San Francisco Obituary Search

San Francisco County death records are available through the Office of Vital Records at City Hall. As of August 2025, all birth and death certificates are sold at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 160. You can get a death certificate in person or by mail. For deaths in the last three years, service is available right away. For deaths more than three years ago and after 1906, you can still get copies. San Francisco has limited records from before the 1906 earthquake and fire. Many vital records were destroyed in that disaster. The fee for each death certificate follows the state rate.

San Francisco Office of Vital Records

The Office of Vital Records moved to a new location in August 2025. All death certificate requests are now handled at San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 160, San Francisco, CA 94102. This is the current location as of August 4, 2025. Previously, vital records were at a different office, but that location closed.

Call the Office of Vital Records at (415) 554-2700 with questions about death certificates. If you need to speak to the County Clerk, their number is (415) 554-4950. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The office is closed on Fridays, weekends, and city holidays. Always call ahead to confirm they are open before you visit.

San Francisco is both a city and a county. It is the only city-county in California with this structure. The Office of Vital Records serves the entire county. There is no separate county recorder office. All vital records functions are handled through the city government at City Hall.

Visit the San Francisco death certificate page for current information. This page explains how to get a death certificate for someone who died in the last three years. It lists the documents you need, the fees, and where to go. The page also has links to application forms you can fill out before you visit.

For deaths more than three years ago, the process is slightly different. The city has a separate page about getting historical death certificates. Records dating back to 1906 are available. Very few records from before 1906 survived the earthquake and fire that destroyed much of the city that year. If you need a pre-1906 record, contact the office to see if anything is available. Some records were reconstructed later from other sources.

Note: San Francisco County can only issue death records for deaths that occurred within the city and county limits.

Recent Deaths vs Historical Deaths

San Francisco divides death certificate requests into two groups. Recent deaths are those in the last three years. Historical deaths are those more than three years ago but after 1906. The same office handles both, but the processing may differ slightly.

For recent deaths, certificates are usually ready within a few weeks after the death. The funeral home or coroner files the death certificate with the city. It takes time to process all the paperwork and enter it into the system. If you need a certificate for a very recent death, call first to see if it is available. They can tell you if the record has been filed and is ready to be copied.

For historical deaths, the records are already in the archives. These can usually be copied quickly once staff locate the file. Some very old records are on microfilm or in storage. If the death was many decades ago, it may take a few extra days to retrieve the record. Most requests are handled within a week or two for in-person visits.

Deaths before 1906 are rare in the San Francisco records. The earthquake and fire destroyed most city records that year. A few records were saved or later reconstructed. If you are searching for someone who died before 1906, ask the office if they have any information. They may be able to search alternate sources or give you guidance on where else to look.

Requesting a Death Certificate

To request a death certificate in person, go to City Hall Room 160 during business hours. Bring a photo ID. You will need the full name of the deceased and the date or approximate year of death. If you are requesting an authorized copy, bring a notarized sworn statement proving you are an authorized person under California law.

Authorized persons include immediate family members such as spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Domestic partners also qualify. So do attorneys for the estate and funeral directors. If you do not qualify, you can still get an informational copy without the notarized statement. Informational copies have a watermark and cannot be used for legal purposes.

Fill out an application form at the office or download one from the city website before you visit. Give it to the clerk along with your payment and notarized statement if needed. Staff will search the records and print a certified copy. Most requests are completed while you wait. If the record is old or hard to find, you may need to come back later or have it mailed to you.

For mail requests, send a completed application, payment, and notarized statement if you need an authorized copy. Use a check or money order made out to the City and County of San Francisco. Do not send cash. Mail everything to Office of Vital Records, San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 160, San Francisco, CA 94102. Processing time for mail orders is usually two to four weeks. The certificate will be mailed to the address on your application.

Death Certificate Fees

San Francisco follows the state fee schedule for vital records. As of January 2026, death certificates cost $26 per copy. This matches the fee charged by most California counties and the state office. The fee covers the cost of searching the files and issuing one certified copy.

If the office searches but cannot find a record, they keep the fee. You will get a letter stating no record was found. This is a legal document showing the office searched but did not locate a matching record. Some agencies accept this as proof that a record does not exist in San Francisco.

Each additional copy of the same record costs $26. There is no discount for ordering multiple copies. If you need five copies, you pay $130 total. Many people order more than one because banks, insurance companies, and other agencies keep the copy you give them. They do not return it after they review it.

You can pay by cash, check, or money order in person. For mail orders, use a check or money order. Credit cards may be accepted at the counter, but check with the office first. Some city offices charge a convenience fee for credit card payments. Do not send cash through the mail.

San Francisco Neighborhoods and Districts

San Francisco is both a city and a county. It includes many neighborhoods and districts. These include the Financial District, Mission District, Chinatown, North Beach, Pacific Heights, the Sunset, Richmond District, Haight-Ashbury, SOMA, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Castro, Potrero Hill, Bernal Heights, and many others. All death records for the entire city and county are kept at City Hall.

There are no separate vital records offices for different neighborhoods. If a death occurred anywhere in San Francisco, the Office of Vital Records at City Hall has the record. The neighborhood or address will be listed on the death certificate, but you must request the certificate from the central office.

Nearby County Death Records

San Francisco County is surrounded by water on three sides. San Mateo County is to the south. Marin County is to the north across the Golden Gate. Alameda County and Contra Costa County are to the east across the bay. Each county maintains its own vital records. If the death did not happen in San Francisco, contact the correct county office.