Daly City Birth Records

Birth records for Daly City residents are maintained by the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder. Daly City is the largest city in San Mateo County with more than 104,000 residents. The city sits just south of San Francisco on the peninsula. When you need a birth certificate for someone born in Daly City, you must request it through the county office in Redwood City. San Mateo County keeps all vital records for births that occurred anywhere within its boundaries.

Where Daly City Residents Get Birth Certificates

Daly City does not have a local vital records office. Like most California cities, residents must contact the county for birth certificates. The San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder office is in Redwood City, about 20 miles south of Daly City. The drive takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic conditions on Highway 101.

The Redwood City office serves as the central location for all San Mateo County vital records. Staff can look up any birth that happened in the county. The office is in the county government center along with other administrative services. Parking is available in the county lot.

Here is the San Mateo County Clerk-Recorder contact info:

• Address: 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063
• Phone: (650) 363-4500
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
• Website: smcacre.org

San Mateo County charges a fee per certified birth certificate copy. Check the county website for current pricing as fees may change. Payment options at the counter include cash, check, and credit card. Mail orders require a check or money order.

How to Get a Daly City Birth Certificate

There are several ways to get a birth certificate for someone born in Daly City. Each method has different timeframes and steps involved.

Walking into the Redwood City office gives you the quickest results. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. Fill out the vital records request form at the counter. Staff will search their system for the record. If they find it and you qualify, you can get your certified copy the same day. Plan to spend 30 to 45 minutes at the office. Busy periods may extend your wait.

Mail requests work well when visiting is not practical. Download the birth certificate request form from the San Mateo County website. Complete all fields with the birth information. Include a photocopy of your ID and your payment. Send the package to the Clerk-Recorder in Redwood City. Processing takes about 3 to 5 weeks after they receive your request. Allow extra time for mail delivery.

Online ordering is available through third party vendors approved by the county. These services let you submit your application and pay by credit card. They forward your request to the county. The total cost is higher than ordering direct because the vendor adds a service fee. Certificates ship in 2 to 4 weeks when ordering online.

Daly City is close to San Francisco. Some residents may have been born at San Francisco hospitals even though they live in Daly City. If the birth happened in San Francisco, you need to contact San Francisco County instead.

Who Can Get Daly City Birth Records

California law determines who can receive certified copies of birth certificates. These rules apply to all Daly City birth records held by San Mateo County.

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 copies of their parents' birth certificates. Other close family members are also approved. This includes grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings. Spouses and registered domestic partners can request each other's records.

Legal professionals have access in certain cases. Attorneys representing the person or their estate can make requests. Court appointed representatives can get records for their cases. Government agencies and law enforcement can access records for official purposes.

Anyone not on the approved list can still get a copy. It will be an informational version rather than a certified copy. This type has words printed on it saying it cannot be used as ID. The birth information is the same. You just cannot use it for things like passport applications. Genealogy researchers often request informational copies for family tree work.

Peninsula Area Birth Record Resources

Daly City is part of the San Francisco Peninsula region. The area includes several cities in San Mateo County as well as San Francisco to the north. Understanding where a birth took place is important because it determines which county has the record.

Seton Medical Center in Daly City has served the community for many years. Births at this hospital are filed with San Mateo County. Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco is another option for peninsula residents. Its records also go to San Mateo County since the hospital is within county lines.

Residents who need help with vital records paperwork can find notary services throughout Daly City. Many shipping stores, banks, and independent notaries offer this service. Notarization may be needed for certain mail-in applications.

Daly City Birth Certificate Processing Times

The time to get your birth certificate varies by how you order. Plan accordingly based on when you need the document.

In person service at the Redwood City office is usually same day. Most people complete their visit in 30 to 45 minutes. The office can get busy at times. Arriving in the morning often means shorter waits. The office opens at 8 AM.

Mail orders take 3 to 5 weeks to process. This is just the county processing time. Add a week or more for mail transit each way. Total time is typically 5 to 7 weeks from when you send your request. Make sure your form is complete to avoid delays.

Online orders through approved vendors ship in 2 to 4 weeks. Some services offer faster processing for extra fees. Standard shipping takes several additional days. Express shipping options may be available at higher cost.

New birth records need time to enter the system. Wait at least 6 weeks after a birth before ordering. Hospitals have 21 days to file the paperwork. County processing adds more time. Ordering too soon means the record will not be found.

Nearby Cities for Birth Records

Other peninsula cities go through San Mateo County for birth records. San Francisco is a separate county with its own vital records office.

San Francisco has its own vital records office since it is both a city and a county. If the birth happened in San Francisco, contact their office instead of San Mateo County.

San Mateo County Birth Records

For complete details on San Mateo County vital records, including forms and full procedures, see our county page.