Find Birth Records in Bloomington

Bloomington birth records are handled by either Hennepin County or Dakota County, depending on where in Bloomington the birth occurred. Most of the city falls within Hennepin County, while a portion of southern Bloomington sits in Dakota County. If you need to search for or request a birth certificate for someone born in Bloomington, you should first check which county covers the address where the birth took place. Both counties maintain their own vital records offices and can issue certified birth certificates. This page covers both county offices and explains how to figure out which one applies to you.

Which County Handles Your Bloomington Birth Record

Bloomington straddles the border between Hennepin and Dakota counties. The large majority of the city, including the central and northern areas, is in Hennepin County. The southern edge of Bloomington, particularly the area near the Minnesota River, falls within Dakota County. If you are trying to get a birth certificate for someone born in Bloomington and you are not sure which county applies, the best first step is to look up the specific address where the birth occurred.

A hospital birth would typically be registered under the county where the hospital is located. Major hospitals in Bloomington are in the Hennepin County portion of the city. If you are still unsure, you can contact both county offices and give them the birth information. They can often tell you quickly whether the record is in their system. Under Minn. Stat. 144.225, birth records are filed with the county where the birth event took place.

Note: When in doubt about your county, start with Hennepin County since most of Bloomington falls within its boundaries.

Hennepin County Vital Records for Bloomington

Most Bloomington residents will go through the Hennepin County Vital Records Office for birth certificates. Hennepin County runs six service centers across the metro, and the Ridgedale location in Minnetonka is the most convenient for Bloomington. The Southdale location in Edina is another close option. Both provide the same services as the main Government Center office in downtown Minneapolis.

All Hennepin service centers offer same-day in-person service. You do not need an appointment, but arriving early helps reduce wait times. Hennepin County birth records go back to 1866 for Minneapolis city births and 1870 for county records more broadly. Contact the Hennepin office at 612-348-8240 or visit hennepin.us/vital-records to confirm whether your Bloomington birth is in their system before making a trip.

Dakota County Vital Records for South Bloomington

If your birth occurred in the southern portion of Bloomington, which sits in Dakota County, you will need to contact the Dakota County vital records office. The Burnsville License Center is the closest Dakota County location for most south Bloomington addresses. Dakota County birth records go back to 1870 and cover all births registered in the county, including those in the Bloomington area south of the county line.

Dakota County accepts in-person, mail, and fax requests for certified birth certificates. A credit card convenience fee of 2.49% applies to card payments. For more information on what to bring and how to submit a request, visit the Dakota County birth certificate page at co.dakota.mn.us/BirthCertificates.

Requesting a Bloomington Birth Certificate

Once you know which county handles your Bloomington birth record, the request process is straightforward. Both Hennepin and Dakota counties issue certified and noncertified copies. In-person visits get you the record the same day. For mail requests, allow additional processing time. Fax requests are also accepted by both counties.

For Hennepin County, the fee is $26 for the first certified copy and $19 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. For Dakota County, confirm current fees by calling 952-891-7850 or checking the county website. Dakota County charges a 2.49% convenience fee for credit card payments. Both counties require a completed request form, valid photo ID, and proof of eligibility under Minn. Stat. 144.2255.

The Minnesota Department of Health is another option. The MDH at health.state.mn.us/birthnc can issue certified copies for births across the state, including Bloomington, through mail or online orders via VitalChek at vitalchek.com.

The Minnesota Department of Health vital records program at health.state.mn.us covers the full state and can issue certified Bloomington birth certificates regardless of which county the birth falls under.

The MDH site lists all accepted request methods and explains what documentation is needed based on your relationship to the person named on the record.

Dakota County's birth certificate page at co.dakota.mn.us covers the process for births in the Dakota County portion of Bloomington and the rest of the county.

The page explains in-person, mail, and fax options and lists the convenience fee for card payments.

Hennepin County Birth Records

Most of Bloomington is in Hennepin County. Birth records for the majority of the city go through the Hennepin County Vital Records Office. For full details on county services and locations, visit the Hennepin County birth records page. For the southern portion of Bloomington in Dakota County, see the Dakota County birth records page.

View Hennepin County Birth Records

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Bloomington with their own birth records pages: