Birth and Death Records

Kent City Health Department (KCHD) Vital Statistics office issues certified copies of filed Ohio birth certificates and filed Portage Co. Ohio death certificates per Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23.

Notice- KCHD front desk including Vital Statistics will be unavailable as follows:

9:45am until 11:30am- Friday, July 18, 2025 (due to required state training).
Sorry for any inconvenience, thank you.

Vital Statistics fees for each certified copy issued is $24.00, per Ohio Revised Code 3705.242.
Forms of personal identification are not needed to request birth certificates.
New death certificates and newborn birth certificates can take 2 weeks or longer to become available.
All sales are final after certificate issuance, no refunds allowed.
Online orders not picked up after 30 days risk being destroyed.
KCHD is not responsible for USPS mail delays or lost mail, or any shipping agency services.

Please review ordering options and information from the dropdowns below.

Public Requests Online

1. REQUEST IN PERSON PICK UP ("Will Call")
FASTEST! Normally same business day. For those born in Northeast Ohio counties only or for Ohio deaths that occurred in Portage County- place your order and upon notification of issuance, come pick it up.

Choosing the above "Will Call" shipping method is for PICK UP ONLY. Please Note: When completing the required shipping information page- all fields marked with a red * are needed for billing and receipt purposes.
Order Pick Up Location: 201 E. Erie St. 2nd Floor, Kent, OH 44240
(Kent Central Gateway Bldg./PARTA "Use WEST side Entrances Only".)
Covered public parking garage- 15 minutes is free or use any available metered street parking.
Orders not picked up after 30 days risk being destroyed.
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am until 4pm (Closed for Holidays)

2. REQUEST ORDER BE SHIPPED:

Regular USPS Mail- First Class Untraceable
UPS Overnight- Option provided by VitalChek with Tracking Number

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All sales are final after certificate issuance, no refunds allowed.

KCHD is not responsible for USPS mail delivery or lost mail, or any shipping agency services.

Online order transactions are charged to valid bank cards by: Permitium LLC or VitalChek as of 4/1/2025. Any convenience or credit card fees charged are non-refundable upon submittal.

Public Requests by Mail or In-Person

Print, review, complete and submit the Application for Certified Copies- Birth Record (PDF) or Application for Certified Copies- Death Record (PDF).

Submit by mail (include a large self-addressed stamped (postage paid) return envelope)
- Mailing Address: Kent City Health Department Attn: Vital Statistics, 201-G E. Erie St., Kent, Ohio 44240
Submit in-person 8am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday (closed most holidays). Debit/credit cards accepted. Exact cash also accepted ($24 per certificate). ID is not required to request an Ohio birth certificate.

Vital Statistics Office Location: 201 E. Erie St. 2nd Floor, Kent, OH 44240
(Kent Central Gateway Bldg./PARTA "Use WEST side Entrances Only".)
Covered public parking garage- 15 minutes is free or use any available metered street parking.

All sales are final after certificate issuance, no refunds allowed.

KCHD is not responsible for USPS mail delivery or lost mail, or any shipping agency services.

Funeral Homes

Certified copies of filed records can be ordered here, please choose your delivery method:

1. IN PERSON PICK UP:

Orders not picked up after 30 days risk being destroyed.

KCHD Vital Statistics Office is located on the 2nd Floor of the Kent Central Gateway/PARTA Bus Terminal Building- West Entrance Only. (Corner of E. Erie St. / S. Depeyster St.). 30 minute** parking is on the 4th level WEST SIDE of the parking garage. Enter from S. Depeyster St. (**15 minutes free) or use any available metered street parking.

2. TO BE SHIPPED:

KCHD is not responsible for USPS mail delivery or lost mail, or any shipping agency services.
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Request to E-File (PDF) to file scanned paper death certificates by email.
Certified copy orders can also be submitted in-person 8am until 3:30pm Monday-Friday or through the mail; please print, complete:
Application for Certified Copies- Death Record (PDF).
- Mail orders must include a large self-address stamped return envelope
Burial permit issuance fee: $3.00

All sales are final after certificate issuance, no refunds allowed.

Online order transactions are charged to valid bank cards by: Permitium LLC or VitalChek beginning 4/1/2025. Any convenience and credit card fees charged are non-refundable upon submittal.

Office Hours
8am until 4pm
Monday-Friday
(Closed most Holidays)

Fax: 330-678-8236

NOTE: Pursuant to ORC 3705.29 (A) (3) No person shall purposely obtain, possess, use, sell, furnish, or attempt to obtain, possess, use, sell or furnish to another for the purpose of deception any certificate, record, or report required by this chapter or certified copy of it that relates to the birth/death of another person, whether living or dead.

Social Security Numbers on Death Certificates:
Per Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3705.23(5): For the first five years after a decedent’s death, a decedent’s social security number shall not be included on a certified copy of the decedent’s death certificate unless that information is specifically requested to be on the certified copy. Relationship restrictions apply and the acceptable proof is required; for details, view the Social Security Number Guidelines and Addendum Form (PDF), effective October 15, 2015.