Search Butler County Birth Records
Birth records in Butler County are held by multiple offices depending on when and where the birth took place. The Butler County Health Department in Hamilton handles records from 1909 to now. The City of Hamilton Health Department covers births within Hamilton city limits from 1913 forward. For older records going back to 1856, the Butler County Records Center and Archives is the place to look. This page walks through each office and every way to search for Butler County birth certificates.
Butler County Birth Records at a Glance
Butler County Health Department Records
The Butler County Health Department is at 301 S. Third Street, Hamilton, OH 45011. Phone is 513-863-1770. The department keeps birth records for Butler County from 1909 to now. Certified copies cost about $25.00 each. Payment options include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards.
The City of Hamilton Health Department at 1 Renaissance Center, 345 High Street, Third Floor, Hamilton, OH (phone 513-785-7080) has birth and death records from 1913 to now for births within Hamilton city limits. The City of Middletown Health Department at One Donham Plaza, Middletown, OH 45042 (phone 513-425-7851) holds death records for deaths in Middletown. For birth records before 1909, contact the Butler County Records and Archives Center at 513-887-3437.
Note: Online ordering through VitalChek is available for Butler County birth certificates with an extra processing fee.
Butler County Birth Certificate Resources
The Ohio Department of Health local districts page provides contact details and services for the Butler County Health Department.
This listing shows the address, phone number, and services offered by the Butler County Health Department for vital records requests.
The Butler County Historical Society maintains historical collections at the Benninghofen House and works with local libraries on genealogy resources.
The society and the Smith Library of Regional History in Oxford hold family papers, newspaper archives, and other materials useful for tracing Butler County births.
Butler County Records Center and Archives
The Butler County Record Center and Archives is at 123 North Third St, Hamilton, OH 45011-2759. Call 513-887-3437. This is the main spot for old records in Butler County. The archives hold records from the probate court, county recorder, clerk of courts, and county commissioners all in one place.
Their vital records collection goes deeper than most Ohio counties. Birth records on file cover 1856 to 1857 and 1867 to 1908. Death records cover 1849 to 1850, 1856 to 1857, and 1867 to 1908. They also have marriage records from 1803 to the 1920s, naturalization records from 1804 to the 1900s, testamentary records from 1803 to 1961, and will records from 1803 to 1963. Butler County had a courthouse fire in March 1912, which may have affected some records, but the archives have pieced together what survived.
The Ohio History Connection does not hold Butler County birth microfilm. The archives center in Hamilton is your main option for pre-1909 birth records.
Butler County Probate Court
The Butler County Probate Court handles marriage and probate records. Birth records from 1867 to 1908 have been moved to the Butler County Records Center and Archives. The court still processes delayed birth registrations and corrections to birth certificates. Butler County was formed from Hamilton County on March 24, 1803, and was named for General Richard Butler.
Butler County Birth Certificate Fees
Certified copies from the health department cost about $25.00 each. VitalChek adds a processing fee on top. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state sets a minimum of twelve dollars per certified copy, with a five-dollar surcharge going to the state general fund.
The state office in Columbus charges $21.50 per copy. Order from the Ohio Department of Health online or by mail. Online orders take about three weeks. Mail orders go to PO Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098.
Birth Record Research in Butler County
FamilySearch has a Butler County genealogy page with free access to digitized records. Collections include Ohio County Births from 1841 to 2003 and the Ohio Birth Index from 1908 to 1998. The Butler County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society (P.O. Box 13006, Hamilton, OH 45013, email BCOGS@butlercountyogs.org) provides research help and maintains member databases.
The Butler County Historical Society runs from the Benninghofen House at 327 North Second Street, Hamilton, OH 45011 (phone 513-896-9930). The Smith Library of Regional History at 441 S. Locust Street, Oxford, OH 45056 (phone 513-523-3035) holds regional historical records. The Hamilton Lane Library at 300 North Third Street in Hamilton has the George Cummins Local History Room with newspaper collections and historical resources.
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 by completing an application and paying the fee.
Nearby Counties
Butler County is in western Ohio near the Indiana border. These neighboring county pages may help:
Cities in Butler County
Butler County has two cities with dedicated pages on this site. Hamilton is the county seat and the largest city. Middletown and Fairfield are also significant communities in the county.
Other communities in Butler County include Oxford, Trenton, Monroe, and West Chester Township. For birth records in those areas, the Butler County Health Department in Hamilton handles requests.