Access Kettering Birth Records
Kettering birth records are managed by the Montgomery County Office of Vital Statistics in the Reibold Building in downtown Dayton. The office issues certified birth certificates for anyone born in Ohio, not just Montgomery County. Walk-in service is available on weekdays with same-day processing for most requests. Kettering does not have its own vital records office, so all requests go through the county. If the birth took place before 1909, the Montgomery County Probate Court has those records. This page explains every method for getting Kettering birth certificates.
Kettering Birth Records at a Glance
Montgomery County Handles Kettering Filings
Kettering is in Montgomery County. The county Office of Vital Statistics in Dayton is the place to go for all birth certificate requests. Kettering does not run its own vital statistics office. The county office at 117 S. Main Street in the Reibold Building handles everything for the area, including Kettering, Centerville, Miamisburg, and most of the surrounding communities.
One thing to know: births in the City of Oakwood are not in the Montgomery County system. If you were born in Oakwood, that is a different office. But for anyone born in Kettering or its hospitals, the Montgomery County office has the records.
Montgomery County Vital Statistics Office
The Montgomery County Office of Vital Statistics is at 117 S. Main Street, Reibold Building, Dayton, OH 45422. Call 937-496-3117. Hours vary by day: Monday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (opens at 9:00 AM on the third Wednesday each month), Thursday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A paid parking garage is nearby with an entrance off 5th Street.
Birth certificates are available for births in Montgomery County (except Oakwood) from 1909 to now. The office can also issue certified copies for anyone born anywhere in Ohio. New birth certificates take 7 to 10 business days to become available after the birth, since the hospital has to send the information to the state system first. For walk-in visits, in-person payment options include cash, certified check, money order, or credit card. Mail orders need a completed Application for Certified Copies form with a certified check or money order. Personal checks and cash are not accepted by mail.
Note: The third Wednesday of each month has a later opening time of 9:00 AM instead of 8:00 AM.
Kettering Birth Certificate Resources
The Montgomery County Probate Court FAQ page shows how historical vital records are handled in the county, including birth records from before 1909.
This page explains what records the probate court holds and how to request certified copies of older Kettering birth documents.
Order Kettering Birth Records Online
VitalChek provides online ordering for Montgomery County birth certificates around the clock. Both standard and long-form birth certificates are available. The system takes major credit cards and offers different shipping speeds. Processing runs 3 to 5 business days before your order ships. VitalChek charges the county fee plus its own processing fee.
The Ohio Department of Health also takes online orders at $21.50 per copy. That is the state office at 4200 Surface Road in Columbus. Online orders process in five business days. Mail orders go to PO Box 15098, Columbus, OH 43215-0098. For genealogy, marriage abroad, or dual citizenship needs, you have to use the mail-in paper form and select the right purpose on the application.
Historical Kettering Birth Records
The Montgomery County Probate Court in downtown Dayton holds birth and death records from 1867 to 1908. These are ledger entries from before modern vital statistics started. The court can make certified copies for legal and genealogy use. For death records from that same time period, the probate court is also the source. Contact the court to check what they have on file and to get current fees.
The court also keeps marriage licenses, adoption records, guardianship files, estate records, and name change orders. If you are researching a Kettering family from the late 1800s or early 1900s, the probate court is likely your best starting point.
Kettering Birth Certificate Fees
The state fee for a certified copy is $21.50 through the Ohio Department of Health. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state sets a minimum fee and requires a five-dollar surcharge per copy that goes into the general fund. Local offices forward collected fees to the state within thirty days after each quarter. The Kettering Health network does not issue birth certificates but can provide medical records from their facilities for a separate fee.
Birth Record Research in Kettering
The Dayton Metro Library offers free access to Ancestry.com Library Edition, HeritageQuest Online, and other databases at no charge for library card holders. The Genealogy Room at the Main Library in downtown Dayton has microfilm readers, census records, military records, and Ohio death certificates from 1908 to 1953. Kettering residents can access many of these resources remotely with a library card.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies of vital records are treated the same as originals in all Ohio courts. Anyone can request a birth record in Ohio by completing an application and paying the fee. Vital records in this state are public records, which makes genealogy research more straightforward than in states with restricted access.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Kettering have their own birth records pages: