Access Burbank Birth Records

Birth records for Burbank residents are managed by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Burbank is a city of about 107,000 people in the San Fernando Valley region of LA County. The city is known as the media capital of the world, home to major studios and entertainment companies. When you need a birth certificate for someone born in Burbank, you must go through the LA County vital records system. The county has several office locations across the region.

Where Burbank Residents Get Birth Certificates

Burbank does not have its own vital records office. All birth certificates for Burbank residents come from Los Angeles County. LA County is the most populous county in the United States with over 10 million residents. The county handles hundreds of thousands of vital records requests each year.

The main LA County Registrar-Recorder office is in Norwalk, about 25 miles from Burbank. For Burbank residents, this may not be the most convenient location. However, LA County has branch offices in other parts of the county that may be closer depending on where you live or work.

Here is the main LA County office contact info:

• Address: 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650
• Phone: (562) 462-2137
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
• Website: lavote.gov/home/county-clerk/vital-records

The cost is $34 for each certified copy of a birth certificate. This fee applies whether you order in person, by mail, or online. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted at county offices. Mail orders require a check or money order.

How to Get a Burbank Birth Certificate

Burbank residents have three ways to request birth certificates from LA County. Each method works a bit differently.

In person visits get you the fastest service. Drive to an LA County office with your photo ID. Fill out the request form at the counter. Staff will look up the record while you wait. If they find it, and you qualify for a certified copy, you leave with it that day. The visit usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. Busy days take longer. Getting there early helps avoid long lines.

Mailing in your request works well if visiting is not practical. Download the application from the LA County website. Fill it out with the birth details. Include a copy of your ID and a check or money order for $34 per copy. Mail everything to the Norwalk office. Expect processing to take 4 to 6 weeks. Add time for postal delivery both directions.

Online ordering is available through approved services. These third party websites let you submit your request and pay online. They pass your request to the county. The total cost is higher than ordering direct. Expect to pay around $45 to $55 when using online vendors. Certificates ship in 2 to 4 weeks through this method.

Many Burbank residents were born at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center or other local hospitals. These facilities file birth records with LA County automatically. You do not need to file anything yourself. The hospital handles all the paperwork in the days after a birth.

Who Can Get Burbank Birth Records

State law limits who can receive certified copies of California birth certificates. These restrictions apply to all Burbank birth records in the LA County system.

The person named on the certificate can request their own record. Parents and legal guardians can get copies for their children. Adult children can request their parents' certificates. Grandparents can get grandchildren's records and vice versa. Siblings are also approved. Spouses and registered domestic partners can request each other's records.

Attorneys and legal representatives have access when working on behalf of the subject or their estate. Government agencies can get records for official purposes. Courts may order records released for legal cases. Everyone else falls outside the approved categories.

If you do not qualify for a certified copy, you can still get an informational version. This copy has a statement printed on it saying it is not valid for ID. The birth data is the same. It just cannot be used for official identification purposes like passport applications. Family history researchers often use informational copies.

Proving your identity is required when you request any birth record. Show a valid photo ID at the counter. Mail requests must include a copy of your ID. You also sign a sworn statement about your relationship to the person named.

LA County Office Locations Near Burbank

LA County operates several offices where you can get birth certificates. While none are in Burbank itself, some may be more convenient than the main Norwalk location depending on your schedule.

The Inglewood branch serves parts of central and west LA County. It is at 10831 South La Cienega Boulevard. The Lancaster office at 1040 West Avenue J serves the Antelope Valley. Both locations can process any LA County birth certificate request. Wait times vary by office and day of week.

For the most current list of office locations and their hours, check the LA County Registrar-Recorder website. Services at each branch may differ slightly. It is worth calling ahead to confirm they can handle your specific request before making the trip.

Burbank Birth Certificate Processing Times

The time to receive your birth certificate varies based on how you order. Here is what to expect for each method.

Counter service at an LA County office is same day. Most visits take 30 minutes to an hour. Staff search their computer system for your record. Once located, they print and certify the copy. Very old records may take longer to find. Busy periods extend wait times.

Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks to process at the county. This does not include mail transit time. Plan on 6 to 8 weeks total from mailing your request to receiving your certificate. Incomplete forms slow things down. Double check your application before sending it.

Online vendor orders ship in 2 to 4 weeks typically. Some services offer rush options for additional fees. Shipping method affects delivery time. Standard shipping takes several days. Express shipping costs more but arrives faster.

Newborn records are not available right away. California law gives hospitals 21 days to file birth paperwork. County processing adds more time. Wait at least 6 weeks after a birth before trying to order a certificate. Ordering too early results in a "no record found" response.

Nearby Cities for Birth Records

Other cities in LA County use the same county system for birth records. If a birth occurred in a different LA County city, the same offices can help.

Pasadena is a special case. It is one of the few California cities that issues its own birth certificates for births at Pasadena hospitals. Check our Pasadena page for details on that city's process.

Los Angeles County Birth Records

For full details on LA County vital records, including all branch offices and complete procedures, visit our county page.