerk-Recorder at 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 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: Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder, P.O. Box 159, Santa Barbara, CA 93102-0159. 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 County Health Vital Records. The Clerk-Recorder also maintains all records from 1850 to present.
Santa Barbara County Specifics
Santa Barbara County has two Clerk-Recorder locations: the main office at 1100 Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara and a satellite office at 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 115, Santa Maria (phone (805) 346-8370). The county has its own online self-service ordering system at records.sbcrecorder.com in addition to VitalChek. Birth records go back to 1850, among the earliest in the state. Mail orders incur a $2 mailing fee per order in addition to the per-copy fee.
Authorized vs. Informational Copies
Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder directly at (805) 568-2251
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