Last reviewed 2026. This updated guide is for Austin Public Health, the City of Austin health department. It separates the main Austin Public Health campus, the Office of Vital Records, immunization services, WIC, environmental health, disease reporting, neighborhood centers and common wrong-office issues.
Austin Health Department Services, Phone Numbers, Vital Records and Clinic Help
Use this Austin Public Health guide when you need the right office before you drive, call, mail a form or order a certificate. It covers the main APH phone number, the Betty Dunkerley Public Health Campus, birth and death certificates, vaccine appointments, WIC, disease reporting, food permits, environmental health, neighborhood centers and which services belong to Texas DSHS or another county instead.
This page is for Austin Public Health, the City of Austin public health department. It is not the same as Texas Department of State Health Services, Travis County Clerk, Travis County Health and Human Services, Central Health, CommUnityCare, Austin Animal Center or a private doctor. Vital records are especially easy to route wrong: Austin Public Health registers and issues certain birth and death records, while other Texas records may belong to Texas DSHS or another local registrar.
- Agency
- Austin Public Health
- Official website
- https://www.austintexas.gov/health
- Main phone
- 512-972-5000
- Main physical address
- Betty Dunkerley Public Health Campus, 7201 Levander Loop, Austin, TX 78702
- Mailing address
- Austin Public Health, P.O. Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767
- Vital Records
- Office of Vital Records, 7201 Levander Loop, Building C, Austin, TX 78702
- Vital Records hours
- Walk-in applications accepted until 4:15 PM; office open 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday.
- Environmental Health
- 1520 Rutherford Ln, Bldg. 1 Ste. 205, Austin, TX 78754; phone 512-978-0300, option 5.
- Director
- Adrienne Sturrup, Austin Public Health Director.
Quick answer: what Austin Public Health can help with
Austin Public Health works to protect the community from disease and public health threats, while also connecting residents to health services, screenings and social services. For everyday users, that means Austin Public Health is the starting point for vaccines, WIC, vital records, disease reporting, environmental health permits, restaurant and food-service health rules, mosquito and vector control, public health emergencies, neighborhood centers, health education and certain community support programs.
The right route depends on the problem. A parent needing a vaccine appointment should not use the same path as a person ordering a birth certificate. A restaurant operator should not start with Vital Records. A medical provider reporting a disease should use the epidemiology reporting route, not a general public comment page. A person looking for SNAP, Medicaid or private medical care may need another agency entirely.
Call the main line
Call 512-972-5000 when you need Austin Public Health routing and are not sure which program owns your issue.
Use Vital Records
Birth and death certificates are handled at 7201 Levander Loop, Building C. Austin OVR registers births, deaths and fetal deaths that occur within full-purpose Austin city limits.
Use Environmental Health
Food permits, pool inspections, mobile food vendors, temporary food events and environmental health questions route to 512-978-0300, option 5.
Austin Public Health phone numbers by service
Do not waste time by asking every question through the same phone number. Austin Public Health has a main line, but several programs publish direct phone numbers or specific reporting routes. Use the table below to start in the right place.
| Need | Best phone or route | What to say before staff ask |
|---|---|---|
| General Austin Public Health help | 512-972-5000 | Say whether you need immunizations, WIC, vital records, environmental health, disease reporting, neighborhood-center help or another APH program. |
| Birth or death certificate by phone order | VitalChek: 1-800-457-7586 | Ask for an Austin Office of Vital Records order and be ready to verify identity, payment and shipping information. |
| Immunization appointment | 512-972-5520 | Say whether the appointment is for a child, adult, school shots, flu vaccine, MMR, shot record or uninsured adult service. |
| Disease reporting in Austin/Travis County | 512-972-5555; fax 512-972-5772 | Medical providers, schools, labs and reporting entities should state the reportable condition and urgency. |
| Environmental Health Services | 512-978-0300, option 5 | Mention food permits, mobile food vending, temporary food event, pool, spa, vector, complaint or inspection question. |
| Environmental Health email | EHSD.Service@austintexas.gov | Include the business name, permit number if available, address, contact person and a clear request. |
| Neighborhood center help | Call the closest listed neighborhood center or 3-1-1 | Say your ZIP code, household need and whether you need food, rent or utility-related referral help. |
| City emergency | 911 | For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 instead of waiting for APH office hours. |
Best call strategy
Use one direct sentence first: “I live in Austin, Texas, and I need help with [birth certificate / vaccine appointment / WIC / food permit / disease report / neighborhood center / environmental complaint].” Then give your name, phone number and ZIP code. For vital records, include the event type and whether the birth or death occurred inside full-purpose Austin city limits. For Environmental Health, include the business or property address.
Austin Public Health main campus, hours and map
The main Austin Public Health contact page lists the physical address as the Betty Dunkerley Public Health Campus, 7201 Levander Loop, Austin, TX 78702. The city contact page also identifies Austin Public Health at 7201 Levander Loop Building E. Vital Records is at the same campus but specifically at Building C. Do not assume every APH service is in the same building.
Before you drive to Levander Loop
- Confirm whether your service is at the main campus, Building C Vital Records, an immunization clinic, a WIC site, a neighborhood center or Environmental Health on Rutherford Lane.
- Bring government-issued photo ID for vital records.
- Bring shot records, school forms, insurance cards or Medicaid information for immunization visits.
- For certificates, bring a completed application if you want faster service.
When not to go to Levander Loop
- Do not go there for food permits if your instructions route you to Environmental Health Services at Rutherford Lane.
- Do not go there for private doctor medical records.
- Do not wait there for emergency care.
- Do not assume Austin Public Health handles records outside its legal authority.
Austin birth certificates and death certificates
The Office of Vital Records registers and maintains births, deaths and fetal deaths that occur within the full-purpose city limits of Austin. It issues certified copies of vital event records, including birth and death certificates, and helps with registration matters for funeral homes, mortuary services and certain home birth or death situations.
The Office of Vital Records is located at 7201 Levander Loop, Building C, Austin, TX 78702. Walk-in applications are accepted until 4:15 PM, and the office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The official service page says that in most cases, a walk-in certificate is printed and given within 30 minutes if the request is approved and the application is complete.
| Vital-record item | Official detail | Resident warning |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $23 for each copy. | Long-form Austin birth certificates are for births that occur within Austin city limits; security or abstract certificates may be available for Texas births. |
| Death certificate | $21 for the first copy; $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. | Austin OVR issues death certificates for deaths within Austin city limits. |
| Walk-in ordering | Office at 7201 Levander Loop, Building C; applications accepted until 4:15 PM. | Bring current government-issued photo ID or accepted secondary identification. |
| Online ordering | Use VitalChek; processing and UPS shipping fees are added. | Delivery cannot go to PO or APO boxes. |
| Phone ordering | Call VitalChek at 1-800-457-7586. | Credit or debit card is required; processing and shipping fees are added. |
| Mail ordering | Mail to Office of Vital Records, PO Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767-1088. | Application must be notarized, and mail orders can take 2 to 3 weeks. |
| Express mail | Office of Vital Records, 7201 Levander Loop, Bldg. C, Austin, TX 78702. | Use the physical address only when your delivery method requires it. |
Who can get a birth or death certificate?
Texas birth and death records are confidential. Certificates are available only to authorized requestors, such as the person named on the certificate, immediate family by blood or marriage, legal guardians or legal representatives with proper documentation. Austin Public Health also notes that it cannot verify whether a birth or death certificate is available without a proper application and identification.
- Confirm where the event happened. Austin OVR handles births and deaths within full-purpose Austin city limits. Travis County or Texas DSHS may be the better route for other records.
- Choose the ordering method. Walk-in is fastest when approved; online and phone orders use VitalChek; mail takes longer.
- Bring or send proof of identity. Current government-issued photo identification or accepted secondary documents are required.
- Use exact payment instructions. Walk-in payment can include cash, money order in the exact amount, personal check or card in your name.
- Avoid incomplete applications. Wrong names, missing parent names, unclear city or county, missing ID and unsigned applications delay processing.
The Office of Vital Records is not a general genealogy desk for every Texas record. If the birth or death did not occur within Austin city limits, check whether Travis County, another local registrar or Texas DSHS is the correct office. If you need a marriage or divorce record, do not assume Austin Public Health can issue it.
Immunizations, shot records, MMR and flu vaccine help
Austin Public Health gives vaccines by appointment only. The official immunization page says to call 512-972-5520 to make an appointment. APH offers immunizations to children who are uninsured or Medicaid recipients, and services are also available to uninsured adults.
APH immunization services include Shots for Tots for children, Big Shots for adults, the Mobile Vaccination Program and the local Vaccines for Children program. Shot records are available at Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinic locations for people who received immunizations at public health clinics in Austin and Travis County, including Shots for Tots, Big Shots and the Mobile Vaccination Program.
Child vaccine eligibility
Children from birth through age 18 may qualify if they are Medicaid eligible, uninsured, American Indian or Alaska Native, or underinsured. Bring records and ask which vaccines are available before the visit.
Adult vaccine eligibility
Adults age 19 and older may qualify if they are uninsured. Call 512-972-5520 before you go, because APH vaccine services are by appointment only.
Shot record warning
APH may not have shot records for vaccines given at private doctor offices, pharmacies or other clinics. If your child received vaccines somewhere else, call that provider, school, daycare, pharmacy or records custodian first. ImmTrac is also a Texas immunization registry option that can help store records, but only if records were entered and consent rules were followed.
Measles, MMR and respiratory disease reminders
Austin Public Health has highlighted that measles is serious and that people should talk to their healthcare provider to make sure they are vaccinated. APH also notes that MMR vaccine is offered through Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinics and at different locations. Flu shots may be available through Shots for Tots and Big Shots for eligible children and uninsured adults, with APH listing flu vaccine cost details on its respiratory disease information page.
Austin Public Health WIC and breastfeeding support
Austin Public Health WIC is part of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC provides healthy foods, personalized nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to other services. Services are free for eligible families.
The Austin WIC program lists multiple locations and support options across Austin, Travis County and Bastrop County, including a mobile WIC unit and lactation support centers. The most practical route is to apply through the official WIC link or contact the closest WIC office before visiting.
Use WIC if you need
- Pregnancy nutrition support.
- Infant or child nutrition help.
- Breastfeeding support.
- WIC benefits and appointment help.
- Referrals to related services.
Prepare before applying
- Photo ID if available.
- Proof of address.
- Pregnancy or child information.
- Benefits or income information if requested.
- Your phone number and preferred WIC location.
Use the myWIC app
The official WIC page points families to the myWIC app for appointment management, benefits, PIN actions, shopping support and nutrition education.
Disease reporting, epidemiology and public-health alerts
Austin Public Health’s Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit receives case reports and conducts disease investigations. Under Texas law, healthcare providers, hospitals, laboratories, schools and others must report certain diseases and conditions to local and state health officials. In Austin and Travis County, reportable conditions can be reported by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 512-972-5555. Fax reporting is listed as 512-972-5772.
For medical providers and schools
Use the disease reporting route when you are reporting a condition, outbreak, foodborne illness concern or public-health reportable event. Do not send protected health information through ordinary email unless official instructions allow it.
For residents
If you think you are sick or exposed, contact a healthcare provider for medical advice. Use APH public-health pages for prevention guidance, not self-diagnosis.
Current public-health topics residents should check
The Austin Public Health home page highlights several ongoing public-health topics, including measles information, opioid overdose prevention and naloxone resources, mosquito prevention, harmful algae information, respiratory disease updates, stress resources and emergency preparedness. These topics change over time, so verify alerts directly through the official APH website before relying on older social posts or screenshots.
For life-threatening symptoms, severe allergic reaction, serious injury, overdose, trouble breathing, chest pain, heat emergency or any immediate danger, call 911. Austin Public Health pages are not a substitute for emergency medical care.
Environmental Health Services: food permits, inspections, pools, mobile vendors and complaints
Austin Public Health Environmental Health Services is located at 1520 Rutherford Ln, Bldg. 1 Ste. 205, Austin, TX 78754. The official contact route lists 512-978-0300, option 5 and EHSD.Service@austintexas.gov. Lobby hours are listed as 7:45 AM to 3:30 PM, and office hours are 7:45 AM to 4:45 PM.
This is the route for many business-facing and complaint-facing services: fixed food establishments, mobile food vendors, temporary food events, charitable feeding organizations, farmers markets, pools, spas, interactive water features, smoking in public places, mosquito concerns and some environmental or nuisance matters. Do not send restaurant or permit questions to Vital Records.
| Environmental Health need | Best route | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed food establishment | Food safety program or 512-978-0300 | Business name, address, permit or plan question, owner contact and deadline. |
| Mobile food vendor | Mobile Food Vendors page and EHSD contact | Unit type, commissary details, permit status, location plans and inspection question. |
| Temporary food event | Temporary Food Events page | Event name, date, location, menu, booth setup and organizer contact. |
| Food safety complaint | Environmental Health contact form, phone or email | Restaurant name, address, date, time, symptoms if any and specific unsafe condition. |
| Pool, spa or water feature inspection | 3-1-1 or Environmental Health Services | Facility name, address, permit issue, inspection concern and contact person. |
| Mosquito or vector concern | Environmental Vector Control | Exact location, standing water description, timing and photos if available. |
How to report a food or environmental health complaint
- Write the exact location. Include the business or property name, address and ZIP code.
- Write the exact date and time. A complaint from “last week” is weaker than a dated event.
- Describe the public-health concern. Examples include unsafe food temperature, pests, sewage, no handwashing, illness after eating, pool safety issue or standing water.
- Separate facts from opinion. Staff can act on what happened, where it happened and who may be affected.
- Use the correct EHSD route. Call 512-978-0300, option 5, or email EHSD.Service@austintexas.gov when the official page allows it.
Neighborhood Centers and social support through Austin Public Health
Austin Public Health also connects residents to neighborhood-center support. These centers can help connect families to local services and referrals. The official city service page advises residents to contact the neighborhood center closest to them for help and information about services.
| Neighborhood center | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Dove Springs Neighborhood Center | 5811 Palo Blanco Lane, Austin, TX 78744 | 512-972-6699 |
| Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center | 2800 Webberville Road, Austin, TX 78702 | 512-972-6740 |
| South Austin Neighborhood Center | 2508 Durwood Street, Austin, TX 78704 | 512-972-6840 |
| St. John Community Center | 7500 Blessing Avenue, Austin, TX 78752 | 512-972-5159 |
| East Austin Neighborhood Center | 211 Comal Street, Austin, TX 78702 | 512-972-6650 |
| Montopolis Community Center | 1200 Montopolis Drive, Austin, TX 78741 | 512-972-6705 |
| Blackland Neighborhood Center | 2005 Salina Street, Austin, TX 78722 | 512-972-5790 |
Neighborhood centers are helpful, but they are not the same as Texas benefits casework, private medical care or emergency housing placement. If you need urgent safety help, call 911. If you need broader community referrals, 2-1-1 Texas and 3-1-1 may help route you.
What Austin Public Health does not handle
Austin Public Health is not the right office for every health-related task. These wrong turns waste the most time.
| If you need | Do not use | Better route |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical care | Routine Austin Public Health pages | Call 911 or go to emergency care. |
| Marriage or divorce record | Austin OVR birth and death certificate page | Use the proper county clerk or Texas vital statistics route. |
| A birth or death outside Austin city limits | Austin OVR unless official instructions say it can issue the record | Check Travis County, another local registrar or Texas DSHS. |
| Private doctor medical records | Austin Public Health unless APH provided the service | Contact the doctor, hospital, pharmacy, clinic, school or records custodian that created the record. |
| SNAP, Medicaid or cash-assistance casework | APH main line as the case office | Use Texas Health and Human Services or the correct benefits office. |
| Animal adoption, shelter intake or lost pet help | Austin Public Health clinic line | Use Austin Animal Center or Austin 3-1-1 depending on the issue. |
Austin service area and nearby confusion
Austin Public Health serves Austin and certain Austin-Travis County public-health functions, but the correct office can depend on city limits, county lines, the exact address, the type of record and the program. This matters most for vital records, food permits, environmental health complaints and disease reporting.
Boundary rule for vital records
For birth and death certificates, do not rely on “Austin area” as the test. Austin OVR says it registers and maintains births, deaths and fetal deaths that occur within the full-purpose city limits of Austin. If the event happened outside those limits, check the official instructions before submitting money or mailing documents.
Official Austin Public Health links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final verification before you visit, call, pay, apply, report, order a certificate or rely on a deadline.
Main APH pages
Clinic and family services
Disease and emergency topics
Environmental Health
Texas statewide backup
For records, benefits or public-health matters outside Austin Public Health authority, use the correct Texas agency or local registrar. Texas DSHS Vital Statistics can help with statewide vital-record questions when Austin OVR is not the right office.
Austin Health Department FAQ
What is the Austin Health Department phone number?
The main Austin Public Health phone number is 512-972-5000. Immunization appointments use 512-972-5520, disease reporting uses 512-972-5555, and Environmental Health Services uses 512-978-0300, option 5.
Where is Austin Public Health located?
The main Austin Public Health physical address is the Betty Dunkerley Public Health Campus at 7201 Levander Loop, Austin, TX 78702. Vital Records is at the same campus in Building C.
Where is the Austin Office of Vital Records?
The Office of Vital Records is at 7201 Levander Loop, Building C, Austin, TX 78702. Walk-in applications are accepted until 4:15 PM, and the office is open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
How much is an Austin birth certificate?
The official City of Austin birth and death certificate service page lists the cost of each birth certificate as $23. Online and phone orders through VitalChek include additional processing and shipping fees.
How much is an Austin death certificate?
The official City of Austin service page lists one death certificate as $21. If you order more copies at the same time, each additional copy is $4.
Can I order an Austin birth or death certificate online?
Yes. The official City of Austin page directs users to VitalChek for online ordering. VitalChek orders require a credit or debit card, and processing plus UPS shipping fees are added.
Can I order an Austin birth or death certificate by phone?
Yes. Call VitalChek at 1-800-457-7586. Phone orders require a credit or debit card and include processing and shipping fees.
What records does Austin Office of Vital Records maintain?
Austin OVR registers and maintains births, deaths and fetal deaths that occur within the full-purpose city limits of Austin. It issues certified copies of vital event records and supports related registration functions.
How do I schedule vaccines with Austin Public Health?
Austin Public Health gives vaccines by appointment only. Call 512-972-5520 or use the official immunization appointment route on the Austin Public Health immunizations page.
Who qualifies for Austin Public Health immunizations?
APH lists vaccine eligibility for children from birth through age 18 who are Medicaid eligible, uninsured, American Indian or Alaska Native, or underinsured. Uninsured adults age 19 and older may also qualify for APH immunization services.
Can Austin Public Health give me my shot record?
APH says shot records are available at Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinic locations for people who received immunizations at public health clinics in Austin and Travis County, including Shots for Tots, Big Shots and the Mobile Vaccination Program. Records may not be available for immunizations given at private doctors’ offices.
How do I contact Austin Public Health WIC?
Use the official Austin Public Health WIC page to apply, find a WIC office, use the mobile WIC unit or connect with breastfeeding support. WIC services are free for eligible families.
How do I report a disease in Austin or Travis County?
Reportable diseases can be reported to Austin Public Health Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance at 512-972-5555. The fax number listed for disease reporting is 512-972-5772.
How do I contact Austin Environmental Health Services?
Call 512-978-0300, option 5, or email EHSD.Service@austintexas.gov. The Environmental Health Services physical address is 1520 Rutherford Ln, Bldg. 1 Ste. 205, Austin, TX 78754.
Does Austin Public Health handle food permits?
Yes. Food permits, mobile food vendors, temporary food events, fixed food establishments and many inspection questions route through Austin Public Health Environmental Health Services.
Is Austin Public Health the same as Texas DSHS?
No. Austin Public Health is the City of Austin health department. Texas DSHS is the state health department. Some services overlap in topic, but records, statewide programs and authority can differ.