Florence Birth Records
Florence birth records are maintained through South Carolina's statewide vital records system. Florence is the county seat of Florence County and the largest city in the northeastern part of the state. The Florence County Health Department in Florence is the local office for short form birth cards. Certified birth certificates for any South Carolina birth are available from the state Office of Vital Records in Columbia or through VitalChek online. This page explains how to request Florence birth records and what resources are available for research.
Florence Quick Facts
Florence County Health Department Birth Records
The Florence County Health Department is at 145 E. Cheves Street, Florence, SC 29506. This office serves as a branch of the state vital records system and can issue short form birth cards for any South Carolina birth registered from January 1, 1915 to present. The short form is accepted for many routine purposes.
Long-form certified birth certificates are issued only by the South Carolina Department of Public Health Office of Vital Records at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. The state office phone is (803) 898-3630. The DPH took over vital records duties from the former DHEC on July 1, 2024. The DPH Vital Records page provides current forms and ordering instructions for Florence birth records.
The county health department in Florence can also issue death certificates for deaths that occurred in Florence County within the last five years. For older records or records from other counties, contact the state office in Columbia.
How to Request Florence Birth Certificates
The search fee for a South Carolina birth record is $12.00, which is non-refundable under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-110. This fee covers a search and one certified copy if the record is found. Additional copies at the same time are $3.00 each. All payments must be by money order or cashier's check payable to "SCDHEC - Vital Records."
To order by mail, complete Form D-2595 from the DPH birth certificates page. Include a copy of your photo ID and payment, then mail to 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. For online orders, VitalChek is the authorized vendor. The first copy is $17.00.
The Florence County court records page provides access to official county records that may assist researchers tracing Florence births and family history.
Who Can Get Florence Birth Records
Access to certified Florence birth records is restricted under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-80. Eligible individuals include the person named on the certificate if they are 18 or older, a parent listed on the record, a legal guardian, a legal representative with documentation, and immediate family members of a deceased person who provide a certified death certificate. The SC Department of Social Services may also access records for child support and paternity purposes.
All applicants must provide a copy of a valid photo ID. Under Section 44-63-80(D), birth records become publicly available 100 years after the date of birth. Florence birth records from 1924 and earlier are now open to the public.
Florence Birth Records History
Florence developed as a railroad junction city in the late 1800s and became the county seat of Florence County when the county was formed in 1888. Statewide birth registration in South Carolina began January 1, 1915. For families with roots in Florence before that date, church records, census data, family Bibles, and city directories are the primary sources. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 holds historical materials relevant to Florence County. Their phone is 803-896-6196 and the archives are open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For individuals with no official birth record, S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-180 allows registration of a delayed birth certificate through the state registrar. The Florence County Health Department can assist with this process. The FamilySearch South Carolina vital records wiki lists free databases that can help trace Florence County families before 1915. For amendment questions, the SC Justice birth certificate amendment guide explains the process under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-140.
Nearby Cities
Florence is the largest city in northeastern South Carolina and the hub of Florence County. Nearby cities include Conway to the east and Sumter to the south. Use the links below to find birth record resources in nearby cities.