Search Levy County Birth Records
Levy County birth records are available through the local Department of Health office in Bronson. This rural county along the Gulf Coast has about 47,765 residents, and the health department handles all certified birth certificate requests for births that took place in Florida. You can visit in person, send a request through the mail, or use the state's approved online vendor. The Levy County Health Department can pull records from the statewide vital statistics system, so you do not need to go to the county where the birth happened. Residents across Levy County from Chiefland to Williston and Cedar Key all use this same office for birth records.
Levy County Quick Facts
Levy County Birth Certificate Office
The DOH-Levy office in Bronson is the go-to place for birth certificates in Levy County. It sits on the main road in town and is part of the Florida Department of Health network. Staff can issue certified copies of birth records for any birth that took place in the state of Florida. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get your copy if you live in the area. You need to bring a valid photo ID and fill out Form DH726 when you arrive. The office is open during normal business hours on weekdays.
Under Florida Statute 382.013, every birth in the state must be registered with the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Hospital births in Levy County are filed through the attending physician and hospital staff. Home births and births at birthing centers also need to be reported within a set time frame. Once that record is on file, any county health department in Florida can access it and print a certified copy for eligible applicants.
The Levy County Health Department also keeps records of births that happened locally going back to 1930. Records before that year are only on file at the state office in Jacksonville.
| Office | DOH-Levy, Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | 66 W. Main Street, Bronson, FL 32621 |
| Phone | 352-486-5300 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
How to Get a Birth Certificate in Levy County
There are three ways to order a birth certificate in Levy County. Each one works a bit different. The method you pick depends on how soon you need the copy and whether you can make the trip to Bronson.
In-person visits are the quickest option. Head to the DOH-Levy office at 66 W. Main Street in Bronson. Bring a current photo ID like a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. Your ID cannot be expired. Fill out the application form and pay the fee. The cost is $15 for the first certified copy and $7 for each extra copy of the same record at the same time. Most walk-in requests in Levy County are done the same day. You can pay with cash, check, or money order at the counter.
For mail orders, send a completed application to the Bronson office address. Include a photocopy of your valid photo ID and a check or money order made out to DOH-Levy. Mail requests usually take two to three weeks for processing and return delivery. The office mails the certificate back by regular first-class mail, so plan ahead if you have a deadline. This method works well for people in outlying parts of Levy County who can't easily get to Bronson during work hours.
The Florida Department of Health provides all the details on what you need to submit for a birth certificate request. This is a helpful starting point for Levy County residents looking for official guidance.
Visit the Florida DOH birth certificates page for full ordering instructions.
The page covers all methods available to Levy County residents and includes links to forms and accepted ID types.
Online Birth Certificate Orders for Levy County
VitalChek is the only approved online vendor for Florida birth certificate orders. This applies to Levy County and every other county in the state. You can place an order any time of day through their site. There is an extra service fee on top of the $15 state fee. The total usually comes to around $26 or more depending on the shipping speed you choose. Credit and debit cards are accepted through VitalChek.
Online orders go through the same verification process as in-person requests. You still need to prove your identity. VitalChek will ask you to upload a copy of your ID and answer security questions. Under Florida Statute 382.025, birth records are confidential for 125 years from the date of the event. Only people with a direct legal relationship to the person on the record can get a certified copy. VitalChek checks this before sending any Levy County birth certificate.
Most online orders ship within three to five business days. Rush delivery is available for an added charge. This is the best option if you need a Levy County birth record but can't visit the office in Bronson or don't want to wait for mail processing.
Levy County Birth Record Eligibility
Florida law limits who can get a certified birth certificate. Not just anyone can walk in and request one. The rules are the same across the state, including in Levy County.
People who can request a certified copy include the person named on the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian with court documentation, a spouse, an adult child of the person named, a grandparent, or an attorney acting on behalf of one of these people. You need to show proof of your identity and your relationship to the person on the birth record when you apply at the Levy County Health Department.
If you do not meet these requirements, you can still get an informational copy. This version has the same data on it but is stamped to show it is not valid for legal use. Informational copies work fine for family research and personal reference. Genealogy researchers often use this route when they need older Levy County birth records for their family trees.
Under Florida Statute 382.026, anyone who uses false information to get a birth certificate faces criminal charges. The Levy County Health Department takes identity checks seriously to keep records safe.
Correcting Levy County Birth Records
Mistakes on a birth certificate happen more often than you might think. A misspelled name, wrong date, or missing parent information can all be fixed through the amendment process. The Florida DOH amendments and corrections page explains how to start a correction request. Some changes are simple clerical fixes. Others need a court order, especially if a long time has passed since the birth was registered.
Under Florida Statute 382.016, the state lays out the rules for amending vital records. Minor errors like a typo in a name can be corrected with supporting documents like a hospital record or baptismal certificate. Major changes, such as adding or removing a parent, typically need a court order from the circuit court. The Levy County Clerk of Court can help with filing those court petitions if needed.
Levy County Birth Records and the State System
Florida uses a centralized vital records system. The Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville holds the master copy of every birth record in the state. County health departments like DOH-Levy connect to this system to issue certified copies. This means you do not have to request your birth certificate from the county where you were born. Any county office in Florida can pull the record for you, including the one in Bronson.
The state office handles records going all the way back to 1917, though early records can be incomplete. County offices like Levy County's generally have local records from 1930 to the present day. If you need a record from before 1930, the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street in Jacksonville is your best bet. You can also use VitalChek or mail a request directly to the state office.
The Florida DOH county health department locator can help you find the nearest office to where you live. This is useful if you are in a remote part of Levy County and want to check if another county's office might be closer for your visit.
Fees for Levy County Birth Certificates
The fee schedule for birth certificates in Levy County follows the statewide rates set by Florida law under Florida Statute 382.0255. The first certified copy costs $15. Each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time is $7. These prices apply whether you order in person, by mail, or through VitalChek. The online vendor adds its own processing fee on top.
Payment at the Levy County Health Department can be made by cash, check, or money order. Checks should be made out to DOH-Levy. VitalChek takes credit and debit cards. Fees are subject to change, so call the office at 352-486-5300 to confirm the current cost before you visit or mail in a request.
Cities in Levy County
Levy County includes the communities of Bronson, Chiefland, Williston, Cedar Key, Inglis, Yankeetown, and Fanning Springs. None of these cities have populations over 100,000, so all residents use the Levy County Health Department in Bronson for birth certificate services. No matter where you live in the county, the process is the same.
Nearby Counties
These counties share a border with Levy County. You can request a Florida birth certificate from any county health department in the state, so visiting a nearby office may be more convenient depending on where you live.