NYC Health Department Services, 311 Phone Help, Vital Records, Clinics & Official DOHMH Links
Use this practical guide to contact the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, also called NYC Health Department or NYC DOHMH. It covers 311 phone help, birth and death certificates, vital records appointments, immunization records, Citywide Immunization Registry, clinics, restaurant grades, permits, complaints, mental health support, data, and official NYC.gov links.
NYC DOHMH is not the same as the New York State Department of Health, and it is not the same as NYC Health + Hospitals. The right office depends on whether you need a city vital record, a clinic, a restaurant inspection result, a permit, a complaint, a mental health service, or a state-level benefit.
This finder points you to the safest official starting place. It does not order certificates, book appointments, renew permits, or replace 311. It helps you avoid the common mistake of using the wrong NYC, New York State, hospital, or private vendor page.
For most NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene questions, use 311. If you are calling from outside New York City, call 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675). For non-emergency complaints, use 311 Online or the 311 Mobile App. For birth and death certificates, use the official NYC Health vital records pages.
NYC Department of Health phone, vital records office and service help
For most NYC Health Department services, call 311. If you are outside New York City, call 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675). Use 311 Online or the 311 Mobile App to submit non-emergency public health complaints, check service requests, report restaurant or food issues, ask about clinics, and get city service routing.
For NYC birth and death certificates, use the official NYC Health birth and death records pages. The Office of Vital Records is listed at 45 Lafayette Street, New York, NY, and all in-person orders require an appointment. NYC birth and death certificates generally cost $15 per certificate, with processing fees depending on the order method and request type.
For immunization records, use My Vaccine Record and the Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR). For mental health support, call or text 988. For confidential low- to no-cost NYC Health Department clinic services, check the official clinic pages for sexual health, immunization, and tuberculosis services.
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene fast facts before you call
Official verification for this NYC Health Department guide
Publish-ready as of: May 8, 2026.
This guide was prepared using official NYC Health Department and NYC.gov resources, including the NYC Health contact page, birth and death records pages, vital records ordering pages, certificate fee pages, Citywide Immunization Registry pages, My Vaccine Record guidance, NYC Health clinics pages, restaurant grades, permits and licenses, 311 service pages, health topics, public health complaint pages, and NYC 988 resources.
Phone routing, fees, office locations, appointment rules, certificate processing times, clinic hours, permit requirements, food safety rules, restaurant inspection details, and mental health service links can change. Always verify the exact service on the official NYC.gov page before visiting, paying, mailing documents, filing a complaint, ordering a record or relying on a deadline.
NYC Department of Health services covered in this guide
NYC Department of Health phone number directory by service
NYC uses 311 as the front door for many city services. That means many NYC Health Department phone needs start with 311 instead of a direct public phone line. For vital records, immunization records, clinics, restaurant complaints, permits, food safety, public health reports or mental health support, use the correct official path below.
Best call strategy for NYC Health Department services
Before contacting NYC Health, write down your exact need: birth certificate, death certificate, certificate correction, newborn certificate, vaccine record, restaurant complaint, food poisoning, clinic appointment, TB service, permit renewal, food protection course, dog license, or public health complaint. A specific request is easier to route than βI need the health department.β
NYC Department of Health vs New York State Department of Health
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is the city health department for New York City. It handles city-level public health services, NYC birth and death records, NYC restaurant inspections, city public health complaints, Citywide Immunization Registry, NYC clinics, and many city health programs.
The New York State Department of Health handles state-level programs, statewide public health rules, state vital records outside NYC, statewide professional and facility topics, Medicaid-related health systems and other state health matters. If you were born outside New York City but inside New York State, do not assume NYC Health can issue your record.
NYC Health Department by borough: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island
Many users search by borough or neighborhood, such as βNYC Department of Health Brooklyn,β βManhattan vital records,β βQueens health department,β βBronx TB clinic,β or βStaten Island restaurant inspection.β The correct path depends on the service. Vital records are citywide through NYC Health vital records pages, while clinics, restaurant results and complaints may have borough or neighborhood-specific locations.
What NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene handles
The NYC Health Department protects and promotes public health for millions of New Yorkers. Its work includes visible services like birth certificates, restaurant letter grades and clinics, as well as behind-the-scenes disease prevention, public health data, emergency preparedness, health education, environmental health, mental health programs, and community health initiatives.
What NYC Health Department may not be the right office for
NYC Health Department is broad, but it does not handle every health-related or government-service issue. Calling the wrong office wastes time and creates confusion, especially when a service belongs to New York State, NYC Health + Hospitals, the City Clerk, HRA, ACS, HPD or another agency.
NYC birth certificate and death certificate help from the Health Department
NYC Health handles birth and death records for events that occurred in New York City. The official birth and death records section explains ordering, required documents, fees, corrections, veteran fee waiver details and certificate status help.
For general vital records help, call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) from outside NYC. For newborn certificate questions for babies born within the past 30 days, NYC Health lists 646-632-6563 and the birth@health.nyc.gov email address. In-person certificate orders require an appointment, and the Office of Vital Records is listed at 45 Lafayette Street.
Before you order an NYC certificate
Prepare the full name on the record, date of birth or death, borough if known, parent or spouse details when required, applicant identification, proof of relationship if required, mailing address, payment method and whether you need a certified copy, correction or status check.
NYC historic birth, death or marriage records: when NYC Health is not the right page
Not every New York City vital record is ordered through the same current NYC Health certificate page. NYC Health says birth records from before 1910 should be requested through the NYC Department of Records and Information Services Municipal Archives, or by calling 311. Historic birth, death or marriage records may follow different rules and fees than current vital records.
Marriage records can also be confusing. Current marriage licenses and many marriage-related services are generally tied to the City Clerk, while historic records may be tied to the Municipal Archives. If your goal is legal proof, genealogy, immigration, apostille, estate, passport or court use, confirm the exact record type before ordering.
NYC vaccine records, My Vaccine Record and Citywide Immunization Registry
The Citywide Immunization Registry, or CIR, keeps immunization records for children and adults who live in New York City. CIR consolidates immunization information and shares it with health care providers, families and agencies concerned with public health.
Individuals, parents and legal guardians can use My Vaccine Record to search for their own or their childβs immunization record. NYC311 explains that printouts from My Vaccine Record are official reports that can be used for school, college or camp enrollment and can also show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
NYC Health clinics: sexual health, immunization and tuberculosis services
NYC Health Department clinics provide sexual health, immunization and tuberculosis services. The official clinics page states that services are available regardless of immigration status. NYC Health Department clinics and chest centers can be an important option for low- to no-cost care, confidential services and TB support.
NYC Sexual Health Clinics provide low- to no-cost services for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Anyone 12 or older can receive services at any clinic, regardless of immigration status, and parental consent is not necessary. TB Chest Centers provide low- to no-cost testing, treatment and care for tuberculosis and do not ask about immigration status or require health insurance.
NYC restaurant grades, food poisoning, food safety and inspection lookup
The NYC Health Department conducts unannounced inspections of restaurants and publishes inspection results. The cityβs restaurant inspection lookup tool is ABCEats. It helps users check inspection results for restaurants and food service businesses across New York City.
Users often search NYC Department of Health because they want a restaurant letter grade, complaint path, food poisoning report, food worker rules, food safety course information or food service permit guidance. These needs may be handled by NYC Health food safety pages, ABCEats, 311 Online or NYC permit and license pages.
NYC Health permits, licenses, food protection course and business services
NYC Health permits and licenses pages support businesses and operators that need health-related permits, renewals, certificates or courses. The official permits page says in-person submissions are by appointment only and customers are encouraged to submit new applications and renewals online or by mail when applicable.
Permit and license rules are service-specific. Food service establishments, mobile food vending, food protection course, dog licenses, child care-related health rules and other regulated activities may have different applications, fees, renewal timelines and inspection requirements.
NYC mental health support, 988, crisis help and substance use resources
NYC Health Department and NYC.gov connect residents to mental health and substance use resources. For immediate mental health support, call or text 988. NYC promotes 988 as free, confidential mental health support that is available 24/7.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If the issue is not an emergency but needs confidential support, 988 is the right starting point. NYC Health mental health topic pages can also help users find resources for depression, anxiety, substance use, overdose prevention, crisis support and community mental health programs.
NYC public health complaints, 311 reports, health data and public records
The NYC Health Department contact page directs users to submit public health reports through 311 Online. Users can also check the status of an existing complaint or submit non-emergency complaints through 311 Online or the 311 Mobile App.
NYC Health also publishes public health data, community health profiles, health topics, reports, disease information and open data resources. If you only need statistics, dashboards or public health reports, search NYC Health data pages first before filing a records request.
NYC Health free services vs paid certificates, permits and license fees
Many NYC Health pages, 311 complaint tools, public health reports, restaurant lookup tools, health topics and clinic information pages are free to access. Some NYC Health services may involve fees, especially birth certificates, death certificates, certificate corrections, permits, licenses, course registrations, business applications and certain mailed records.
The key user-safety rule is simple: use official NYC.gov pages first. NYC Health warns that unauthorized vendors may charge high fees for help getting birth or death certificates. Do not enter payment or identity information into a private site before checking the official NYC Health or NYC311 page.
NYC Department of Health checklist before calling, visiting or ordering records
Many delays happen because users contact the wrong office or do not have required details. Use this checklist before calling 311, ordering a certificate, booking a vital records appointment, using My Vaccine Record, filing a complaint or applying for a permit.
How to contact the right NYC Department of Health service
Identify the exact service
Decide whether you need vital records, vaccine records, clinics, restaurant grades, food safety, permits, mental health help, public health complaints, or health data.
Use NYC.gov or NYC311 first
Start with the official NYC Health Department page or NYC311. Avoid private directories and unauthorized certificate vendors.
Use the correct official program page
Vital records, My Vaccine Record, clinics, restaurant grades, permits and mental health support each have separate official pages.
Prepare documents and details
Have names, dates, borough, certificate details, vaccine records, complaint details, permit type or clinic need ready before calling or filing online.
Verify appointments, fees and hours
Check official pages for appointment rules, current fees, clinic hours, processing times, permit requirements and service updates before visiting.
Do not use general NYC Health contact pages for emergencies
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If you need suicide, mental health crisis or emotional distress support in the United States, call or text 988. For poisoning, overdose danger, severe symptoms, violence, child abuse, elder abuse or urgent safety threats, use the correct emergency or crisis hotline.
NYC Health Department contact pages and 311 are useful for non-emergency public health services, complaints, information and records. They are not a substitute for emergency medical treatment, urgent law enforcement help or crisis intervention.
NYC Office of Vital Records map and Health Department service search
The map below points to the NYC Office of Vital Records area at 45 Lafayette Street. In-person vital record orders require an appointment. For most other NYC Health Department services, start online or with 311 before visiting a location.
Official NYC Department of Health links for services, phone help and vital records
Use these official resources before relying on directory sites, old phone listings or private certificate vendors. They cover the main user intents behind NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene searches.
NYC Health Department official website Main official NYC Health Department website for public health services, health topics, clinics, records and agency navigation. Contact the Health Department Official contact page explaining 311 Online, 311 Mobile App and non-emergency public health reports. NYC 311 Official city service portal for 311 requests, service routing and non-emergency complaints. Birth and Death Records Official NYC Health page for birth certificates, death certificates, corrections, ordering, fees and status help. How to Order Birth and Death Records Official ordering guidance, online assistance and unauthorized vendor warning. Birth and Death Records Fees Official NYC Health fee and processing time information for birth and death records. Vaccine Records Official NYC Health page for My Vaccine Record and immunization record access. Citywide Immunization Registry Official CIR page for immunization registry information and provider reporting resources. NYC Health Clinics Official NYC Health clinic page for sexual health, immunization and tuberculosis services. Sexual Health Clinics Official clinic page for low- to no-cost STI and HIV services. Tuberculosis Chest Centers Official NYC Health page for TB testing, treatment and care. Restaurant Grades Official NYC Health restaurant inspection and letter grade information. ABCEats Restaurant Inspection Lookup Official NYC restaurant inspection lookup tool. Permits and Licenses Official NYC Health business permit, license and renewal page. NYC 988 Official NYC mental health support page for 988 call and text help. NYC Health Data Official public health data, reports and dashboard resources from NYC Health.NYC Department of Health FAQ: services, phone and vital records
What is the NYC Department of Health phone number?
For most NYC Health Department services, call 311. If you are outside New York City, call 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675).
What is the full name of the NYC Health Department?
The full agency name is the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. It is often called NYC Health Department, NYC Health or NYC DOHMH.
Where is the NYC Office of Vital Records?
The NYC Office of Vital Records is listed at 45 Lafayette Street. In-person vital records orders require an appointment, so check the official page before visiting.
How do I order an NYC birth certificate?
Use the official NYC Health birth certificate page or NYC311 guidance. Birth certificates generally cost $15 per certificate, with additional processing fees depending on the order method.
How do I order an NYC death certificate?
Use the official NYC Health death certificate page or NYC311 guidance. Death certificates generally cost $15 per certified copy, plus any applicable processing fee.
What phone number should I use for a newborn birth certificate question?
For questions about certificates for newborns born within the past 30 days, NYC Health lists 646-632-6563 and birth@health.nyc.gov.
Can I walk in for an NYC birth or death certificate?
No, do not assume walk-in service. NYC Health says all in-person vital records orders require an appointment. Use the official appointment and ordering page first.
Where do I get NYC immunization records?
Use My Vaccine Record and the Citywide Immunization Registry. Individuals, parents and legal guardians can search for their own or their childβs immunization record through My Vaccine Record.
Is a My Vaccine Record printout official?
NYC311 says printouts from My Vaccine Record are official reports that can be used for school, college or camp enrollment and can also show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Does NYC Health provide clinic services?
Yes. NYC Health Department clinics provide sexual health, immunization and tuberculosis services. Services are confidential and available regardless of immigration status.
How do I find NYC restaurant grades?
Use the official ABCEats restaurant inspection lookup tool or the NYC Health restaurant grades page to find inspection results and letter grades.
How do I report a restaurant or food safety complaint in NYC?
Use 311 Online, the 311 Mobile App or call 311. From outside New York City, call 212-639-9675.
Does NYC Health handle marriage certificates?
NYC Health primarily handles birth and death records. Marriage licenses and many marriage-related services are usually handled by the City Clerk, while some historic records may be handled by the NYC Municipal Archives.
What if I was born outside New York City?
If you were born outside New York City, including elsewhere in New York State, use the correct state or local vital records office. NYC Health generally handles NYC birth and death records.
How do I get mental health help in NYC?
Call or text 988 for free, confidential mental health support. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Is this the official NYC Department of Health website?
No. This is an independent informational guide. For official services, forms, fees, appointments, certificates, clinic updates, complaints or public health notices, use NYC.gov, NYC Health or NYC311.
Independent guide and official-use disclaimer
This article is an independent guide created to help users understand NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene services, phone routing, vital records, birth certificates, death certificates, immunization records, clinics, food safety, restaurant grades, permits, mental health support, complaints, data and official links.
It is not the official NYC Department of Health website and does not provide medical advice, legal advice, benefits decisions, emergency help or guaranteed appointment information. Before visiting, paying, mailing documents, ordering certificates, filing a complaint or relying on a deadline, verify details directly with NYC.gov, NYC Health Department, NYC311 or the correct official agency.
Bottom line for NYC Department of Health services, phone and vital records
For most NYC Health Department help, call 311 or use 311 Online. From outside New York City, call 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675). For birth and death certificates, use the official NYC Health vital records pages. The Office of Vital Records is listed at 45 Lafayette Street, and in-person orders require an appointment. Birth and death certificates generally cost $15 per certificate, with processing fees depending on how you order.
Use My Vaccine Record and CIR for immunization records, official clinic pages for sexual health, immunization and tuberculosis services, ABCEats for restaurant grades, NYC Health permits pages for business permits, 311 for public health complaints and 988 for free, confidential mental health support.