Ohio Franklin County Health Department 2026: Services, Phone & Records
Most people searching for “Ohio Franklin County Health Department” need one practical answer: which health department serves their address, which phone number to call, where birth and death records are handled, how to schedule vaccines, how to report food safety issues, how to request public records, or where environmental health permits and complaints go.
In Franklin County, the name can be confusing. Franklin County Public Health serves most of Franklin County, while Columbus Public Health serves the cities of Columbus and Worthington. Birth and death certificates are commonly handled through Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics, and marriage records are handled by the Franklin County Probate Court.
Quick answer: what the Ohio Franklin County Health Department helps with in 2026
For most non-Columbus and non-Worthington addresses in Franklin County, start with Franklin County Public Health for vaccines, food safety, public health complaints, water quality, plumbing and medical gas, sewage and private water systems, mosquitoes, rats, tobacco programs, schools, body art, pools, campgrounds, emergency preparedness, public records and communicable disease routing. If your address is in Columbus or Worthington, many local health services route to Columbus Public Health instead.
| What you need | Best route | Prepare before calling | Senior-friendly tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County Public Health phone number | FCPH Contact page | Address, city, service topic, callback number and any case or permit number | Ask: “Is this Franklin County Public Health, Columbus Public Health or another office?” |
| Birth certificate | Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics or Ohio Vital Records | Full name, date of birth, Ohio birth location, ID and payment method | Ohio birth certificates are not necessarily ordered from FCPH’s main office. |
| Death certificate | Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics for Franklin County deaths | Decedent name, date of death, place of death, funeral home if relevant and payment method | Confirm the death occurred in Franklin County before ordering locally. |
| Marriage license or marriage copy | Franklin County Probate Court | Names, date, online record search, ID and fee if requesting certified copies | Marriage records are court/probate records, not health department clinic records. |
| Vaccine appointment or immunization record | FCPH Vaccines page or Columbus Public Health Immunization route if in Columbus/Worthington | Photo ID if available, insurance card if available, shot record, school form or employer requirement | Use the immunization record release route instead of a general public records request. |
| WIC in Franklin County | Columbus Public Health / Ohio WIC clinic finder | Pregnancy/child details, ID, address, income or benefit details and appointment availability | Call for the closest WIC clinic before visiting. |
| Restaurant complaint or food business license | FCPH Food Safety or Columbus Public Health if inside Columbus/Worthington | Business name, full address, date/time, food item, symptoms, receipt and photos if available | Address decides the correct health department. |
| Septic, water well, plumbing, sewage or nuisance issue | FCPH Environmental Health / Forms & Permits / complaint route | Property address, township/city, owner/contact details, photos, permit or parcel information | Do not submit a permit or complaint until you know whether the property is in FCPH jurisdiction. |
| Public records request | FCPH Public Records page | Record type, program name, date range, subject, names and email/phone | Public records are different from personal immunization or medical records. |
Always start by checking the address. Columbus and Worthington have Columbus Public Health routing. Most other Franklin County cities, villages and townships use Franklin County Public Health for local public health jurisdiction services.
Ohio Franklin County Health Department route finder: choose the right office first
Use this quick selector before you call, pay a fee, submit private information, file a complaint, request records, schedule vaccines or drive to an office.
Franklin County service router
Select your need. The safest next step appears below.
Franklin County Public Health phone number, address, hours and call script
Franklin County Public Health lists its general contact as 280 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215, phone 614-525-3160, fax 614-525-6672 for general fax, and email fcph@franklincountyohio.gov. The official contact page lists general hours as Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
FCPH general phone
614-525-3160
Use this when you do not know the right division or need after-hours direction.
Food program
614-525-7462
Email: food@franklincountyohio.gov for food safety questions outside Columbus/Worthington.
Infectious disease
Fax: 614-525-8890
Use IDRS reporting guidance for reportable disease submission.
Use this short call script
Say: “I need help with [birth certificate, death certificate, vaccines, WIC, food complaint, water, sewage, nuisance, public records or disease reporting]. My address or city is [address/city]. Is this Franklin County Public Health, Columbus Public Health, Ohio Department of Health or another office?”
Ask for the exact program name before hanging up
If you are helping a parent, senior, disabled resident, renter, property owner or business owner, ask staff to repeat the exact program name and web page. Write down the division, phone number, official page and any deadline.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Do not wait for an email or public records response.
Franklin County Public Health vs Columbus Public Health: which one serves my address?
This is the most important local routing issue. Ohio’s health district structure means the health department depends on where the address is located, not just the county name.
Franklin County Public Health
FCPH serves most of Franklin County, including townships, villages and many suburban cities that contract with FCPH for health department services.
Check FCPH about pageColumbus Public Health
For concerns in the cities of Columbus or Worthington, use Columbus Public Health for many local public health services.
Open Columbus Public Health| Address / service question | Likely route | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus address | Columbus Public Health | Use Columbus Public Health for local health department services unless a countywide or state program says otherwise. |
| Worthington address | Columbus Public Health | ODH local health district guidance points Columbus/Worthington to Columbus Public Health. |
| Bexley, Dublin, Gahanna, Grove City, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Whitehall and many suburban areas | Often Franklin County Public Health | Check the exact jurisdiction and service page because city boundaries and contracted services matter. |
| Birth certificate for an Ohio birth | Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics or Ohio Vital Records | Birth records are a vital statistics route, not a general FCPH complaint or clinic route. |
| Food business inside Columbus | Columbus Public Health food protection | Food license and complaint routing depends on business address. |
| Food business outside Columbus/Worthington in FCPH jurisdiction | FCPH Food Safety | Prepare business name, address, owner/operator details and permit or complaint issue. |
Before submitting a complaint, food license, sewage form, public health nuisance request or inspection question, confirm the address. If the wrong agency receives it, your request may be delayed or redirected.
Ohio Franklin County Health Department records: birth, death, marriage, divorce, public records and immunization records
The word “records” can mean many different things. Birth and death certificates use a vital statistics route. Marriage records use the Probate Court. Divorce records use court/clerk routes. Public records use the FCPH public records route. Immunization records use the immunization record release route.
Birth certificate
Ohio birth certificates are handled through vital statistics offices such as Columbus Public Health or Ohio Vital Statistics.
Birth routeDeath certificate
Franklin County death certificates commonly route through Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics.
Death routeMarriage / divorce
Marriage records route to Probate Court; divorce and dissolution records route to court/clerk systems.
Court routeFCPH public records
Use FCPH public records for agency records, not for personal certificates or immunization records.
Public recordsDo not submit a public records request when you actually need a birth certificate, death certificate or immunization record. Each has its own official route.
Franklin County Ohio birth and death certificates: Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics route
For many Franklin County users, birth and death certificates route to Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics at 240 Parsons Ave., Columbus, OH 43215. The official Columbus birth/death certificate page lists certificates at $25 each and in-person service Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with closures on weekends, official holidays and posted times.
| Need | Where to start | Prepare | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio birth certificate | Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics or Ohio Vital Statistics | Full name, date of birth, place of birth, parents if needed, ID and payment | Using a Franklin County Public Health complaint/contact form for a certificate order. |
| Franklin County death certificate | Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics | Decedent name, date of death, place of death and certified-copy quantity | Ordering locally when the death happened outside Franklin County. |
| Statewide vital records help | Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics | Record type, event date, Ohio location and whether a local office can help faster | Assuming the county health department is always the fastest route. |
| Burial permit or death registration question | Columbus Public Health death records / death registration route | Funeral home, date of death, death record details and permit need | Not checking whether the request is a certificate, permit or registration issue. |
Open the official Columbus birth/death certificate page
Use the official page to check in-person, mail, payment, form and current closure rules. Mail payments are commonly made payable to Columbus City Treasurer when using the Columbus Public Health mail route.
Use Ohio Vital Statistics for statewide questions
The Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics office is the statewide route for birth and death record program questions, older record guidance and state-level vital statistics support.
Ask the receiving agency exactly which certificate it needs before ordering multiple copies. Banks, insurance companies, schools, passport offices, benefits offices and attorneys may have different requirements.
Franklin County marriage and divorce records: health department vs court record
Marriage and divorce searches are often misdirected to the health department. In Franklin County, marriage records are handled by the Franklin County Probate Court, while divorce, dissolution, legal separation and annulment records route through court/clerk systems.
Franklin County Probate Court
Use Probate Court for marriage licenses, marriage license search and certified marriage record copies.
Open marriage pageClerk / Domestic Relations route
Use Clerk of Courts and Domestic Relations records for divorce, dissolution, legal separation and related case records.
Open domestic relationsSearch marriage records before requesting certified copies
Franklin County Probate Court says marriage records are available online from January 3, 1995 to present, while older marriage records from 1803-1994 are available at Probate Court.
A health department birth/death certificate office is not the same as Probate Court or Domestic Relations Court. If a school, passport office, attorney or court asks for a marriage or divorce document, confirm whether it needs a certified marriage record, decree, case docket or court order.
Franklin County Public Health vaccines, immunization records and clinic appointment help
FCPH offers vaccine clinic scheduling through its Vaccines page. The official page lists a Franklin County Public Health clinic at 280 E Broad St, Columbus, Ohio 43215, generally open Monday-Thursday, and additional community clinic routes that can change by month and season.
FCPH appointment route
Use the official Vaccines page to choose a clinic location and scheduling link.
Open vaccinesCOVID-19, flu and RSV
FCPH states it currently offers homebound vaccines for people unable to leave home for COVID-19, flu and RSV.
Check request routeImmunization record release
Use the immunization record release route, not a general public records request.
Open records note| Prepare | Why it matters | Helpful tip |
|---|---|---|
| Shot record | Helps staff avoid duplicate or missed vaccines. | Check doctor, school, employer or prior state records. |
| Insurance card if available | Some vaccines may be billed or eligibility-based. | Ask before your visit if cost is a concern. |
| School or employer form | Different programs require different vaccine documentation. | Bring the exact form rather than a screenshot. |
| Address / city | Confirms FCPH vs Columbus Public Health routing. | Columbus and Worthington residents should also check Columbus Public Health. |
| Travel timeline | Some vaccines need weeks before travel. | Call early for travel-related questions. |
Back-to-school vaccine clinics and community vaccine events can be seasonal. Use the official FCPH Vaccines page before visiting because dates, locations and scheduling links may change.
Franklin County WIC, Healthy Moms and Babies, safe sleep and family health support
For WIC in Franklin County, the official Franklin County WIC route is commonly listed through Columbus Public Health and the Ohio WIC clinic finder. Columbus Public Health lists 614-645-7280 to find the closest WIC clinic for an appointment and 614-645-7065 for breastfeeding help.
Call for closest clinic
614-645-7280
Use this for Franklin County WIC clinic appointment routing.
Breastfeeding help
614-645-7065
Use the official WIC breastfeeding support route listed by Columbus Public Health.
Home visiting / safe sleep
Columbus Public Health and FCPH both link families with maternal-child health and safe sleep support routes.
Use Ohio WIC clinic finder or Columbus WIC page
Call first. WIC appointment locations and hours can vary by clinic. Ask what ID, income information, proof of pregnancy, child information and benefit details you should bring.
Say: “I live in Franklin County and want to know if I qualify for WIC. I need the closest clinic and appointment instructions. What documents should I bring?”
Franklin County food safety, restaurant complaints, food licenses and inspection reports
FCPH Food Safety protects the community by licensing and inspecting businesses that sell food, including restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, schools, daycares, hospitals, care facilities, food trucks and temporary food vendors. The food safety contact listed by FCPH is food@franklincountyohio.gov and 614-525-7462.
Restaurant or food safety concern
Use the complaint route when the food facility address is in FCPH jurisdiction.
File complaintFood license / plan review
New food businesses, remodels, new owners, mobile and temporary vendors should review FCPH Food Safety instructions.
Open food safetyFood inspection reports
Use inspection report lookup when you want recent food service inspection details in FCPH jurisdiction.
Open inspections| Collect this | Example | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Business name and exact address | Restaurant, food truck, grocery, school kitchen or event vendor | Confirms whether FCPH or Columbus Public Health handles it. |
| Date and time | When you ate, bought food or noticed the issue | Helps inspectors match staffing, batch, shift and inspection history. |
| Food item | Dish, drink, ingredient, packaged item or order number | Helps identify possible illness source. |
| Symptoms and timing | When symptoms started, who became sick and severity | Foodborne illness timelines can vary. |
| Proof if available | Receipt, photos, packaging, product label or delivery app order | Gives staff more detail than memory alone. |
Older adults, infants, pregnant people, immunocompromised people and anyone with severe dehydration, bloody diarrhea, high fever or worsening symptoms should seek medical care. Do not wait for an inspection response when symptoms are serious.
Franklin County Environmental Health: water quality, sewage, plumbing, nuisance, mosquitoes, pools and permits
Many “Ohio Franklin County Health Department services” searches are really Environmental Health searches. FCPH routes environmental health forms and permits through program pages and Accela tools for food and school safety, plumbing and medical gas, water quality, private water systems, household sewage treatment systems and complaint programs.
| Need | Official route | Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Private water system or well | FCPH Water Quality / Forms & Permits | Property address, owner details, sample/permit need, installer if applicable. |
| Household sewage treatment system failure | Sewage complaint / Water Quality route | Address, visible sewage details, photos, odor, drainage pattern and contact information. |
| Plumbing or medical gas permit | Plumbing and Medical Gas / Forms & Permits | Project type, plan review details, commercial/residential status, contractor or owner details. |
| Public health nuisance | Public Health Nuisance / File a Complaint | Address, trash, rodents, roaches, sewage or multi-unit health issue details. |
| Mosquito concern | FCPH complaint route | Address, standing water source, timeline and contact information. |
| Body art, pools, spas or campgrounds | Community Health / Forms & Permits | Business name, address, license/permit type and owner/operator contact. |
Use the Forms & Permits page for environmental paperwork
The FCPH Forms & Permits page houses forms, permits and applications related to environmental health, including Food & School Safety, Plumbing & Medical Gas and Water Quality.
Use complaint-specific phone numbers when available
FCPH lists food safety complaints at 614-525-7462, mosquitoes at 614-525-2483, sewage and household sewage system failures at 614-525-4787, body art and pools at 614-525-3160, and public health nuisance at 614-525-3160.
If your issue involves a property, permit, water system, sewage system or inspection, gather the exact address, parcel or site details, photos, contractor information and owner contact before calling.
Franklin County infectious disease reporting, animal bites and public health emergency routing
Franklin County Public Health provides communicable disease and prevention/wellness services for its jurisdiction. Its contact page lists infectious disease reporting fax 614-525-8890 and directs users to idrsinfo.org for reporting system information.
Infectious disease reporting
Use reportable disease instructions and the IDRS route when required by Ohio reporting rules.
Open IDRSAnimal bites / rabies tags
FCPH provides online access for animal bite, quarantine and rabies tag services through Accela guidance.
Open animal biteNaloxone and prevention
FCPH community health and risk reduction pages can help residents find prevention and harm-reduction resources.
Open FCPHUse urgent medical care or emergency services for severe symptoms, trouble breathing, poisoning, uncontrolled bleeding, stroke-like symptoms, severe allergic reaction, animal bite emergency or other immediate danger.
Franklin County Public Health public records request and immunization record mistake to avoid
FCPH adheres to Ohio public records laws. The official Public Records page says public records requests can be made through a request portal, but it also warns that immunization records should use the Immunization Record Release Form instead.
Use public records for agency records
Make the request specific. Include program name, record type, date range, location, facility, permit, complaint number or subject. Broad requests like “send all health records” may require clarification.
Use the correct route for personal health information
FCPH public records guidance notes that HIPAA-protected personally medically identifiable information is not released through public records requests. Use the correct medical or immunization record release process when the record is about you or your child.
“I am requesting records from [FCPH program] about [specific subject] for [date range]. The address, facility, complaint, permit or topic is [details]. Please contact me at [email/phone] if clarification is needed.”
Franklin County Public Health map, parking and before-you-visit checklist
Franklin County Public Health lists its main office at 280 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215. Use this map for planning only. Certificate orders, Columbus/Worthington services, WIC appointments, court records, permits and vaccine clinics may have different locations or online routes.
Call first, confirm jurisdiction, confirm appointment rules, bring ID, bring records or forms, check payment method, and ask whether your service is at FCPH, Columbus Public Health, Probate Court, Ohio Vital Statistics or another office.
Official Franklin County, Columbus and Ohio links used for this guide
Use these official pages for final forms, fees, records, hours, complaints, permits, appointments and submission. This independent guide does not collect documents, process payments, schedule appointments or replace official government websites.
People also search for: Ohio Franklin County Health Department Google and Bing intent guide
These common searches often mix together Franklin County Public Health, Columbus Public Health, Ohio Vital Statistics, Probate Court and Clerk of Courts. Use the matching route instead of opening random third-party pages.
Franklin County Health Department phone number
Use FCPH 614-525-3160 for most non-Columbus/Worthington public health routing.
Phone guideOhio Franklin County Health Department
Check whether you need FCPH, Columbus Public Health, Ohio Department of Health or a court record route.
Service areaFranklin County Ohio birth certificate
Use Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics or Ohio Vital Statistics.
Birth routeFranklin County Ohio death certificate
Use Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics for Franklin County death certificate service.
Death routeFranklin County immunization records
Use the immunization record release route, not a general public records request.
Vaccine routeFranklin County WIC Ohio
Use Columbus Public Health WIC or Ohio WIC clinic finder for appointment routing.
WIC routeFranklin County restaurant complaint
Use FCPH Food Safety outside Columbus/Worthington; use Columbus Public Health for Columbus/Worthington addresses.
Food safetyFranklin County public records health
Use FCPH Public Records for agency records and a separate release route for immunization records.
Records routeSafety, privacy and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent help guide. It is not Franklin County Public Health, not Columbus Public Health, not the Ohio Department of Health, not Franklin County Probate Court and not an official government website.
Do not send Social Security numbers, birth certificates, death certificates, driver licenses, medical records, immunization records, complaint evidence, payment cards or patient information to an independent guide page. Use only official secure government pages for final submission.
Fees, forms, office hours, appointment availability, vaccine schedules, WIC clinic hours, permit rules, complaint routing and public records processes can change. Confirm final details on the official FCPH, Columbus, Ohio, Probate Court or Clerk page before taking action.
Ohio Franklin County Health Department FAQs
What is the Franklin County Public Health phone number?
Franklin County Public Health lists its main phone number as 614-525-3160. The official contact page also lists 280 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215, and email fcph@franklincountyohio.gov.
Is Franklin County Public Health the same as Columbus Public Health?
No. Franklin County Public Health serves most of Franklin County, while Columbus Public Health serves the cities of Columbus and Worthington for many local public health services. Address matters before filing a complaint, applying for a permit or calling a program.
Where do I get a Franklin County Ohio birth certificate?
Start with Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics or Ohio Vital Statistics. The Columbus page lists birth/death certificate service at 240 Parsons Ave., Columbus, OH 43215, and certificates at $25 each.
Where do I get a Franklin County Ohio death certificate?
Use Columbus Public Health Vital Statistics for Franklin County death certificate service. Prepare the decedent name, date of death, place of death, certified-copy quantity and payment method.
Does Franklin County Public Health handle marriage records?
No. Franklin County marriage licenses and marriage records route to the Franklin County Probate Court. Divorce and dissolution records route through court and clerk systems, not the health department.
How do I schedule vaccines with Franklin County Public Health?
Use the FCPH Vaccines page to choose a clinic location and scheduling link. Bring available immunization records, insurance card if available, and school, travel or employer forms if required.
How do I request immunization records?
FCPH public records guidance says immunization records should use the Immunization Record Release Form instead of a general public records request. You can also check with your doctor, school or employer for vaccine records.
How do I contact WIC in Franklin County Ohio?
Columbus Public Health lists 614-645-7280 to find the closest WIC clinic for an appointment and 614-645-7065 for breastfeeding help. You can also use the Ohio WIC clinic finder to search by county.
How do I report a restaurant complaint in Franklin County?
For food safety complaints in FCPH jurisdiction, use the FCPH Food Safety route or call 614-525-7462. If the restaurant is in Columbus or Worthington, use Columbus Public Health routing instead.
How do I file a Franklin County public health nuisance complaint?
Use the FCPH File a Complaint page. FCPH lists public health nuisance complaints at 614-525-3160 and provides complaint routes for food safety, pools, body art, mosquitoes, sewage and other public health concerns.
How do I submit a Franklin County Public Health public records request?
Use the FCPH Public Records page and submit a specific request with program name, record type, subject, date range and contact information. Do not use a public records request for immunization records; use the immunization record release route.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official Franklin County Public Health website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide that helps users find the right official route. It does not process records, accept payments, schedule vaccines, issue certificates, approve permits, inspect restaurants or replace official government pages.