Mount Pleasant Birth Records
Mount Pleasant birth records are part of South Carolina's statewide vital records system. Mount Pleasant is located in Charleston County, directly east of Charleston across the Cooper River. Charleston County birth records go back to 1877, earlier than most counties in the state. The Charleston County Health Department is the local office for short form birth cards. Full certified birth certificates are available from the state Office of Vital Records in Columbia or through VitalChek online. This page explains how to request Mount Pleasant birth records.
Mount Pleasant Quick Facts
Charleston County Health Department Birth Records
Mount Pleasant residents can access birth card services through the Charleston County Health Department at 2001 Ambassador Road, Charleston, SC 29407. This office is a branch of the state vital records system and can issue short form birth cards for any South Carolina birth from 1915 to present. Charleston County is notable for having birth records that go back to 1877 — one of the longest records histories of any county in South Carolina.
Long-form certified birth certificates are only available from 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 details for Mount Pleasant birth records.
How to Request Mount Pleasant Birth Certificates
The search fee is $12.00, which is non-refundable under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-110. This covers one certified copy if the record is found. Additional copies at the same time are $3.00 each. 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. Online orders go through VitalChek. The first copy is $17.00.
The DPH birth certificates page provides Form D-2595 and step-by-step instructions for requesting Mount Pleasant birth records by mail.
Who Can Request Mount Pleasant Birth Records
Access to certified Mount Pleasant 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, 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. Mount Pleasant birth records from 1924 and earlier are now open to the public. For births in Charleston County between 1877 and 1924, these earlier records are also accessible to the public.
Mount Pleasant Birth Records History
Mount Pleasant has grown into one of the fastest-growing cities in South Carolina, with a population now exceeding that of many older cities in the state. As part of Charleston County, Mount Pleasant benefits from one of the longest vital records histories in South Carolina. Charleston County began recording births in 1877, nearly 40 years before the statewide system began in 1915.
For births in the Mount Pleasant area before 1877, researchers should consult church records, family Bibles, and census data. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223 holds historical materials for Charleston County. Their phone is 803-896-6196 and the archives are open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The SCDAH online index provides access to selected documents. The FamilySearch South Carolina vital records wiki lists free databases for earlier records.
Nearby Cities
Mount Pleasant is part of the greater Charleston metropolitan area in Charleston County. Nearby cities include Charleston, North Charleston, and Summerville. Use the links below for birth record resources in nearby cities.