Birth & Death Records | Kern County, CA

Contact

Kern County Office of Vital Records
1800 Mt Vernon Ave, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93306-3302

(661) 321-3000
(661) 868-0201 Fax
phvitalstatistics@kerncounty.com

Hours

Monday – Friday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

(Excluding Holidays)

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Effective January 1, 2026, fees for vital records will increase in accordance with California Assembly Bill 64. The new fees will be: Birth Certificates – $31, Death Certificates – $26, and Fetal Death Certificates – $23. Any orders received by mail after December 23, 2025 will be subject to the new fee. Please plan ahead for any upcoming requests.

Use the options below to learn how to obtain certified or informational birth and death certificates from Kern County Public Health.

Birth Certificates

Order a Birth Certificate

Eligibility

The birth must have occurred in Kern County.
The birth must have occurred after 1964.
For births before 1965, contact the Kern County Recorder’s Office

Fees

$29.00 per copy for both certified or informational certificates

How to Request a Birth Certificate

1. By Mail

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Application must be notarized.

Mail your:

Completed Application for Birth Certificate
Check or money order (no cash)
Self-addressed stamped envelope

To:

Kern County Public Health
Attn: Office of Vital Records
1800 Mt Vernon Ave, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93306-3302

2. In Person

Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (excluding holidays)
Visit:
Kern County Public Health
1800 Mt. Vernon Ave, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93306-3302
(661) 321-3000

3. Online

Order securely through VitalChek.

Additional Resources

Born in another California county
- California State Office of Vital Records
Born outside California
- Center for Health Statistics - Nationwide Vital Records

Death Certificates

Order a Birth Certificate

Eligibility

The death must have occurred in Kern County.
The death must have occurred after 1992.
For deaths before 1993, contact the Kern County Recorder’s Office.

Fees

$24.00 per copy (certified or informational death certificate)
$21.00 per copy (certified or informational fetal death certificate)

How to Request a Death Certificate

1. By Mail - General Public

Complete the Death Certificate Request

Death Certificate Request Preview - English

English (PDF)

Spanish (PDF)

Application must be notarized.

Mail your:

Completed Application for Birth Certificate
Check or money order (no cash)
Self-addressed stamped envelope

To:

Kern County Public Health
Attn: Office of Vital Records
1800 Mt Vernon Ave, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93306-3302

2. By Mail - Funeral Establishments

Credit Card Authorization Form (PDF)

Funeral Establishment Death Certificate Request (PDF)

Mail both forms along with payment and self-addressed stamped envelope to the address above.

3. In Person

Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (excluding holidays)
Visit:
Kern County Public Health
1800 Mt. Vernon Ave, 1st Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93306-3302
(661) 321-3000

4. Online

Order securely through VitalChek.

Additional Resources

Death occured in another California county
- California State Office of Vital Records
Death occured outside California
- Center for Health Statistics - Nationwide Vital Records

Mortality Data

Vitals Team Members