Last verified: June 1, 2026. Fees, hours, and ID requirements for civic services change without much notice — always confirm the current details on the official pages linked throughout this guide before you make a trip or mail a payment.
Three of the most-searched errands in Pierce County all live in the same corner of government: getting a birth or death certificate, getting a marriage license, and applying for a U.S. passport. The catch is that they are handled by two different offices in two different parts of Tacoma — and which counter you need depends entirely on which document you’re after. This guide sorts out who does what, what to bring, what it costs, and how long it takes.
Vital records & passports at a glance
- Birth & death certificates come from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (3629 S. D St., Tacoma) — not the County Auditor.
- Marriage licenses come from the Pierce County Auditor (2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma), with a mandatory 3-day waiting period before the license is valid.
- U.S. passports can be applied for at the Pierce County Auditor (same building as marriage licenses) or at participating U.S. Post Offices — both are acceptance facilities for the U.S. Department of State.
- Appointments are the norm at the Auditor for both marriage licenses and passports — passport slots in particular fill fast, so check live appointment availability here before you plan your day.
- Online ordering for certificates runs through VitalChek, available 24/7 if you can’t get downtown.
Birth & death certificates (Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department)
Vital records — birth and death certificates — are issued by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at 3629 South D Street, Tacoma, WA 98418. The Vital Records counter is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (with a later 9:30 a.m. open on the last Tuesday of each month), and the phone line is (253) 649-1401. Walk-ins are welcome.
Washington vital records are not public — you must be an eligible party to order. That generally means the person named on the record, a spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, or a legal/authorized representative. Funeral directors and certain title insurers also qualify for death records within set windows. Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID; if you don’t have one, the office accepts at least two documents from its alternative ID list. Be ready to show your qualifying relationship. Exact eligibility rules are on the Health Department’s vital records page.
There are three ways to order, each with its own fee and timeline:
- Walk-in: roughly $39 per copy, handed to you in about 20–30 minutes.
- By mail: roughly $33 per copy; allow 1–2 weeks after they receive your application. Mail to Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Vital Records, 3629 S. D St., Tacoma, WA 98418-6813.
- Online via VitalChek: roughly $48.50 per copy including service fees, shipping within about 3 business days. Order through the VitalChek portal.
The Health Department holds Tacoma/Pierce County birth records from 1907 to present and death records from 1907 (City of Tacoma) and 1926 (countywide) to present. For older or out-of-county records, the Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics is the fallback. Confirm current fees on the official certificates page.
Marriage licenses (Pierce County Auditor)
The Pierce County Auditor issues marriage licenses from the Public Services Building – Annex at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409, open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (closed daily from 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch), phone (253) 798-7435. Appointments are recommended and served first, with a limited number of standby tickets for walk-ins.
The most important thing to know: Washington imposes a 3-day waiting period. Your license is not valid until three days after it’s issued, and it then expires 60 days after that — so don’t apply too early and don’t apply the day before the wedding. Both applicants must be 18 or older (17 is possible only with court/parental consent), and each must present a government-issued photo ID showing date of birth. No Washington residency is required, and there’s no blood test.
You can start the application online through the Auditor’s web portal, then finish it one of two ways: in person with both applicants present at the same time, or by mail with a notarized application (contact the office at least a month ahead for the mail process). After the wedding, the signed license is returned for recording, and you can order a certified copy of the marriage certificate for a small fee. Pierce County’s stated license fee has been reported inconsistently across listings, so verify the exact current amount on the official Marriage License Fees page before you pay.
U.S. passports (Auditor or Post Office)
If you’re a first-time applicant, applying for a child, or your most recent passport was issued before age 16 or more than 15 years ago, you must apply in person at an acceptance facility using Form DS-11. In Tacoma the two main options are the Pierce County Auditor (2401 S. 35th St., Room 200; phone (253) 798-7445; open Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed 12:00–1:00 p.m. for lunch) and participating U.S. Post Offices. The Auditor offers passport service by appointment only, and on-site photos are available ($12, cash).
For first-time applicants, the Auditor’s checklist calls for: a completed (unsigned) DS-11, proof of U.S. citizenship (a certified birth certificate with a raised/registrar’s seal — the same kind you’d order from the Health Department above — or a prior U.S. passport or Certificate of Citizenship), a valid photo ID plus a photocopy of it, your Social Security number, and one compliant passport photo. Hospital “souvenir” certificates and photocopies of citizenship documents are not accepted.
Passport fees go to two payees and are set federally by the U.S. Department of State (stable for 2026):
- Adult (16+): $130 book / $30 card — paid by check or money order to “U.S. Department of State.”
- Minor (under 16): $100 book / $15 card — all minors must apply in person.
- Acceptance (execution) fee: $35 per application — paid separately to the acceptance facility.
- Expedited service: add $60; faster delivery back to you adds $22.05.
Plan around current processing times, which the State Department updates regularly — routine service has typically run several weeks to a couple of months, with expedited noticeably faster. Always check the official processing-times page before booking travel, and renewals by mail using Form DS-82 skip the in-person trip entirely if you qualify.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get a birth certificate in Tacoma?
From the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at 3629 S. D St., not the County Auditor. You can walk in (about $39, ready in 20–30 minutes), mail an application (about $33), or order online through VitalChek (about $48.50). You must be an eligible party and show a valid government-issued photo ID. See the Health Department vital records page.
How long is the wait to get married after applying for a Pierce County marriage license?
There is a mandatory 3-day waiting period: a Washington marriage license is not valid until three days after the Auditor issues it. The license then expires 60 days later, so time your application to land within that window. Details are on the Pierce County Auditor’s marriage licensing page.
Can I apply for a passport at the Pierce County Auditor?
Yes. The Auditor at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200 is a passport acceptance facility offering service by appointment, including on-site photos ($12, cash). First-time applicants, children, and certain renewals must apply in person here or at a participating Post Office. Check current openings on the Auditor’s passport page.
How much does a U.S. passport cost in 2026?
For an adult, $130 for the book and $30 for the card, paid to the U.S. Department of State, plus a separate $35 acceptance fee to the facility. Minors under 16 pay $100 (book) or $15 (card). Expedited service adds $60. Current figures are published at travel.state.gov.
Do I need a certified birth certificate to get a passport?
Yes, if you don’t have a prior U.S. passport or Certificate of Citizenship. First-time applicants need a certified birth certificate with a registrar’s/raised seal — photocopies and hospital souvenir certificates aren’t accepted. You can order that certified copy from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department before your passport appointment. See the first-time applicant checklist.
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