St. Petersburg Death Records

St. Petersburg obituary and death records fall under the Pinellas County Department of Health. With more than 267,000 residents, St. Petersburg is the largest city in Pinellas County and the fifth-largest in all of Florida. The Pinellas County DOH vital records office is in Largo on Ulmerton Road, about 15 minutes north of downtown St. Petersburg. Death certificates from 2009 to the present are on file there. The office recommends making an appointment to cut down on wait times, though walk-ins are still accepted when space allows.

Pinellas County DOH Office

The Pinellas County Department of Health vital records office serves all of Pinellas County, including St. Petersburg. The office is on Ulmerton Road in Largo. While it is not in St. Petersburg itself, it is the closest county DOH location for residents. Death certificates from 2009 forward are on file here. Appointments are encouraged to reduce your wait time.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The first certified copy of a death certificate in Pinellas County costs $9. Each extra copy is $8. Rush service adds $5. These are some of the lowest fees in the state. Cash and other standard payment methods are accepted. Call ahead at 727-507-4330 ext 6316 to set up an appointment before you drive from St. Petersburg to the Largo office.

How to Get St. Petersburg Death Records

St. Petersburg residents have several paths to get death records. The in-person route takes you to the Pinellas County DOH in Largo. With an appointment, you can be in and out quickly. Without one, expect a longer wait, especially during peak hours. Bring your ID and payment, and fill out the request form at the counter.

For mail requests, download Form DH727 from the Florida DOH website and send it to the Pinellas County DOH at the Ulmerton Road address. Include a check or money order for $9 payable to the Florida Department of Health. Add a copy of your photo ID and your return address. Mail requests for St. Petersburg death records take about two to three weeks.

The City of St. Petersburg website can help you find links to county services, though the city does not handle death certificates on its own. For online orders, go to VitalChek or call 1-877-550-7330. The online fee is $15 plus a $7 service charge. Cards are accepted, and orders ship in five to seven business days. This is good for St. Petersburg residents who want to skip the drive to Largo.

St. Petersburg Obituary Resources

Obituaries in St. Petersburg have long appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, which was called the St. Petersburg Times until 2012. The paper has been the main source of obituary notices for Pinellas County for decades. The St. Petersburg Public Library and other Pinellas County library branches keep archives of the paper on microfilm and through digital databases.

The Florida Memory project has historical records that can help with older death research in St. Petersburg. The State Archives collection includes vital records indexes, military records, and other documents that reference deaths of Florida residents going back many years. Much of it is searchable online from your home in St. Petersburg.

Local funeral homes in St. Petersburg also maintain records of the services they have handled. If you know which funeral home was involved, contacting them can turn up useful details. Some St. Petersburg funeral homes have been in operation for over 50 years and keep records that go back further than what the county DOH has on hand for local deaths.

Death Record Access Rules

Florida law sets clear rules about who can get death certificates. A copy without cause of death is public. Any adult can request one in St. Petersburg. You do not have to be related to the deceased. This version is enough for most common needs.

A death certificate with cause of death is a different story. It is confidential for 50 years under Florida Statutes Chapter 382. Only immediate family and legal representatives can get it. You need to show proof of your tie to the deceased at the Pinellas County DOH. A court order can also grant access for a valid legal reason. Most people requesting death records in St. Petersburg will not need the cause-of-death version.

Under Florida's public records law in Chapter 119, the Pinellas County DOH must give you any non-confidential death record if you pay the fee. No explanation is needed for your request. This makes it straightforward for anyone searching for St. Petersburg death records.

St. Petersburg Death Record Fees

Pinellas County has some of the lowest death certificate fees in Florida. Here is a breakdown of costs for St. Petersburg residents:

• Pinellas County DOH first copy: $9
• Pinellas County DOH extra copies: $8 each
• Rush processing: $5
• State bureau search and one copy (mail): $5
• State bureau extra copies: $4 each
• VitalChek online: $15 plus $7 processing

The $9 first copy fee and $8 for extras make Pinellas County one of the cheapest places to get death records in Florida. The state bureau in Jacksonville is still the best deal for bulk copies, but for one or two copies with quick service, the Pinellas County DOH in Largo is a strong choice for St. Petersburg residents. Rush processing at $5 is also very affordable if you need it fast.

Pinellas County Obituary Records

St. Petersburg is part of Pinellas County, one of the most densely populated counties in Florida. The county DOH office handles death records for all cities in Pinellas. Visit the county page for full details on the office, all services offered, and extra resources for death record searches.

View Pinellas County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

Other cities near St. Petersburg with death record and obituary information are below. Each page covers the local DOH office and access details.