Search Richland County Birth Records
Richland County birth records are handled by two separate offices depending on where in the county the birth took place. Richland Public Health in Mansfield covers most of the county, while the Shelby City Health Department keeps its own records for the City of Shelby. Both offices can issue certified birth certificates for anyone born in Ohio from 1909 forward. For births before 1909, the Richland County Probate Court holds the older files. This page explains how each office works and how to get the records you need.
Richland County Birth Records at a Glance
Richland Public Health Birth Records
Richland Public Health maintains records of all births in Richland County since 1909, except for births in the City of Shelby. The office is at 555 Lexington Avenue, Mansfield, OH 44907. Call 419-774-4500 for help. Each certified copy costs $25.00. Burial permits run $3.00.
You can order in person, by phone, or through the Richland Health website. The office uses Ohio's statewide electronic system, so they can pull birth records for anyone born anywhere in Ohio. In 2023, the department issued 4,797 birth certificates and 4,575 death certificates. That is a large volume, and wait times can vary. Walk-in requests are usually filled the same day. Phone orders and online orders may take a few business days to process and mail out.
The Vital Statistics division also tracks birth and death trends to help plan health programs in the county.
Richland County Birth Certificate Resources
The Richland Public Health website shows their birth and death certificates page with ordering details and current fees.
This page covers walk-in, phone, and online ordering for Richland County birth certificates at $25.00 per copy.
Shelby City Health Department Records
The Shelby City Health Department keeps separate vital statistics for the City of Shelby within Richland County. Their office is at Shelby City Hall, 43 W. Main St., Shelby, OH 44875. Phone: 419-347-5131. This is a different office from the Shelby County Health Department in Sidney. The name causes some confusion, but they serve different areas.
Certified copies cost $25.00 each. They take cash, checks, and credit or debit cards. The Shelby City office can issue birth certificates for births anywhere in Ohio, not just Shelby. Death records are on file for deaths in Shelby from 1908 forward. For death records before 1908, you need the Richland County Probate Court in Mansfield.
The Shelby City registrar can help with paperwork and will refer you to other agencies if a record is not on file locally.
Richland County Probate Court Birth Records
The Richland County Probate Court holds birth and death records from before 1908. The court is at 50 Park Avenue East, Second Floor, Mansfield, OH 44902. Call 419-774-5583 for questions. Births and deaths in Shelby before 1908 are also at this courthouse, not at the Shelby City office.
The probate division has estate documents, wills, and marriage licenses along with the old vital records. The court handles delayed birth registrations, name changes, and corrections to birth records. If you were born in Richland County but your birth was never recorded, the probate court is where you start the delayed registration process.
Ohio State Birth Records for Richland County
The Ohio Department of Health has Richland County birth records from December 20, 1908 to now. Their fee is $21.50 per copy. You can order online, by mail, or in person at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228. Online orders take about three weeks. Walk-in same-day service runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The state office is a good backup when the local health department is busy or when you need records from several Ohio counties at once.
Note: Hospital birth certificates are not the same as certified copies and cannot be used as legal ID.
Birth Record Research in Richland County
FamilySearch has a Richland County genealogy page with links to digitized collections. Their Ohio County Births set covers 1841 to 2003. The Ohio Birth Index goes from 1908 to 1998. Cemetery records, census data, and church records for Richland County are also listed on the wiki. These free tools help when you are piecing together a family timeline.
The Ohio History Connection does not hold indexed Richland County birth records. They do have death records from 1908 to 1953 for some Ohio counties. For pre-1908 Richland County births, the probate court remains the main source. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, certified copies of vital records carry the same weight as originals in court.
Nearby Counties
Richland County is in north-central Ohio. Birth records from surrounding areas can be found through these county pages:
Cities in Richland County
Richland County's largest city is Mansfield, which is the county seat and has its own dedicated birth records page.
Other communities include Shelby, Ontario, Lexington, and Bellville. The City of Shelby has its own health department for vital records. All other communities use Richland Public Health in Mansfield.