Bronx County Birth Records
Bronx County birth records fall under the New York City system rather than the state Department of Health. The borough is coterminous with Bronx County, so all births here go through NYC agencies. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene holds records from 1910 to the present, and the NYC Municipal Archives keeps older files going back to 1898. Some scattered records from the western Bronx date to 1874. If you are looking for a Bronx birth certificate, this guide covers every source and method available to you.
Bronx County Birth Records at a Glance
NYC Department of Health Bronx Records
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issues birth certificates for all Bronx births from 1910 to the present. Their office is at 125 Worth Street, CN4, Room 133, New York, NY 10013. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. In-person visits need an appointment set up online ahead of time. Call 311 from inside NYC or 212-788-4520 from outside.
Each certified copy costs $15 plus processing fees. Two types of certificates are available. The short form is a computer-generated summary. The long form, sometimes called a vault certificate, is a copy of the original filed document. Most legal uses call for the long form. Parents of newborns get one free copy about four weeks after the birth.
You can also order by mail or online. Online orders go through VitalChek, the authorized vendor for NYC birth certificates. Phone orders can be placed at 866-556-8617. Fax orders go to 866-283-0617. Online and phone orders are processed within 24 hours on weekdays. UPS express mail is an option if you need it fast.
Historical Bronx Birth Records
The NYC Municipal Archives holds Bronx County birth records from 1898 to 1909. Some earlier records exist too. The western Bronx area, which was annexed to New York City in 1874, has records from that year forward. The eastern Bronx, annexed in 1895, has records from then. The Archives is at 31 Chambers Street, Room 103, New York, NY 10007. Phone is (212) 639-9675.
Certificates from the Archives cost $15 if you know the exact year. A search fee of $10 applies when you do not have the year. Many of these old records have been digitized and put online for free through the NYC Historical Vital Records website. You can search by name, date, or certificate number and view high-quality images of the original documents. No registration or fees are needed to use the site.
Bronx County Birth Record Resources
The Bronx County Historical Society at 3309 Bainbridge Avenue runs the Museum of Bronx History and keeps an archive of photographs, maps, and family papers useful for genealogy.
Their phone number is (718) 881-8900. Research help is available, and they publish the Bronx County Historical Society Journal with articles on local families and history.
The Bronx County NYGenWeb page provides free volunteer-maintained links to Bronx genealogy resources and record databases.
This is a good starting point if you are not sure where to begin your search for Bronx birth records.
Bronx County Clerk and State Archives
The Bronx County Clerk at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, does not issue birth certificates. They handle civil court records, land records, and business filings. Phone is (718) 618-3100. Do not go to the County Clerk for vital records.
The New York State Archives in Albany has microfiche indexes for Bronx County birth records through 1909. Researchers must show ID and sign a registration form. There is a one-hour limit on the microfiche readers when others are waiting. State Census records can also help fill out family details when birth certificates are not available. Under Public Health Law Section 4174, genealogy access to birth records requires the 75-year rule and proof of death for the person named.
Getting a Bronx Birth Certificate
For Bronx County births from 1910 on, you have three options. In person at the NYC DOH with an appointment. Online through VitalChek. Or by mail to the NYC DOH office. Under New York City Administrative Code, the person named on the certificate, a parent, a legal guardian, or someone with a court order can request a certified copy. Section 4138 of the Public Health Law applies citywide.
Pre-adoption birth certificates can also be ordered through VitalChek for Bronx County. These show the original name and birth parents before an adoption was finalized. Access to these records is restricted and may require a court order depending on the circumstances.
Note: The NYC DOH does not participate in the state DOH mail order system, so do not send Bronx requests to the Albany address.
Cities in Bronx County
Bronx County is coterminous with the Bronx borough of New York City. All vital records go through NYC agencies.