San Francisco Genealogy Records

San Francisco County genealogy records document family history in California's most compact and densely populated county. The County Clerk office maintains birth certificates, death records, and marriage licenses for events occurring within the city and county of San Francisco. You can access records at City Hall on Van Ness Avenue, request copies by mail, or use online ordering for recent documents. San Francisco vital records begin in 1906 for most documents, as the April 18, 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires destroyed nearly all earlier records. Some families re-registered births after the disaster, creating delayed certificates. Marriage records from before 1906 survived in better condition than birth and death records. The County Clerk serves researchers Monday through Friday with appointments recommended for genealogy research visits.

1906 Earthquake and Record Loss

The April 18, 1906 earthquake and fires destroyed most San Francisco vital records. City Hall collapsed and burned, taking with it birth, death, and marriage records from the 1850s through early 1906. Only a few marriage records survived because some had been stored separately. This massive loss affects all San Francisco genealogy research for pre-1906 periods. Researchers must use alternative sources for ancestors who lived in San Francisco before the earthquake.

After the disaster, California passed laws allowing families to re-register births that occurred before 1906. These delayed birth certificates were created from affidavits, baptismal records, Bible records, and other evidence. Many families took advantage of this opportunity between 1906 and the 1930s. Delayed certificates exist for some San Francisco births even though original certificates were destroyed. The delayed certificates may have less detail or accuracy than contemporary registrations would have had.

Death records from before 1906 are largely gone. Some cemetery records survived and can substitute for missing death certificates. Church records of baptisms, marriages, and burials also fill some gaps. Newspaper obituaries provide death dates and family information. The San Francisco Public Library has microfilm of pre-1906 newspapers. These alternative sources become essential for San Francisco genealogy research in the nineteenth century.

San Francisco County Clerk Vital Records

The San Francisco County Clerk maintains all vital records for births and deaths in the city and county. Birth certificates cost thirty one dollars. Death records cost twenty six dollars. Marriage licenses and certificates cost nineteen dollars. These fees became effective January 1, 2026 under California state law.

The County Clerk office is located on the first floor of City Hall at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. City Hall is at the corner of Van Ness Avenue and Grove Street. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are strongly recommended for vital records requests. Walk-in service may involve long waits. Call 415-554-4950 to schedule appointments or ask questions about record availability.

Mail requests go to County Clerk, Birth and Death Records Section, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 168, San Francisco, CA 94102. Include a completed application form, payment by check or money order made out to County Clerk, a copy of your photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow three to four weeks for processing. Do not send cash through the mail. Personal checks may delay processing.

Genealogists should request informational copies rather than certified copies. Informational copies cost the same and contain identical information but do not require notarized sworn statements. They display a legend stating they cannot establish identity. This limitation does not matter for family history research purposes.

Online Vital Records Requests

San Francisco County offers online ordering for recent vital records through their website portal. The system processes requests electronically during business hours. Credit card payment is accepted. Additional processing fees apply beyond the base certificate costs. Online ordering works best when you have exact details about the record you need.

The online system requires identity verification. You can verify online through the portal or choose to submit notarized documents by mail if you need certified copies. Most genealogists do not need certified copies. Informational copies provide all the data necessary for building family trees without the extra verification steps.

Processing times for online orders typically run two to three weeks. Email confirmation arrives when the county receives your request. A second notification comes when certificates are mailed via U.S. Postal Service first class mail. San Francisco County cannot expedite vital records processing regardless of urgency.

Alternative Sources for Pre-1906 Records

Cemetery records are essential for San Francisco genealogy before 1906. Major cemeteries included Laurel Hill, Calvary, Odd Fellows, and Masonic cemeteries. These cemeteries were relocated in the 1930s and 1940s to Colma just south of San Francisco. Cemetery records moved with the burials. Contact cemeteries in Colma for burial records of people originally interred in San Francisco. The San Francisco Public Library has card indexes to some cemetery burials.

Church records survived the earthquake better than civil records. Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco has sacramental records from Mission Dolores and other parishes. Protestant churches also maintained registers. Jewish congregations kept membership and lifecycle records. These church records may be the only documentation for births, marriages, and deaths before 1906. Contact individual religious institutions or check the Online Archive of California for digitized church records.

The National Archives at San Francisco holds federal records useful for genealogy. Immigration records document arrivals at the Port of San Francisco from the Gold Rush era onward. Naturalization records show birthplaces and arrival dates. Census records place families in specific locations. Military records for service members and their families supplement vital records. The National Archives reading room welcomes researchers by appointment.

Newspaper archives provide death notices, marriage announcements, and social news. The California Digital Newspaper Collection includes San Francisco papers. The San Francisco Public Library has extensive microfilm holdings of local newspapers. The San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner covered the city from the 1800s. Obituaries often name surviving family members and places of origin.

San Francisco Public Library Genealogy Collections

The San Francisco Public Library Main Library houses genealogy resources in the History Center. Collections include California vital record indexes, city directories, cemetery indexes, and local history materials. The library provides free access to Ancestry.com, Fold3, and other subscription databases for cardholders using library computers. Staff can guide researchers through available resources and suggest research strategies.

The library holds San Francisco city directories from the 1850s onward. These annual publications list residents by name and address, plus business listings. City directories help track families year by year and identify neighbors and associates. Some directories include occupations and employer information. Use directories to establish residence when vital records are missing.

Manuscript collections at the library include diaries, letters, business records, and organizational archives. Some collections contain genealogical information about prominent San Francisco families. The library catalog describes these special collections. Researchers must schedule appointments to view archival materials. Copying and photography policies vary by collection.

San Francisco Historical Background

San Francisco grew rapidly after gold was discovered in 1848. The population exploded from a few hundred to tens of thousands within years. Early residents came from around the world seeking fortune. This international population created records in many languages. Chinese immigration was particularly significant. Chinese immigrants and their descendants form a major part of San Francisco's genealogical landscape.

The city incorporated in 1850. San Francisco County originally included a much larger area. Over time, San Mateo County split off in 1856. Today, San Francisco is a consolidated city-county where city and county governments are merged. This unique status means the County Clerk handles both city and county functions.

San Francisco was California's largest city for decades. Financial services, shipping, manufacturing, and trade drove the economy. The transcontinental railroad's completion in 1869 strengthened connections to the rest of the nation. Cable cars, the Ferry Building, and distinctive neighborhoods developed in the late 1800s. The earthquake and fires of 1906 destroyed much of the city but reconstruction happened quickly. Understanding this history helps contextualize the records that survived and those that were lost.

Types of Genealogy Records Available

Birth certificates from San Francisco County list child's name, date and place of birth, parents' names and birthplaces, father's occupation, and mother's maiden name. Certificates from after 1960 contain more detail. Earlier certificates are simpler. Delayed birth certificates created after the 1906 earthquake have special notations indicating they were registered later based on affidavits.

Death records show decedent's name, date and place of death, age, birthplace, parents' names, marital status, spouse if applicable, occupation, and cause of death. San Francisco death certificates also list informant's name and funeral home or cemetery. These details help locate additional records. Veterans' death certificates note military service.

Marriage licenses include both spouses' names, ages, birthplaces, residence, occupation, parents' names, and previous marriages. The County Clerk issues licenses valid for ninety days anywhere in California. The ceremony location does not affect where the license is recorded. Licenses are filed in the county where issued. Public marriages from 1906 forward are available. Some earlier marriage records survived the earthquake. Confidential marriages from 1971 onward remain sealed except to the spouses.

Property records maintained by the Recorder division show land ownership, transfers, and liens. Many early property records burned in 1906. Reconstruction created new property records in the years after the disaster. Existing property records from 1906 forward can help establish residence and economic status. Deeds sometimes name family relationships.

San Francisco Genealogy Research Tips

Accept that pre-1906 records are largely gone. Focus on alternative sources like church records, cemeteries, newspapers, and federal records. The National Archives, public library, and religious institutions hold materials that survived the earthquake. Build family histories from multiple sources rather than relying on vital records alone.

Check for delayed birth certificates if researching pre-1906 births. Many families re-registered births in the decades after the earthquake. These delayed certificates exist in the County Clerk's records alongside regular birth certificates. Search indexes thoroughly using name variations and approximate dates.

Use census records to establish San Francisco residence. Federal census records from 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and later years survived the earthquake because they were kept in Washington, D.C. Census records place families in specific addresses and neighborhoods. They list household members, relationships, ages, birthplaces, and occupations. Census records are free on FamilySearch and available by subscription on Ancestry.com.

Explore immigration records for San Francisco arrivals. The Port of San Francisco was a major entry point especially for Asian immigration. Passenger lists, naturalization records, and immigration files at the National Archives document arrivals. Chinese immigration records are particularly rich due to the Chinese Exclusion Act requirements. These records include photographs and detailed biographical information.

Check Colma cemeteries for San Francisco burials. Most San Francisco cemeteries moved to Colma in the 1930s and 1940s. Cemetery records moved with the remains. Colma has numerous cemeteries including Cypress Lawn, Hills of Eternity, Holy Cross, and others. Contact individual cemeteries or search online databases like findagrave.com for burial locations.

Note: The 1906 earthquake created unique research challenges in San Francisco. Expect gaps in official records and plan to use creative research strategies with alternative sources.