North Charleston Birth Records
North Charleston birth records are part of South Carolina's statewide vital records system. North Charleston is the third-largest city in South Carolina and is located in Charleston County. The Charleston County Health Department provides local access to short form birth cards for North Charleston residents. 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 North Charleston birth records and where to find research resources.
North Charleston Quick Facts
Charleston County Health Department Birth Records
The Charleston County Health Department is located at 2001 Ambassador Road, Charleston, SC 29407. North Charleston residents can use this office to obtain a short form birth card for any South Carolina birth registered from January 1, 1915 to present. Charleston County is unique in South Carolina because its health department can access birth records dating back to 1877, well before the statewide registration system began in 1915.
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 assumed vital records responsibilities from the former DHEC on July 1, 2024. The DPH Vital Records page provides current forms and ordering options for North Charleston birth records.
The county health department can also issue death certificates for deaths that occurred in Charleston County within the last five years. For older records, contact the state office in Columbia.
How to Request North Charleston Birth Certificates
The search fee is $12.00, 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. 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. Walk-in service is also available at the state office.
VitalChek is available around the clock for North Charleston residents who cannot visit the state office in Columbia during business hours.
Who Can Get North Charleston Birth Records
Access to certified North Charleston 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 submit 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. North Charleston birth records from 1924 and earlier are now open to the general public. For births recorded in Charleston County before 1915, records may exist going back to 1877.
North Charleston Birth Records History
North Charleston was incorporated as a city in 1978, though the area had been settled and developed for decades before that as a suburb of Charleston. Birth records for North Charleston fall within Charleston County's vital records system. Charleston County has one of the longest vital records histories in South Carolina, with records going back to 1877 — predating the statewide registration system by nearly 40 years.
For births in the North Charleston area before 1915, the Charleston County records from 1877 onward are the best available source. For births 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 relevant to Charleston County. Their phone is 803-896-6196. The SCDAH online index provides access to selected records.
The FamilySearch South Carolina vital records wiki lists databases that can help trace Charleston County families before the official registration period. For amendment questions, the SC Justice birth certificate amendment guide explains the process under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-140.
Nearby Cities
North Charleston is part of the greater Charleston metropolitan area. Nearby cities include Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and Summerville. All are in Charleston County except Summerville, which is primarily in Dorchester County. Use the links below for birth record resources in nearby cities.