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How to order an Ohio birth certificate

Who holds it: ODH Bureau of Vital Statistics (Dec. 20, 1908–present) and local health departments (local registrars)1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How to search and order
  2. Fees
  3. Who may order and what is restricted
  4. Older records and indexes
  5. More details
  6. Related records in Ohio
  7. How Ohio handles it
  8. Birth certificates in Ohio counties with a full guide
  9. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  10. Sources

Fee

$21.50 per certified birth record (search fee, charged even if no record found)2

Who may order

Any applicant (Ohio vital records are open), unless the record ceased to be public (e.g., adoption, sealed)3

Search fee rule

Since Jan. 1, 2025 the $21.50 is a search fee whether or not a record is located2

Fee charged

How to search and order

How to order
Online (VitalChek-run ODH portal, credit card), by mail, or in person2
Online portal
Online orders: processed within five business days; ~3 weeks USPS delivery; no expedite2

Fees

Heirloom fee
$25.00 heirloom birth certificate2

Who may order and what is restricted

Restrictions
"Medical and health use only" section withheld except to the registrant, parents, guardian, lineal descendant or law enforcement3

Older records and indexes

Genealogy note
Do not order online for genealogy, dual citizenship or international uses – mail-in required2

More details

Local offices
More than 100 local offices (local health departments) offer in-person or other same-day certified copies; ODH publishes a Local Vital Statistics Directory with addresses, phone numbers and cost per copy2
Death certificates: who holds it
ODH Bureau of Vital Statistics for 1971–present; pre-1971 deaths: local health department where death occurred (certified copies); originals 1908–1970 at Ohio History Connection2
Death certificates: fee
$21.50 per certified death record2

How Ohio handles it

  • Open vital records. Any applicant3

Birth certificates in Ohio counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Allen CountyAllen County Public Health4—$27.00 per certified copy5
Ashland CountyAshland County Health Department, Vital Statistics6—$25 per certificate; VitalChek adds $7.006
Ashtabula CountyAshtabula County Health Department - Vital Statistics7—$25.00 per certified copy (effective 2/1/2016)8
Athens CountyAthens City-County Health Department, Vital Statistics9—$22.00 per copy9
Belmont CountyBelmont County Health Department, Vital Statistics10——
Butler CountyButler County General Health District11—$25.00 each; cash, money order or credit card (2.5% fee, $2.00 minimum); no personal checks11
Clark CountyClark County Combined Health District, Vital Statistics12—$24.00 per certified birth abstract (walk-in, mail or VitalChek, plus VitalChek fees online)12
Clermont CountyClermont County Public Health, Vital Statistics13—$25.00 per certified copy ($11.64 health district + $13.36 state); mail orders add $2.50 shipping and handling14
Columbiana CountyColumbiana County General Health District, Vital Statistics15—$27.00 per certified copy; $1.00 processing fee per mailed certificate (from March 1, 2025); VitalChek adds $716
Cuyahoga CountyVital Statistics17—$21.50 (ODH certified birth record)18
Darke CountyDarke County General Health District, Vital Statistics19—$24 each19
Delaware CountyDelaware Public Health District, Vital Statistics20—$25 for each certificate (mail orders; checks payable to DPHD)21
Erie CountyErie County Health Department, Bureau of Vital Statistics22—Probate fee: Certified copy of birth or death record prior to 1908: $15.0023
Fairfield CountyFairfield County Health Department, Vital Statistics24—$32 per certificate; card fees apply24
Franklin CountyOhio Department of Health or a local health department (local registrar)25——
Greene CountyGreene County Public Health: Vital Statistics Office26—$24.00 per certified copy; uncertified copies no longer available (Ohio House Bill 95)26
Hamilton CountyHamilton County Public Health - Vital Records27—$24 per certified copy (any Ohio birth)28
Hancock CountyHancock Public Health29—$30.00 per certified copy30
Huron CountyHuron County Public Health, Office of Birth and Death Records31—$25.00 per certified copy; $6.00 mailing fee32
Jefferson CountyJefferson County General Health District, Vital Statistics Division33——
Knox County———
Lake CountyLake County General Health District34——
Lawrence CountyLawrence County Health Department35——
Licking CountyLicking County Health Department36—Certified copy fee: $25.00 (includes $13.50 state fees)36
Lorain CountyLorain County Public Health, Vital Statistics37—$25 per certified copy; uncertified copies not available37
Lucas CountyToledo-Lucas County Health Department - Vital Statistics38—$25 per certified copy (no uncertified copies); VitalChek online adds $7.00 plus shipping; credit card processing fee extra39
Mahoning CountyCity of Youngstown Health Department Vital Statistics40——
Marion CountyMarion Public Health, Vital Statistics Office41—$25.00 per certified birth or death certificate; $2.50 extra by card; no personal checks41
Medina CountyMedina County Health Department, Birth & Death Records42—Certified copy fee: $26.00 per certified copy (from August 4, 2025); +$2.00 mail service fee for mail/phone orders42
Miami CountyMiami County Public Health43—$25.00 per certified birth certificate (also borderless $25.00); any Ohio birth43
Montgomery CountyMontgomery County Combined Health District Bureau of Vital Statistics, 117 South Main Street, Dayton44——
Muskingum CountyZanesville-Muskingum County Health Department, Vital Records45—$25.00 certified (includes $13.36 state fees); by mail $25.82 for one including postage46
Pickaway CountyPickaway County Public Health, Vital Statistics47—$30.00 per certified copy at the county health department48
Portage CountyKent City Health Department, Vital Statistics49—$24.00 per certified copy (Kent City Health Department, Ohio births/deaths 1909-present)50
Richland CountyRichland Public Health, Vital Statistics51—$25 per copy52
Ross CountyRoss County Health District, Vital Statistics53—$30 per certified birth record53
Sandusky CountySandusky County Public Health, Vital Statistics54—$25.00 each55
Scioto CountyScioto County Health Department (local); also Ohio Department of Health statewide56——
Seneca CountySeneca County General Health District, Vital Statistics57—$25 per copy; card payments add a processing fee57
Stark CountyStark County Health Department issues any Ohio birth record58——
Summit CountySummit County Public Health issues certified birth certificates for anyone born anywhere in Ohio59——
Trumbull CountyCertified birth certificates $25 each from Warren City Health Department Vital Statistics (in person or by mail)60——
Tuscarawas CountyHealth Department61——
Union CountyAfter 1909: Union County Health Department; 1867-1909: Probate Court ($3.00 each)62—County fee: $25.00 per certified birth certificate (Union County Health Department)63
Warren CountyWarren County Health District, Department of Birth and Death Records64—$22.00 per certified copy64
Washington CountyWashington County Health Department, Vital Statistics65—$25.00 each66
Wayne CountyWayne County Health Department, Vital Statistics67—$27 per certified certificate; $2 extra to mail68
Wood CountyWood County Health Department, Vital Records69—$25 certified; protective sleeve $1.0069

For any other county, see the county list on the Ohio guide.

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Ohio office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: birth certificates in every state. Everything else in Ohio: Ohio public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Vital StatisticsOhio Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  2. How to Order CertificatesOhio Department of Health – Bureau of Vital Statisticschecked November 4, 2026
  3. Ohio Revised Code 3705.23 – Certified copies of vital recordsOhio Legislative Service Commission (codes.ohio.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  4. Allen County Ohio homepageAllen County Commissionerschecked November 4, 2026
  5. Birth & Death RecordsAllen County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  6. Birth and Death RecordsAshland County Health Departmentchecked November 7, 2026
  7. Government menuAshtabula Countychecked November 4, 2026
  8. Vital StatisticsAshtabula County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  9. Vital StatisticsAthens City-County Health Departmentchecked November 7, 2026
  10. Birth & Death RecordsBelmont County Probate Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  11. Birth & Death CertificatesButler County General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  12. Birth and Death RecordsClark County Combined Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Recorder I Want To… (FAQ)Clermont County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  14. Fee Schedule (PDF)Clermont County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  15. Columbiana County PortalColumbiana Countychecked November 4, 2026
  16. Vital Statistics (Birth/Death Records)Columbiana County General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  17. Department A-Z DirectoryCuyahoga Countychecked November 4, 2026
  18. Order a Birth or Death CertificateOhio Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Birth & DeathDarke County General Health Districtchecked November 7, 2026
  20. Government Offices & AgenciesDelaware County, Ohioarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  21. Birth & Death CertificatesDelaware Public Health District (linked from county Government Offices & Agencies page)checked November 4, 2026
  22. Erie County, Ohio home pageErie County, Ohiochecked November 6, 2026
  23. Schedule of FeesErie County Probate Courtchecked November 6, 2026
  24. Vital Statistics, Birth & Death CertificatesFairfield Countychecked November 4, 2026
  25. Order a Birth or Death CertificateOhio Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  26. Birth and Death CertificatesGreene County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  27. Hamilton County, OH (home)Hamilton County, Ohiochecked November 4, 2026
  28. Birth & Death CertificatesHamilton County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  29. Hancock Public Health homeHancock Public Healthchecked November 6, 2026
  30. Birth and Death RecordsHancock Public Healthchecked November 6, 2026
  31. Huron County, OH home page (departments menu)Huron County, Ohiochecked November 7, 2026
  32. Birth & Death CertificatesHuron County Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
  33. Jefferson County, Ohio (home page and menus)Jefferson County, Ohiochecked November 7, 2026
  34. Birth and Death RecordsLake County General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  35. DepartmentsLawrence County Board of Commissionerschecked November 7, 2026
  36. Vitals |Licking County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  37. Birth CertificatesLorain County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  38. Lucas County Records CenterLucas County Clerk of Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  39. Birth CertificatesToledo-Lucas County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  40. Health - Vital Statistics DivisionCity of Youngstownchecked November 4, 2026
  41. Birth & Death CertificatesMarion Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  42. Birth and Death | Medina County Health DepartmentMedina County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  43. Birth & Death RecordsMiami County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  44. FAQs • Montgomery County, OH • CivicEngageMontgomery County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  45. Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Departmentchecked November 6, 2026
  46. Birth & Death CertificatesZanesville-Muskingum County Health Departmentchecked November 6, 2026
  47. Useful WebsitesPickaway County Clerk of Courtschecked November 7, 2026
  48. Birth Certificate RequestPickaway County Public Healthchecked November 7, 2026
  49. Birth and Death RecordsPortage County Combined General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  50. Birth and Death RecordsCity of Kent Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  51. Richland Public Health (county department page)Richland County, Ohiochecked November 4, 2026
  52. Vital StatisticsRichland Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  53. Vital StatisticsRoss County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  54. Birth and Death Records Search | Sandusky County Probate CourtSandusky County, OHchecked November 7, 2026
  55. SC Public Health | Vital StatsSandusky County, OHchecked November 7, 2026
  56. Recorder FAQScioto County Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  57. Birth & Death CertificatesSeneca County General Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  58. Birth RecordsStark County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  59. Fees & FormsSummit County Public Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  60. Warren City Health Department Vital StatisticsCity of Warren Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  61. Birth & Death CertificatesTuscarawas County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  62. Probate Division RecordsUnion County Probate Divisionchecked November 4, 2026
  63. Birth & Death Records – Union County Health DepartmentUnion County Health Department (linked from the Probate Division Records page)checked November 6, 2026
  64. Birth and Death RecordsWarren County Health Districtchecked November 4, 2026
  65. Public Records Request | Washington County, OH - Official WebsiteWashington County, OHchecked November 7, 2026
  66. Birth and Death Records | Washington County, OH - Official WebsiteWashington County, OHchecked November 7, 2026
  67. Wayne County Ohio (home)Wayne County, OHchecked November 4, 2026
  68. Birth and Death RecordsWayne County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026
  69. Birth and Death RecordsWood County Health Departmentchecked November 4, 2026