Access Summit County Birth Records
Summit County birth records are available from Summit County Public Health in Akron, Ohio. The Vital Statistics Office provides same-day certified copies for all Ohio counties, not just Summit. You can visit the walk-up window in Akron or order online at vitals.scph.org. The Barberton office also handles some vital records. For birth records before 1908, the Summit County Probate Court and the Ohio History Connection have older files. This page covers each option, the current fees, and what to bring when you visit.
Summit County Birth Records at a Glance
Summit County Public Health Records
Summit County Public Health provides same-day certified birth certificate copies for all Ohio counties. The Vital Statistics Office is at 1867 West Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44313. Call (330) 812-3845 for questions. Hours vary by day: Monday and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Keep those different closing times in mind when planning a visit.
The fee is $22.00 per certified copy. The office runs an outdoor walk-up window and a self-service kiosk at their Fairway Center location in Akron. Birth and death records are also available online at vitals.scph.org. Online ordering is convenient for people who cannot make it to the office. The site processes orders during business hours and mails copies out quickly.
For death certificates, you need proper ID and proof of your relationship to the person on the record. Social Security numbers are left off death certificates for the first five years after death unless an authorized person with documentation asks for it.
Summit County Birth Certificate Resources
The Summit County Public Health birth and death records page shows the current fee, office hours, and ordering options including the online portal.
This page explains the walk-up window, kiosk, and online ordering system at vitals.scph.org.
Summit County Barberton Office
The Summit County Health District Barberton Office at 571 West Tuscarawas Avenue in Barberton provides death certificates for deaths in Barberton from December 20, 1908 to the present. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Call 330-861-7157 for details. Any local health department in Ohio can issue birth certificates for anyone born in the state since 1908. The fee is $22.00 per copy at the Barberton location as well.
The Graham Road office in Stow no longer provides vital records. Do not go there for birth or death certificates. Use the Akron or Barberton offices instead.
Ohio State Birth Records for Summit County
The Ohio Department of Health keeps Summit County birth records from December 20, 1908 forward. The state office is at 4200 Surface Road, Columbus, OH 43228. Phone: 614-466-2531. The state charges $21.50 per copy. That is slightly less than the Summit County fee of $22.00. Online orders take about three weeks. Walk-in same-day service runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Columbus office.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.24, the state sets a base fee and a surcharge that goes to the general fund. Genealogy requests must be mailed using the paper form from the ODH website.
Birth Record Research in Summit County
FamilySearch has a Summit County genealogy page with digitized record sets including birth indexes and vital records. These are free with a FamilySearch account. The Ohio History Connection lists Summit County among counties with indexed birth records from 1867 to 1908. Their archive has ledger entries from the probate court era.
The Summit County Probate Court handles marriage records and other probate matters. For birth and death records from 1908 forward, contact Summit County Public Health or the Ohio Department of Health. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23, any certified copy of a vital record has the same legal weight as the original in court. Ohio treats birth records as public records that anyone can request.
Nearby Counties
Summit County is in northeast Ohio. These neighboring county pages may help your search:
Cities in Summit County
Summit County has several qualifying cities with their own dedicated birth records pages on this site.
Other communities include Barberton, Hudson, Stow, Tallmadge, and Twinsburg. The Barberton office handles some vital records locally. All other areas use Summit County Public Health in Akron.