Skip Navigation LinksData-Applications

RESEARCH A​ND ANALYTICS ​​BRANCH​​

Data Applications and Dictionaries

Skip to main content
​​Update

The current rate for custom file production is $87/hour. This rate is re-evaluated each fiscal year and notification will be sent out by Listserv​ in the event of any change.​​​​​​​ Following our recent review to conform​ with production staff salaries, an updated rate will take effect May 1, 2025, with a notification to be sent out shortly.​​​​​​​

Due to significant staff reduction, please anticipate increased application processing times and delays in email responses. We apologize for any inconvenie​nce this may cause.

Vital Statistics Ap​plications​​

The Calif​ornia Department of Public Health ​​​Vital Statistics Applications (CDPH VSA) ā€‹allows requesters to submit online ​Vital Statistics Applications:​

​CDPH VSA enables requesters access to previously submitted applications, providing the ability to review associated forms and document​s, track the status of submitted applications and studies, and personnel listed on the application have access to associated studies within CDPH VSA.

​ Once registered, requestors are encouraged to review the​ Vital Statistics Application FAQ and Data Product Guidance Tool pages to determine the most suitable application and data products for their research purposes.​​​

For information on pricing, see the Vital Records Data Fees Cost Model​ webpage.​​


Am I eligible​​ to request vital statistics data?


What variables are included in the dataset?

  • ​See the Vital Statistics Application Types for anti-fraud and public use data file variables.

  • See the Request Data Dictionaries for data variables and their descriptions when requesting other custom data files. As part of the application process, requestors use the request data dictionary to select the data fields they need and provide justification for their selections.​​

​

​Vital Statistics Application Types

Anti-Fraud - Birth

  • Contains the following variables:
    • First​​​​​​​, Middle, and Last Name, Sex, Date of Birth,  Place of Birth, and Mother’s Maiden Name
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

​Anti-Fraud - Death​

  • Contains the following variables:
    • First, Middle, and Last Name, Sex, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Place of Death, Date of Death, Mother’s Maiden Name, Social Security Number, and Father’s Last Name
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

Public Use - Birth

  • Contains the following variables:
    • First, Middle, and Last Name, Sex, Date of Birth, and Place of Birth
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

​Public Use - Death

  • Contains the following variables: 
    • First, Middle, and Last Name, Sex, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Place of Death, Date of Death, and Father’s Last Name
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

​Public Use​​ - Marriage

  • Contains the following variables: 
    • ​Date of Marriage, Last Name of Groom, First Name of Groom, Middle Initial of Groom, Last Name of Bride, First Name of Bride, Middle Initial of Bride
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

New Research Projects

For use by scientific researchers

Continuing Projects 

For changes to any existing application

  • A​ccess your CDPH VSA account and complete a "Continuing Application Form"
Business Use Case Proposal (BUCP)

For California State governmental agencies​

  • If you are interested in vital statistics data please email HIRS@cdph.ca.gov to set up ​a meeting with CDPH Research and Analytics Branch (RAB); staff will walk through with you t​he BUCP application process and BUCP-template expectations​

Local Health Departments (LHD)

For California Local Health Departments

California Cancer Registry (CCR)

Researchers may apply to receive death record data linked to the CCR.

Tabulated Data

For custom tabulated, de-identified vital records data (e.g. counts of birth or death in California)

Return to​ the top​​​​​​​​​​​

Vital Statistics Applications Grid​

Requestor or Organization

Research

Government
(nonresearch)

Public Use​

Anti-fraud

CDPH Program (BUCP)

Local Health Dept.

California Cancer Registry (CCR)

Tabular

Researchers

Yes

-

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

Yes

Student with sponsor

Yes

-

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

Yes

Universities

Yes

-

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

Yes

Government Agency

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

Yes

Media

-

-

Yes

-

-

-

-

Yes

Public

-

-

Yes

-

-

-

-

Yes

Law Enforcement

-

-

Yes

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

Fraud Prevention Agencies

-

-

Yes

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies

-

-

Yes

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

Officers of the Court

-

-

Yes

Yes

-

-

-

Yes

School District

Yes

-

Yes

-

-

-

-

Yes

Local Health Department

Yes

Yes

Yes

-

-

Yes

-

Yes

Other CDPH programs

Yes

-

Yes

-

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

Mortuaries/Funeral Homes

-

-

Yes

-

-

-

-

Yes

Return to the top​​​​

Anti-Fraud Data Requirements

Below are the eligibility criteria that organ​izations must meet to access fraud data.

California Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section102230(c)(5) as follows:

  • Financial institutions, as defined in Section 6827(4)(A) and (B) of Title 15 of the United States Code, its representatives or contractors.
  • Consumer credit reporting agencies, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 1785.3 of the Civil Code, its representatives or contractors.
  • Entities providing information services for purposes of law enforcement or preventing fraud.
  • Officers of the court for the sole purpose of verifying a death.
  • Persons or entities acting on behalf of law enforcement agencies or the court, or pursuant to a courtorder.

Or California Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 102230(c)(6) as follows:

  • A health care service plan as defined in the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with Section 1340) of Division 2)
  • A Medi-Cal managed care plan contracted with the State Department of Health Care Services to provide full scope benefits to a Medi-Cal enrollee pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) or Chapter 8.75 (commencing with Section 14591) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
  • A health insurer licensed to provide health ins​urance as defined in Section 106 of the Insurance Code.
  • A physician organization as defined in Section 127500.2.
  • A health facility as defined in Section 1250, including a general acute care hospital.

Please note that in accordance with California Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 102232(a) as follow:

  • Any person who violates Section 102230 or 102231 may be denied further access to the indices or data files maintained by the department.
  • Any person who violates Section 102230 or 102231 is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed one year, or a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the imprisonment and fine, for each violation.
  • The penalties described in paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not be construed to limit any other remedies provided by law.

For information regarding the availability of data and the data request process, see the​ ​Vital Statistics Request Guide (PDF).
Return to the top​​​​​​​

Request Data Dictionar​ies

​Data Product ​Year ​Request Data Dictionary

​​B​ir​th​

2018–Current

1960–2017

​CCBF/CCMBF Request Data Dictionary v3.5 (EXCEL)

BSMF Request Data Dictionary (EXCEL)

Birth Cohort

1982–2022

Birth Cohort Request Data Dictionary (EXCEL)

Death


2005–Current

1970–2013

CCDF/CCMDF Request Data Dictionary v3.5 (EXCEL)

1970–2013 DSMF Data Dictionary (EXCEL)

Fetal Death

2023

1970–2022​

CCFDF Request Data Dictionary v2 (EXCEL), v3.5 in progress

FDSMF Request Data Dictionary (EXCEL)

​​​Multiple Causes of Death (MCOD)​

​​1970–2018​

​MCOD Layouts are provided by CDC and can be accessed through the CDC website

All "Request Data Dictionaries" should be​ filled out completely and all variables justified.

Note: Refer to the Birth and Death Data Source Comparison Charts on the Data and Limitations page for updat​​ed year availability and detailed data source descriptions.​

Please contact Health Information and Research Section (HIRS) for assistance if the "Request Data Dictionary" is not available. HIRS is currently working on updating all of the Data Dict​​ionaries and appreciates your pa​tience during this transition. ​​
Return to the top​​​

Contact Inform​​ation

Please contact the Health Information and Research Section (HIRS​) at HIRS@cdph.ca.gov for more information related to data.​

​Go to the CHSI Main Page​​

Page Last Updated :