New York City Department of Health 2026: Services, Phone & Records
The official agency name is the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, often searched as NYC Department of Health, NYC Health Department, NYC DOH, DOHMH, New York City health department, or department of health NYC. Most users need one clear route: a birth certificate, death certificate, immunization record, restaurant inspection, food protection certificate, permit, complaint, 988 mental health support, open records request, or provider reporting phone number.
This guide is written in plain U.S. English for New York City residents, seniors, caregivers, parents, families, food workers, business owners, providers, and out-of-city users who need NYC records. It helps you choose the right official page before you call 311, pay a vendor, mail forms, upload ID, visit 125 Worth Street, or share private information.
Quick answer: what the New York City Department of Health helps with in 2026
NYC Health works across public health, mental hygiene, vital records, disease reporting, immunizations, restaurant inspection, food safety, permits, health code enforcement, environmental health, emergency preparedness, health data, and provider reporting. Many tasks still start with 311 because NYC uses 311 as the front door for non-emergency city services and complaints.
| What you need | Best official route | Prepare first | Senior-friendly tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC Department of Health phone number | 311 or 212-639-9675 from outside NYC | Topic, borough, address if relevant, callback number, service request number if you have one | Ask 311 which specific NYC Health page or unit handles the issue. |
| NYC birth certificate | NYC Health Birth Certificates / Vital Records | Name, date of birth, borough, parent details, valid ID, eligibility proof, payment method | Use NYC only if the birth occurred in the five boroughs. |
| NYC death certificate | NYC Health Death Certificates / Vital Records | Decedent name, date of death, borough, relationship or legal need, ID and documents | Ask the bank, insurer or attorney which version and how many copies are needed. |
| Marriage certificate or divorce record | NYC City Clerk for marriage; NY court route for divorce | Names, borough, date, license or case details, ID | NYC Health does not issue most marriage or divorce documents. |
| Immunization or vaccine records | My Vaccine Record / Citywide Immunization Registry | Name, date of birth, IDNYC, NYS DMV ID, mobile phone or email used by provider, parent/guardian proof if child | Older adult records may be incomplete if providers did not report them. |
| Restaurant inspection, letter grade or food complaint | ABCEats / 311 / NYC Health food service route | Restaurant name, address, borough, date, receipt, photos, symptoms if illness | Use full address and borough, not only the restaurant name. |
| Food protection certificate or mobile food vendor training | NYC Health Academy / Food Protection Course | Course type, exam need, appointment, payment, replacement certificate question | Check whether you need classroom, online, mobile vendor or replacement route. |
| Provider disease reporting or urgent public health consultation | NYC Provider Access Line / reporting systems | Patient/provider information, reportable condition, lab details, callback number | Providers should use the reporting page and call access line when immediate consultation is needed. |
| Professional license lookup | NYS Office of Professions, NYS Physician Profile or NYC permit search depending on license type | Name, license number, profession, business name, permit type | Doctors, nurses and many health professionals are licensed by New York State, not NYC Health. |
If the task is a NYC birth or death certificate, use NYC Vital Records. If the task is a vaccine record, use My Vaccine Record or CIR. If the task is a restaurant, food permit or food protection certificate, use NYC Health food operator pages. If the task is a doctor or nurse license, use New York State licensing systems. If the task is a non-emergency city complaint, start with 311.
NYC Department of Health route finder: choose the correct official page before calling, paying or visiting
Use this route finder for common searches like NYC Department of Health phone number, NYC birth certificate, NYC death certificate, NYC immunization records, NYC restaurant inspection, NYC food protection certificate, NYC Health permits, and NYC Department of Health records.
NYC Health Route Finder
Select your need. The safest next step appears below.
NYC Department of Health phone number, 311, 988 and provider access line
For most non-emergency NYC Health questions, use 311. If you are outside New York City, call 212-NEW-YORK / 212-639-9675. For free confidential mental health support, call or text 988. Providers who need immediate public health consultation can use the NYC Provider Access Line at 866-692-3641.
311
Use for non-emergency NYC Health complaints, service requests, public health reports and routing help.
Open 311212-639-9675
Use when calling from outside New York City and you need NYC government service help.
311 help988
Call or text 988 for free, confidential mental health support, 24 hours a day.
NYC Health866-692-3641
For health care providers needing immediate consultation on public health issues.
Provider reportingUse a short call script
Say: “I need help with [birth certificate, death certificate, vaccine record, restaurant complaint, food protection certificate, permit, 988 mental health support, disease reporting, open records, or license lookup]. My borough is [borough]. Which official NYC Health page or office should I use next?”
For restaurant, apartment, building, school, permit, food vendor, pest, noise, smoking, mold, or local environmental complaints, always give the full address, borough, cross street if helpful, date, time and service request number if you already filed one.
NYC birth and death records: certificate ordering, unauthorized vendors, corrections and Office of Vital Records
NYC Health’s Office of Vital Records handles New York City birth certificates and death certificates for events in the five boroughs. NYC Health pages direct users to official order routes and warn about unauthorized vendors charging high fees for certificate help. Before entering ID or payment, confirm you are on an official NYC or approved ordering route.
NYC birth certificate
Use for a birth that occurred in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island from 1910 onward.
Birth guideNYC death certificate
Use for a death that occurred in the five boroughs from 1949 onward.
Death guideAmend or correct a record
Use NYC Health correction pages when a birth or death certificate needs a correction, amendment or supporting documents.
CorrectionsUse the official ordering page before paying
NYC Health provides online, mail and in-person appointment guidance for birth and death certificate requests. The official ordering page is also the safest place to check current fees, ID requirements, processing times and appointment rules.
Know the Office of Vital Records address
The Office of Vital Records commonly uses 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013 for certificate services and mail routing. Do not visit without checking appointment, lobby and ID requirements first.
NYC birth and death certificates are different from New York State certificates outside NYC. If the event happened outside the five boroughs, use the New York State or local county/city route for that location.
NYC birth certificate: five boroughs, 1910-present, ID, appointment and pre-1910 records
Use the NYC birth certificate route when the birth happened in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island. NYC Health’s current birth certificate page explains ordering for 1910-present records, while pre-1910 birth records route through the NYC Department of Records and Information Services Municipal Archives.
| Prepare | Why it matters | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Full name on the birth record | Matches the official NYC birth record. | Using a married/current name when the birth record has a different name. |
| Date of birth and borough | Confirms the event occurred in NYC and helps identify the record. | Ordering from NYC when the birth occurred in Long Island, Westchester, upstate NY or another state. |
| Parent details | Helps verify eligibility and distinguish similar names. | Leaving parent fields blank when known. |
| Valid ID and eligibility proof | Certified birth records are limited to eligible requesters. | Uploading or mailing expired, unclear or incomplete ID. |
| Order method | Online, mail and in-person appointment routes can differ in timing. | Arriving at 125 Worth Street without an appointment when one is required. |
| Pre-1910 check | Older NYC birth records route to Municipal Archives. | Using modern birth certificate forms for genealogy records. |
Start with the official birth certificate page
Use the NYC Health birth certificate page to confirm who can order, what identification is accepted, how to order, how urgent appointments work, how to correct a record and how older records should be requested.
If the birth was very recent, use the official NYC Health certificate page and newborn guidance. For questions about newborn certificates, NYC Health lists special contact guidance through its birth and death records contact section.
NYC death certificate: five boroughs, 1949-present, estate, insurance, funeral and legal checklist
Use the NYC death certificate route when the death occurred in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island. A certified NYC death certificate may be needed for estate administration, insurance, banking, probate, Social Security, pensions, property, vehicle title, taxes, burial, cremation and family records.
For legal and financial use
Often needed by banks, insurers, attorneys, courts, benefits offices, pension plans and estate representatives.
Relationship or legal need matters
If you are not an entitled requester, NYC Health may require documentary evidence showing why the death certificate is needed.
Ask the receiving agency what it needs
Before ordering multiple copies, ask the bank, insurer, attorney, benefits office, court or funeral-related office whether it needs a certified copy and how many originals it will keep.
Make a checklist of each agency that needs the certificate. Some agencies keep an original certified copy; others only need to review one or can accept a copy after verification.
NYC marriage certificate and divorce records: why most requests do not go to NYC Health
NYC Health handles birth and death records, not most marriage and divorce record requests. Marriage licenses and marriage certificates generally route through the Office of the City Clerk. Divorce records and divorce decrees route through New York courts or the correct county court system.
NYC Office of the City Clerk
Use for New York City marriage license, marriage ceremony, marriage certificate and related City Clerk record questions.
City ClerkNew York courts route
Use the proper court or county clerk route for divorce decrees, divorce case records and certified court copies.
Divorce recordsAsk the receiving agency whether it needs a marriage certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, divorce judgment, certificate of disposition or full court record. The wording determines the correct office.
NYC immunization records, My Vaccine Record, Citywide Immunization Registry and school forms
NYC’s Citywide Immunization Registry, known as CIR, keeps immunization records for children and adults who live in the city. Parents and adults can use My Vaccine Record to look up immunization records, but adult records may depend on whether a provider reported the vaccine with consent.
My Vaccine Record
Use for yourself or your child using identification such as IDNYC, NYS DMV ID, mobile phone or email when available.
Open recordCitywide Immunization Registry
CIR consolidates immunization information and shares it with providers, families and public health agencies.
Open CIRImmunization Record
Use NYC311 immunization record help when you need plain-language routing or cannot find the right record page.
311 record helpSearch My Vaccine Record first
If you are searching for a child’s record, you must be listed on the birth certificate or your child’s health care provider must have reported your information to the city. If you cannot find a record, contact the provider, school, previous clinic or borough health route that may have reported the immunization.
Do not wait until school enrollment or travel week. Request immunization records early, especially if vaccines were given outside NYC, before electronic reporting, by a closed clinic, or by a provider who did not report adult vaccines.
NYC restaurant inspections, letter grades, food complaints and foodborne illness reports
NYC Health inspects restaurants and food service establishments and publishes restaurant inspection results. If you need a restaurant grade, inspection history, food complaint, foodborne illness report or food safety issue route, use NYC Health and 311 rather than a review site.
ABCEats
Use the official restaurant inspection search to look up letter grades, inspection results and food service establishment details.
Search restaurantsFile through 311
Use 311 for non-emergency restaurant complaints, food poisoning concerns, unsanitary conditions or food service issues.
File 311Food service guidance
Use NYC Health food service operator pages for inspections, permits, customer service office and operator rules.
Food operators| Collect this | Example | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Business name and address | Restaurant, cart, grocery, bakery, bar, school kitchen, market | NYC has many similar names, so address and borough matter. |
| Date and time | When you ate, bought food, saw the condition or became sick | Creates a useful timeline for public health review. |
| Food item or condition | Dish, drink, package, pest issue, temperature, hygiene, foreign object | Helps route the complaint category. |
| Symptoms and timing | Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, onset time, others sick | Foodborne illness reports need symptom timing. |
| Proof if available | Receipt, photo, delivery order, packaging, batch code | Supports the report with facts. |
If someone has severe dehydration, bloody diarrhea, high fever, trouble breathing, signs of poisoning, severe allergic reaction, chest pain, confusion or another emergency symptom, call 911 or seek emergency care first. A 311 complaint is not emergency treatment.
NYC Health permits, licenses, food protection certificate and Health Academy training
NYC Health issues or manages many permits, licenses, registrations and training routes for food service establishments, temporary food service, mobile food vendors, food protection certificates, pool operators, tattoo artists, animal care and related Health Academy courses.
Food Protection Course
NYC Health Code requires at least one supervisor certified in food protection on site while many food establishments operate.
Online coursePermits and licenses
Use NYC Health permit pages for applications, renewals, appointment notes, payment rules and outstanding fine warnings.
PermitsCourses and replacement certificates
Use Health Academy pages for classroom courses, certificate replacement, mobile vendor training and other required training.
Health AcademyCheck whether the task is online, mail, walk-in or appointment-only
NYC Health permit pages explain that in-person submissions may be by appointment and that outstanding Health Code fines can affect permit renewal. Use the official page before planning a visit or paying.
For food businesses, write down your permit number, business legal name, address, borough, outstanding fine question, appointment need and course/certificate status before calling or emailing.
NYC mental health support, 988, crisis help and when to call 911
NYC Health includes mental hygiene as part of its official mission. For free, confidential mental health support, call or text 988 24/7. If someone is in immediate physical danger or needs emergency medical care, call 911.
Call or text 988
Use for emotional distress, mental health support, substance use support and crisis support when 988 is the appropriate route.
Open 988Call 911
Use when there is immediate danger, serious injury, violence, overdose, unconsciousness, severe symptoms or urgent medical risk.
NYC helpWhen calling for someone else, write down the person’s location, immediate safety risk, substance use concern, current medications if known, and whether weapons or medical symptoms are involved.
NYC Health complaints: restaurants, clinics, pests, smoking, housing, permits and agency feedback
For non-emergency NYC Health complaints, 311 is usually the front door. NYC Health’s contact page also points users to 311 Online, the 311 Mobile App, and service-request tracking for existing complaints. Choose a specific complaint category so the report reaches the right city unit.
Use 311
File non-emergency complaints for food, pests, smoking, noise, clinic feedback, public health concerns and other city service issues.
Open 311Use service request number
Keep your 311 service request number so you can check status or add details later.
Check status| Prepare | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Full address and borough | NYC routing often depends on exact location, borough, building and cross street. |
| Business or facility name | Helps identify the regulated restaurant, clinic, vendor, school, market or property. |
| Date and time | Creates a clear timeline for inspection or review. |
| Photos, receipts or order numbers | Supports the complaint with facts and documentation. |
| Service request number | Lets you check status and reference the report in later calls. |
Use 911 for immediate danger, urgent medical symptoms, fire, violence, serious injury, overdose or life-safety emergencies. Use 311 for non-emergency city complaints.
NYC provider reporting: disease reporting, CIR, eVital, PRISM and Provider Access Line
Health care providers use different NYC Health systems for reporting diseases and conditions, immunizations, vital events, laboratory results, animal diseases and other public health data. The Provider Access Line can provide immediate consultation on public health issues.
Provider Access Line
Call 866-692-3641 for immediate consultation on public health issues.
Provider pageCIR
Use the Citywide Immunization Registry for immunization reporting and registry access.
CIReVital
Use NYC’s vital-event reporting route for birth and death registration tasks that belong to providers or facilities.
eVitalNYC Department of Health license lookup vs New York State professional license lookup
People often search “NYC Department of Health license lookup” for doctors, nurses, therapists, food permits, mobile food vending licenses, restaurant permits, tattoo artists or health academy certificates. These do not all use the same database.
NYS Office of Professions
Use for many health professionals such as nurses, dentists, pharmacists, social workers, therapists and other licensed professions.
Verify licenseNYS Physician Profile
Use for physician profile information when the New York State physician-profile route is the correct tool.
Physician profileNYC Health permits
Use NYC Health permit and license pages for food businesses, mobile vending and Health Department business permits.
NYC permitsIf you are checking a person, identify the profession first. If you are checking a restaurant, food vendor, permit, certificate or business, use NYC Health business pages or 311. If you are checking a doctor, nurse or therapist, start with New York State licensing systems.
NYC Department of Health records: birth/death certificates, immunization, open records and data requests
“NYC Department of Health records” can mean several different things. A birth certificate, death certificate, immunization record, restaurant inspection record, open records request, health data file, marriage certificate, divorce decree or professional license record may require a different official route.
Birth and death certificates
Use NYC Vital Records for birth and death certificates for events in the five boroughs.
Vital recordsMy Vaccine Record / CIR
Use for vaccine records and immunization history when the records are in NYC’s registry.
Vaccine recordNYC OpenRecords
Use for Freedom of Information Law-style public records requests to city agencies, including NYC Health when appropriate.
OpenRecordsChoose the correct record category first
Use Vital Records for birth and death certificates, My Vaccine Record/CIR for immunization records, ABCEats for restaurant inspection data, City Clerk for marriage records, New York courts for divorce records, and NYC OpenRecords for public agency records.
Do not send Social Security numbers, birth certificates, death certificates, IDs, medical records, vaccine records, complaint evidence, business permit documents or payment details to an independent guide page. Use official secure pages for final submission.
NYC Health Office of Vital Records map, 125 Worth Street and before-you-visit warning
Many NYC Health certificate tasks point to the Office of Vital Records at 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013. Do not treat this as the correct walk-in route for every service. Birth and death records, food permits, Health Academy certificates, restaurant complaints, 311 service requests and open records requests each have separate rules.
| Need | Better than driving first |
|---|---|
| Birth or death certificate | Use the official ordering page and check appointment, ID, payment and processing rules. |
| Food business permit | Use permits and licenses pages; in-person submissions may require appointment or online/mail alternatives. |
| Food Protection Certificate replacement | Use Health Academy replacement guidance and appointment/payment rules first. |
| Restaurant complaint or food poisoning report | Use 311, ABCEats or the relevant food complaint route; do not visit Vital Records. |
| Marriage or divorce records | Use City Clerk for marriage and court route for divorce; do not use NYC Health Vital Records. |
| Open records request | Use NYC OpenRecords portal rather than visiting a public counter. |
Check the official page first. NYC offices can use appointments, security screening, limited lobby services, mail routes, online submissions and separate business-customer-service counters. Bring ID only when the official page says it is required.
Official NYC Department of Health and New York links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final forms, fees, ID rules, phone numbers, office hours, appointment requirements, complaint submission, records requests, restaurant inspection information, vaccine records and license verification. This independent guide does not process records, accept payments, verify licenses, file complaints or collect private documents.
People also search for: New York City Department of Health Google and Bing intent guide
These search phrases reflect common user intent around “new york city department of health.” Use the matching route below instead of opening random third-party pages.
NYC Department of Health phone number
Use 311 inside NYC, 212-639-9675 from outside NYC, 988 for mental health and Provider Access Line for provider consultation.
Phone routeNYC Department of Health birth certificate
Use NYC Vital Records for five-borough births from 1910 onward and Municipal Archives for older records.
Birth routeNYC Department of Health death certificate
Use NYC Vital Records for five-borough deaths from 1949 onward and prepare entitlement documents if needed.
Death routeNYC immunization records
Use My Vaccine Record, CIR and 311 immunization record help for vaccine history.
Vaccine routeNYC restaurant inspection
Use ABCEats for official restaurant grades, inspection results and food service details.
Restaurant routeNYC food protection certificate
Use NYC Health Academy and Food Protection Course pages for certificate, class, exam and replacement routes.
Certificate routeNYC Department of Health license lookup
Use NYS license verification for people and NYC Health permit pages for business permits.
License routeNYC Department of Health records
Choose Vital Records, My Vaccine Record, ABCEats, City Clerk, courts or OpenRecords depending on the document.
Records routePrivacy, safety and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It is not the official NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, not NYC.gov, not NYC311, not My Vaccine Record, not CIR, not ABCEats, not VitalChek, not the City Clerk and not a New York State licensing board.
Do not send Social Security numbers, birth certificates, death certificates, driver licenses, passports, vaccine records, medical records, complaint evidence, license documents, business permit documents, payment cards or patient information to an independent guide page. Use official secure pages for final submission.
Phone numbers, fees, forms, ID rules, appointment requirements, office hours, vendor options, certificate rules, permit rules and processing times can change. Confirm final details on NYC.gov, NYC311, My Vaccine Record, CIR, ABCEats, NYC OpenRecords, City Clerk, New York courts or New York State licensing pages before acting.
New York City Department of Health FAQs
What is the New York City Department of Health phone number?
For most non-emergency NYC Health questions, call 311 inside New York City or 212-NEW-YORK / 212-639-9675 from outside NYC. Call or text 988 for free confidential mental health support. Health care providers can call 866-692-3641 for immediate public health consultation.
What is the official name of the NYC Department of Health?
The official agency name is the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. People also search for it as NYC Department of Health, NYC Health Department, NYC DOH, DOHMH, New York City health department and department of health NYC.
How do I order a NYC birth certificate?
Use the official NYC Health Birth Certificates page or the How to Order Birth and Death Records page. Prepare the name on the record, date of birth, borough, parent details, valid ID, eligibility proof if required, order method and payment method.
How do I order a NYC death certificate?
Use the official NYC Health Death Certificates page. Prepare the decedent name, date of death, borough, requester details, relationship or legal need, valid ID and required documents. Ask the receiving agency how many certified copies it needs before ordering extras.
Does NYC Health issue marriage or divorce records?
NYC Health generally handles birth and death records, not most marriage or divorce record requests. Use the NYC Office of the City Clerk for marriage certificates and New York courts or the correct county court route for divorce records or divorce decrees.
How do I get NYC immunization records?
Use My Vaccine Record or the Citywide Immunization Registry route. You may need IDNYC, a New York State DMV ID, mobile phone, email or parent/guardian information. Adult records may be incomplete if providers did not report them with consent.
How do I check a NYC restaurant grade or inspection?
Use the official ABCEats restaurant inspection search. Search by restaurant name, address, borough or other location details. For food complaints or foodborne illness concerns, use 311 and provide the full address, date, food item and symptoms if applicable.
How do I get a NYC Food Protection Certificate?
Use the NYC Health Academy and Food Protection Course pages. The Food Protection Course is required for supervisors in many food service establishments. Check whether you need online training, classroom training, mobile vendor training, an exam or a replacement certificate.
Where do I verify a NYC health professional license?
Many health professionals are licensed by New York State, not NYC Health. Use the New York State Office of Professions license verification for many professions, the NYS Physician Profile where appropriate for physicians, and NYC Health permit pages for food or business permits.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official NYC Department of Health website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide that helps users find the right official route. It does not process certificates, accept payments, verify licenses, request vaccine records, file complaints or replace NYC.gov, NYC311, My Vaccine Record, CIR, ABCEats, City Clerk, courts or New York State licensing pages.