California Death Records

San Francisco County Death Records

San Francisco's death records tell the story of one of America's most storied cities. As a consolidated city-county, San Francisco has maintained continuous records since the Gold Rush era, though the 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed many earlier records. Our death index (1940–1997) captures the city's transformation from a major port city through the postwar era, the Summer of Love, and the devastating AIDS epidemic of the 1980s–90s, which is reflected in an unusually high number of death records for young adults during that period.

How to Get a San Francisco County Death Certificate

Death certificates for deaths that occurred in San Francisco County can be obtained from the county clerk's office or from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The county office is typically faster for in-person requests.

San Francisco County County Clerk

Address: City Hall, Room 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-4950
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Fee: $22 per certified copy
Fee is non-refundable even if no record is located.
Website: https://www.sf.gov/get-death-certificate

By mail: San Francisco County Clerk, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 168, San Francisco, CA 94102. Include a check or money order payable to the San Francisco County County Clerk for $22 per copy.

Online: Order through VitalChek. Additional service fees may apply for online orders.

What You'll Need to Request a Death Certificate

— Full legal name of the deceased
— Date of death (or approximate range)
— Place of death (city or county)
— Your relationship to the deceased
— Valid government-issued photo ID
— Social Security number of deceased (if known — helps locate the record)

Tip: If you're missing some of this information, try searching our free death index first. Our database includes dates of birth and death, county of death, parents' names, and Social Security numbers for deaths from 1940–1997.

Authorized vs. Informational Copies

California issues two types of death certificates. Authorized copies are available only to family members and legal representatives — they can be used for legal purposes like settling estates. Informational copies are available to anyone regardless of relationship — useful for genealogy and family history research. Both cost the same fee. See our complete guide to getting a death certificate for details.

Alternative: Order from CDPH

The California Department of Public Health can issue death certificates for any death that occurred in California, not just San Francisco County. This is useful if you're unsure which county the death occurred in. Processing takes 5–7 weeks by mail or 1–3 days through VitalChek online. The fee is $26 per copy. See our death certificate guide for complete CDPH ordering instructions.

Search San Francisco County Death Records Free

Our California Death Index includes death records from San Francisco County covering 1940 through 1997. Each record includes the deceased's name, dates of birth and death, parents' names, and Social Security number (where available). Search our free death index →

Looking for records after 1997? Learn why the index stops and where to find more recent records.