Vallejo Birth Records Lookup
Birth records for Vallejo residents are kept by the Solano County Clerk-Recorder office in Fairfield. Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County with around 120,000 people. The city is on San Pablo Bay at the gateway to the North Bay region. Vallejo does not have its own vital records office, so all birth certificate requests go through the county. Fairfield is about 15 miles north of Vallejo along Interstate 80. Residents can visit in person, mail their request, or use online services to get copies of birth certificates.
Vallejo Birth Records Quick Facts
Solano County Clerk-Recorder for Vallejo Births
The Solano County Clerk-Recorder is where Vallejo residents go for birth certificates. This office handles vital records for all cities in the county. The main location is at the Solano County Government Center in Fairfield. Staff can search records and issue certified copies.
Contact the Solano County Clerk-Recorder using the information below. A phone call before your trip helps confirm hours and check wait times.
- Phone: (707) 784-6294
- Address: 675 Texas Street, Suite 2700, Fairfield, CA 94533
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Website: solanocounty.com/depts/recorder
Birth certificates in Solano County cost $36 per copy. This fee applies to all requests from Vallejo and other county cities. Each additional copy costs the same rate. You can pay by cash, check, or credit card at the counter. Mail requests need a check or money order payable to Solano County Clerk-Recorder.
The image shows the California state website for ordering birth certificates. Vallejo residents can use this when the county office is not convenient. State orders cost $29 but processing may take longer.
How to Get a Birth Certificate in Vallejo
Vallejo residents have multiple options for obtaining birth certificates. Choose based on your timeline and ability to travel to Fairfield. Each method has its own timeline and requirements.
In-person visits to the Fairfield office get results quickest. The drive north on I-80 takes about 20 minutes from Vallejo. Bring valid photo ID and information about the birth. Fill out the application at the counter when you arrive. Staff search records while you wait. Most requests wrap up within an hour. You leave with your certified copy that same day. This is the best choice when you need a birth certificate fast.
Mail requests work well if you can wait. Download the birth certificate application from the Solano County website. Complete all sections with the birth details you have. Include a $36 check payable to Solano County Clerk-Recorder. Send everything to the Fairfield address. The office processes mail requests in the order received. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for processing. Add mail time both directions. Expect your copy in about 4 to 5 weeks.
Online ordering through approved vendors offers convenience. Complete a form on their website and pay by credit card. Service fees add to the $36 county rate. Total cost runs around $48 to $54. Standard shipping takes 2 to 4 weeks. Faster shipping costs more. This suits people who prefer not to mail a check or drive to Fairfield.
The California state health department is another option. They have records for all California births since July 1905. State fee is $29 per copy. This source works when you are unsure which county holds the record.
Who Can Get Vallejo Birth Certificates
California limits who can receive authorized birth certificates. The restrictions come from state law and protect privacy. Not everyone who requests a copy gets one that works as legal ID.
You qualify for an authorized copy if you are the person named on the certificate. Parents can get copies for their children at any age. Legal guardians have parent-level rights. Spouses and registered domestic partners qualify. Adult children can request their parents' certificates. Grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings are also approved. Attorneys for eligible people can file requests. Law enforcement and government agencies get access for official work.
Anyone outside that list can still request a copy. They receive an informational version rather than an authorized one. Informational copies have a notice printed on them. The notice says the document cannot establish identity. These copies work for genealogy research. They are not valid for passports, driver's licenses, or official identification.
Every request requires identity proof. Bring government-issued photo ID to the counter. Mail applicants sign statements under penalty of perjury. You must state your relationship to the person on the certificate. False claims are punishable under California law.
Vallejo Birth Record Resources
Vallejo does not issue birth certificates but the city has helpful resources. The public library offers research assistance. City staff can point you toward county services. Several organizations can help with vital records needs.
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center and Sutter Solano Medical Center are major hospitals serving the city. Babies born at these facilities have births registered through the hospital. Staff file paperwork with Solano County automatically. Parents do not need to visit Fairfield to register a newborn. Wait at least 4 to 6 weeks after birth before ordering a certificate. Records take time to process into the county system.
Vallejo has a unique history as California's first state capital from 1852 to 1853. Many families have deep roots in the area. If your ancestors lived in Vallejo, birth records may go back over a century. The county keeps historical records that genealogy researchers find valuable.
For complex situations, legal assistance is available. The Solano County Bar Association has a lawyer referral program. They can connect you with attorneys experienced in vital records matters. Name corrections, amendments, and adoption searches may benefit from legal guidance.
Mare Island Naval Shipyard Birth Records
Vallejo was home to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for over 140 years. The shipyard closed in 1996 but employed thousands of workers and their families over the decades. Some births occurred at Mare Island facilities. These records may be in federal archives rather than county files.
If you are looking for a birth that happened at Mare Island, start with Solano County. The county may have the record depending on when and where the birth occurred. Hospital births on the base may have been registered with the county. Home births on base housing are harder to track down.
The National Archives has some military and dependent records. Contact them if the county search comes up empty. The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis handles military records. They can help locate records for people born on military installations.
Mare Island history attracts genealogy researchers. Many families had generations work at the shipyard. Birth records help trace family lines back through Vallejo's military heritage. Local historical societies maintain archives about Mare Island that supplement official records.
Historical Birth Records in Vallejo
Vallejo incorporated in 1868, making it one of the older cities in the region. Birth records from that era may exist in county files. California began statewide birth registration in July 1905. Before that, only counties kept records, and documentation varied.
Solano County was created in 1850. Early records can be incomplete. Not all births were formally registered in the 1800s. The clerk can tell you what historical records they have available. Some old records have been transferred to microfilm or digital formats.
The California State Archives holds historical vital records. Records more than 75 years old are open to anyone. Researchers do not need to prove a family relationship for old records. Contact the archives at (916) 653-6814 for research assistance.
Family historians have local resources too. The Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum has archives. The Solano County Genealogical Society helps researchers. Church records sometimes contain birth information that government records lack.
Nearby Cities for Birth Records
If the birth did not happen in Vallejo, check nearby areas. Some are in Solano County while others are in Contra Costa or Napa counties. The birth location determines which county holds the record.
Cities near Vallejo include:
Unsure where a birth occurred? The state health department can help. They have an index of all California births since 1905.
More Solano County Birth Record Info
For complete information about Solano County birth records, visit our county page. It covers full contact details, fee schedules, and all ordering methods.