Find Butte County Birth Records

Butte County birth records are available from the Clerk-Recorder office in Oroville. The county sits in the northern Sacramento Valley with a population of about 210,000 residents. Chico is the largest city, home to California State University, Chico. Oroville serves as the county seat and the location for in-person vital records requests. The Clerk-Recorder maintains birth certificates dating back many decades. Getting a copy is straightforward whether you visit the office, send a mail request, or order online. This guide covers everything you need to know about requesting Butte County birth certificates.

Butte County Clerk-Recorder Birth Certificate Office

The Butte County Clerk-Recorder handles all vital records for the county. This includes birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses. The main office is in Oroville at the county administration building. They also operate a satellite office in Chico for some services.

Contact info for the Butte County Clerk-Recorder:

• Phone: (530) 552-3400
• Main Address: 25 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965
• Website: buttevotes.net

The Oroville office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting. The Chico location may have limited services for vital records. Check the website for current info on which services are available at each office.

The county website shows details about getting birth certificates. You can find forms to download and print. The site also lists current fees and payment options. Reviewing this info before your visit saves time.

How to Order Butte County Birth Certificates

You have three main ways to get a birth certificate from Butte County. Each has its pros and cons. Choose based on how fast you need it and how far you are from Oroville.

In-person requests at the Oroville office are the quickest. Bring your ID and fill out the request form. Staff will search for the record while you wait. If found, you can get your copy the same day. The fee is $31 per copy. Pay by cash, check, or credit card. Most walk-in requests take 20 to 45 minutes depending on how busy the office is.

Mail requests work well if you cannot travel to Oroville. Get the application form from the county website. Fill it out completely with the birth details. Include the person's full name, date of birth, and place of birth. Add parents' names if known. Sign the form and have it notarized for authorized copies. Send your request with a check or money order for $31 to the Oroville address. Processing takes 2 to 3 weeks. Add time for mail each way.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek. This third-party service handles web orders for California counties. Fill out their online form and pay by credit card. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the county fee. Total cost runs about $38 to $45. Orders ship in 2 to 4 weeks. This option works well when you need convenience and do not mind the extra cost.

For urgent needs, go to the Oroville office in person. Call first to make sure they can help with your specific request. Some complex searches may take extra time.

Who Can Get Butte County Birth Records

California law limits who can get authorized birth certificates. This protects privacy and prevents misuse of personal information. The rules are the same across all 58 counties.

Authorized copies are for people with a close tie to the record. You can get your own birth certificate. Parents and legal guardians can get copies for their children. Adult children can request their parents' records. Spouses, domestic partners, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings are also eligible. Attorneys can get copies for the people they represent. Government workers get access for official business.

Everyone else gets an informational copy. This type has a note on the face of the document. It says the copy cannot be used to prove identity. Informational copies still show all the birth data. They work fine for family research or other non-official uses. You just cannot use them for passports, licenses, or other ID purposes.

When you request a copy, you must show who you are. Bring a valid photo ID to the office. For mail and online orders, you sign a sworn statement under penalty of perjury. This statement confirms your identity and right to the record. Making false statements is a crime in California.

Butte County Birth Records for Chico and Paradise Residents

Chico is the largest city in Butte County. More than 100,000 people live there. Paradise, though smaller after the 2018 Camp Fire, is another key community. Residents of both cities use the Butte County Clerk-Recorder for birth certificates.

Births in Chico hospitals are recorded with Butte County. The same goes for Paradise and other county towns like Oroville, Gridley, and Biggs. No matter where in the county the birth took place, the Clerk-Recorder in Oroville has the record.

Chico residents can drive to the Oroville office. It takes about 25 minutes via Highway 99. The county sometimes offers limited vital records services at the Chico satellite location. Call ahead to check what services are available there. For most people, the main Oroville office is the best bet for complete service.

After the Camp Fire, many Paradise families needed new copies of vital records. The Clerk-Recorder helped process a large number of requests. If you lost records in that fire or any other disaster, the office can help you get replacements.

Butte County Birth Certificate Processing Times

Processing time varies by how you order. Plan ahead if you need the certificate by a certain date. Rush service is not always available.

Walk-in requests at the Oroville office are often done the same day. Staff search the database and print your copy while you wait. Most people are in and out in under an hour. Monday mornings tend to be busier. Mid-week afternoons are usually quieter.

Mail orders take 2 to 3 weeks for the office to process. Your letter needs to reach them first. Then they process it. Then they mail the copy back. Total time is usually 4 to 5 weeks. Make sure your request form is complete. Errors cause delays.

Online orders through VitalChek take 2 to 4 weeks to process. Standard shipping adds more time. Faster shipping options cost extra. Check the VitalChek site for details on shipping speeds.

New births are not in the system right away. Hospitals have 21 days to file. The county then needs time to enter the data. Wait at least 4 to 6 weeks after a birth before ordering. If you order too soon, the search may come up empty.

Butte County Birth Certificate Fees

Butte County charges $31 for each birth certificate copy. This is the standard fee per California state guidelines. The fee applies whether you order in person, by mail, or online.

Additional copies cost the same amount. There is no discount for ordering multiples. If you need three copies, you pay $93 total. Many people order extras to have on hand for future needs.

Payment methods depend on how you order. At the counter, you can use cash, check, or credit card. Some offices add a small fee for card payments. For mail orders, send a check or money order made out to Butte County. Never send cash through the mail. Online orders through VitalChek accept credit and debit cards. Their service fee is added at checkout.

Fees can change over time. The state sometimes adjusts the base fee. Assembly Bill 64 made some changes starting in 2026. Check the current fee when you order by calling the office or checking their website.

Nearby Counties for Birth Records

Butte County is in Northern California. Several counties share its borders. If you are not sure where a birth occurred, you might need to check more than one county.

Counties near Butte:

Families sometimes lived in one county but gave birth in another. Hospitals draw patients from wide areas. A Butte County family might have used a hospital in Shasta or Sutter County. Think about where the birth actually happened when searching.