St. Louis County Birth Records
St. Louis County birth records are available from the St. Louis County Office of Vital Records in Berkeley, which serves the county (not the independent City of St. Louis) for births from 1920 forward. The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City holds all state-registered Missouri births from January 1910. Both offices charge $15 per certified copy. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek.
St. Louis County Quick Facts
St. Louis County Office of Vital Records
The St. Louis County Office of Vital Records provides certified copies of birth and death certificates for Missouri. This office serves St. Louis County, which is a separate jurisdiction from the independent City of St. Louis. The county office is located in Berkeley and is open Monday through Friday.
| Office | St. Louis County Office of Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 6121 N Hanley Rd Berkeley, MO 63134 |
| Phone | (314) 615-1720 |
| DPH.VitalRecords@stlouiscountymo.gov | |
| Hours | Mon - Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (First Friday of each month opens at 9:00 a.m.) |
| Records | Birth certificates, 1920 to present |
Bring valid photo ID when you visit. The fee is $15 per certified copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $11 each. Be aware that on the first Friday of each month, the office opens at 9:00 a.m. rather than 8:00 a.m.
Note: This office does not serve City of St. Louis residents. If you need a record tied to the City of St. Louis, contact the City of St. Louis Recorder of Deeds.
St. Louis County vs. City of St. Louis
Missouri has an unusual setup: the City of St. Louis is an independent city, not part of St. Louis County. This matters for birth records. If you are not sure which jurisdiction your record falls under, check the city or address on the original birth documentation.
For City of St. Louis births, the state office in Jefferson City holds records from 1910. Residents in the City area can also contact the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records directly. The St. Louis County Office of Vital Records at 6121 N Hanley Rd handles records for county residents only.
Birth records from before 1910 may be available from the St. Louis County Health Department for county births, or through historical archives for city births.
St. Louis County Vital Records Image
The St. Louis County Office of Vital Records page provides full contact details, hours, and guidance for requesting birth and death certificates.
The office is at 6121 N Hanley Rd in Berkeley and serves the county's large population with in-person and mail-in request options.
Missouri Bureau of Vital Records
The Missouri Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City is the state-level source for all Missouri birth records from January 1910 forward. This includes both St. Louis County and City of St. Louis records. The fee is $15 per copy, with $11 for additional copies in the same order.
| Office | Missouri Bureau of Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 930 Wildwood Drive Jefferson City, MO 65102 |
| Phone | (573) 751-6387 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
| Records | Birth certificates, January 1910 to present |
Mail orders require the application form from the DHSS vital records page, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order. Online orders go through VitalChek with a credit card.
How to Get a St. Louis County Birth Certificate
St. Louis County residents have three options for requesting a certified birth record.
In person at the Berkeley office is the most direct option for county births from 1920 forward. Bring your ID, fill out the request, and pay $15. Most copies are issued the same day. Remember the office opens at 9:00 a.m. on the first Friday of each month.
By mail to the state bureau works for county births from 1910 onward. Fill out the state form, include a copy of your ID, and mail a check payable to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Processing takes several weeks.
Online through VitalChek covers state bureau records. Pay by credit card, and a service fee applies above the $15 state fee.
Note: Certified copies are restricted to the registrant, parents listed on the record, legal guardians, adult children or siblings, and authorized agents.
Who Can Access St. Louis County Birth Records
Missouri law under RSMo 193.245 limits who may receive certified copies. Eligible parties include the person named on the record, parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, adult children or siblings of the registrant, and their attorneys or authorized agents. Government agencies may access records for official purposes.
Once a birth record is 100 years old, it becomes available through the Missouri State Archives. Many older St. Louis County records are digitized and searchable through the Missouri Digital Heritage database at no cost.
The CDC Missouri vital records guide is useful for understanding which types of records are available and where to find them by time period.
Missouri Birth Record Laws
St. Louis County birth records fall under Chapter 193 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. This chapter governs registration, access, fees, and corrections statewide. Key statutes include RSMo 193.255 on access rights, RSMo 193.265 on fees, and RSMo 193.105 on delayed registration. Adult adoptees seeking original birth certificates should review RSMo 193.128.
Cities in St. Louis County
St. Louis County is Missouri's most populous county with many incorporated cities. Florissant is the largest city in the county with a population over 100,000 and has a dedicated city records page. Clayton is the county seat. Other major communities include Chesterfield, Ballwin, Kirkwood, University City, and many others, but none besides Florissant reach the 100,000 threshold.
Nearby Counties
These counties border St. Louis County. Each maintains birth records through its local public health agency for records from 1920 forward and the Missouri Bureau of Vital Records for all records from 1910.