Long Beach Birth Certificate Lookup

Birth records in Long Beach have a unique situation. The city started its own vital records program in January 2019. This means Long Beach now issues its own birth certificates for babies born in the city since that date. If you need a birth certificate for someone born in Long Beach after January 2019, you work with the city health department. For older births before 2019, you still need to contact Los Angeles County. This split system requires knowing the birth date to figure out where to send your request.

Long Beach Has Its Own Vital Records Office

Long Beach is one of only a few California cities with its own vital records program. The city began issuing birth certificates in January 2019. This program runs through the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services. If your baby was born in Long Beach after that date, the city has your record.

The Long Beach Vital Records Program handles birth certificates for recent births. They maintain the records and issue certified copies. The office is at 2525 Grand Avenue in Long Beach. This is where new parents get birth certificates for their children.

Having a city program can be more convenient for Long Beach residents. You deal with a local office instead of the much larger Los Angeles County system. The city office may have shorter wait times and faster processing for straightforward requests.

The city office only has records from January 2019 onward. This is important to remember. If the birth was before 2019, even by a few months, you need to contact Los Angeles County instead. The city cannot help with older records.

Long Beach Vital Records Contact

The city vital records office is at 2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815. This location handles all birth certificate requests for births since January 2019. The office is part of the Health Department building.

Call 562-570-4305 for questions about Long Beach birth records. Staff can help with fees, processing times, and requirements. They can confirm if your record is in the city system or if you need to contact LA County instead.

Email the office at vitalrecords@longbeach.gov for non-urgent questions. Written requests take longer to get responses than phone calls. Use email for general information rather than time-sensitive matters.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. The office closes for lunch from noon to 1 PM. Plan your visit around these hours. Arriving early usually means shorter waits.

How to Get a Long Beach Birth Certificate

The city offers several ways to request birth certificates. You can order online, by mail, or in person. Each method has different processing times and costs.

Online ordering is available through the city portal. The system at longbeachcavitals.permitium.com lets you submit requests electronically. Enter the birth information, pay by credit card, and the certificate mails to you. Online orders have a $5 service fee plus $0.75 Vital Verify fee on top of the base cost. Processing takes 2 to 4 weeks for new birth certificates.

In-person visits to the Grand Avenue office work for immediate needs. Bring ID and all the birth information. Fill out the form, pay the fee, and wait for processing. Same-day pickup is not always guaranteed. The office policy is pickup within 10 business days for in-person requests. Check current wait times when you visit.

Mail requests can be sent to the office. Include the completed application, payment by check or money order, and a return envelope. Processing takes 2 to 3 weeks. Add time for mail delivery both ways.

For expedited service, the city charges an additional $27. This speeds up processing but does not guarantee overnight delivery. Expedited service works best when you need faster internal processing at the office.

Long Beach Birth Certificate Fees

The city charges $34 per copy for a birth certificate. This is the standard rate as of January 2026. The fee covers the search and one certified copy.

Online orders have additional fees. The $5 service fee and $0.75 Vital Verify fee add to your total. Credit card processing fees may also apply. Budget around $40 to $45 for online orders.

Expedited processing costs an extra $27. This gets your request handled faster at the office. It does not change shipping time. Use expedited service when you need quicker processing but can wait for standard mail delivery.

Payment methods vary by how you order. Online accepts credit and debit cards. In-person accepts cash, check, money order, and cards. Mail orders should include check or money order only. Make payment to City of Long Beach.

Birth Records Before January 2019

Long Beach is in Los Angeles County. For births before January 2019, you need to contact the LA County Registrar-Recorder. The city does not have these older records. They remain with the county.

Call LA County at 800-201-8999 for pre-2019 Long Beach births. Their system works differently than the city program. Fees may vary. Processing times are often longer due to the large volume the county handles.

This split can be confusing. Always check the birth date first. A birth in December 2018 goes to LA County. A birth in January 2019 or later goes to the city. Getting this right saves you time and money by avoiding the wrong office.

If you are unsure which office has your record, call the Long Beach office first. They can confirm if the birth is in their system or direct you to LA County.

Information Needed for Your Request

A birth certificate request requires accurate information. Have these details ready before starting. Missing data causes delays.

Full name at birth is essential. Use the name on the original record. Date of birth must be specific since it determines which office has the record. Place of birth should be Long Beach or the specific hospital name.

Parent names help verify the record. Mother's maiden name and father's full name appear on birth certificates. These fields help find the right record when names are common.

Valid ID is required for in-person pickup. California law limits who can get authorized birth certificates. The list includes the person named, parents, guardians, children, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouse, and domestic partners. Others receive informational copies marked as not valid for ID purposes.

How Long to Get Your Certificate

Processing times depend on the method you choose. In-person requests at the city office can be picked up within 10 business days. This is longer than some county offices that offer same-day service.

Mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks. Add time for mail transit. If you have a deadline, mail may not be fast enough unless you plan well ahead.

Online orders take 2 to 4 weeks for new births. Established records may process faster. Add shipping time after processing completes.

Expedited processing cuts internal handling time. Add $27 to your order for this service. It does not speed up mail delivery. Use it when you need faster processing at the office level.

Nearby Cities in Los Angeles County

Long Beach is unique among LA County cities in having its own vital records office. Most other cities in the county go through Los Angeles County for birth certificates.

Cities like Torrance, Carson, and Lakewood all use LA County for birth records. The county office handles the bulk of birth certificates for the region. Only Long Beach, Berkeley, Pasadena, and San Francisco have their own city programs in California.

If you were born in another city before moving to Long Beach, contact that city's county. Birth records are filed where the birth occurred, not where you live now.