Cedar City Death Index
The Cedar City death index covers vital records for the largest city in Iron County and the hub of southwestern Utah. Cedar City death records are managed by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, which serves Iron, Washington, Garfield, Beaver, and Kane counties. Records span from 1905 to the present. The local Iron County office handles Cedar City requests at (435) 586-2437. Applications are accepted in person by appointment, by mail, and online. This guide explains every method for searching and requesting Cedar City death index records.
Cedar City Quick Facts
Cedar City Death Index Records
The Cedar City death index holds records from 1905 forward for state-registered deaths. Iron County-level records go back to 1898 in some forms, predating the statewide registration system by seven years. Each death certificate entry typically includes the full name of the deceased, date of death, county of death, age, date of birth, cause of death, parents' names, spouse's name, occupation, and burial location. The detail in older records varies based on what was collected at the time of registration.
Southwest Utah Public Health Department manages the Cedar City death index along with vital records for all five counties in the southwestern district. Under Utah Code 26B-8-125, death records within 50 years of the death date are restricted. Only authorized immediate family members and legal representatives may obtain certified copies during that period. After 50 years, records become fully public. The Utah State Archives holds historical Iron County death records older than 50 years and provides free online access to many index entries.
Cedar City is the seat of Iron County and the largest city in southwestern Utah. Its death record collection is among the most complete in the region. Iron County death records from 1898 at the county level and FamilySearch's collection of Utah Death Certificates from 1904 to 1965 for Iron County provide substantial coverage for genealogical research. The FamilySearch collection includes Cedar City area records and is searchable at no cost.
Note: Iron County death records from 1898 to 1904 exist at the county level through the Utah State Archives and predate the statewide registration system that began in 1905.
Search Cedar City Death Records
Searching the Cedar City death index depends on the age of the record and what you need. Recent records within 50 years require contacting Southwest Utah Public Health or the Utah Office of Vital Records. Records older than 50 years are public and can be searched free through the Utah State Archives or FamilySearch.
For in-person requests, contact the Southwest Utah Public Health Iron County office by phone at (435) 586-2437 to schedule an appointment. Walk-in service without an appointment may not be available, so calling first is recommended. The main SWUPD office is at 620 South 400 East Suite 400, St George UT 84770 and also serves Cedar City requests by mail or appointment. Applications are available in both English and Spanish on the SWUPD website at swuhealth.gov/records.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek for the Southwest Utah Health District. Southwest Utah Public Health has authorized VitalChek for online death certificate orders. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee. The Utah OVR SILVER portal provides another online ordering option available 24 hours a day.
For historical research, the FamilySearch Utah death certificate collection includes Iron County records from 1904 through the mid-1960s. These are free to search and often include scanned images of original certificates. The Utah State Archives database covers Iron County historical death records and allows free online searching.
Southwest Utah Public Health Department
Southwest Utah Public Health Department is the vital records authority for Cedar City and all of Iron County. The district office is at 620 South 400 East Suite 400, St George UT 84770. The Iron County contact number is (435) 586-2437. In-person service requires an appointment. Call before visiting to confirm availability and to ask what documents to bring.
Death certificate fees are $30 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Payment options include cash, check, and money order. Applications are available in English and Spanish through the SWUPD website. For mail requests, complete the application, include a photocopy of your ID, proof of relationship if needed, and payment made out to Southwest Utah Public Health. Mail to the St George main office or the Iron County local contact address.
SWUPD can issue certified copies for deaths registered anywhere in Utah from 1905 to the present. You are not limited to records from Iron County alone. The district's authority as a licensed vital records office extends to the full state death index. The SWUPD vital records page provides order instructions, application forms, and the list of required documents for each type of record request.
Note: SWUPD serves five counties: Iron, Washington, Garfield, Beaver, and Kane. Cedar City residents in Iron County use the Iron County contact number for inquiries and appointments.
Iron County Resources for the Cedar City Death Index
The Iron County government website provides information on vital records for Cedar City residents, including contact details for Iron County offices and direction to Southwest Utah Public Health for death certificates.
Iron County's government website at ironcounty.net lists the Iron County Clerk at 40 North 100 East, Cedar City UT 84720 (phone: 435-867-3250) and directs residents to SWUPD for death records. Iron County death records through the local health department date from 1969.
Getting Cedar City Death Certificates
A certified Cedar City death certificate costs $30 for the first copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $10. These fees apply through Southwest Utah Public Health and through the Utah Office of Vital Records.
To obtain a certified copy, provide the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death was registered. For records less than 50 years old, also include a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased. The authorized requester list includes the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives. The type of proof required varies by relationship. A child requesting a parent's record needs their own birth certificate. A spouse needs a marriage certificate.
Online ordering through VitalChek at vitalchek.com is an authorized option for Cedar City residents. Expedited processing and shipping are available for an additional fee. The SILVER portal through Utah OVR is also available 24 hours a day. Mail orders go to the Utah OVR at PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City UT 84114-1012. Phone: (801) 538-6105. For in-person service in Cedar City, call the SWUPD Iron County line at (435) 586-2437 first to schedule an appointment.
Historical Cedar City Death Records
Cedar City was settled in 1851 and has one of the longer death record histories in southern Utah. Iron County death records at the county level go back to 1898. State registration began in 1905. Records from before 1898 exist in limited form through church records and local authority documents held at the Utah State Archives and FamilySearch.
The Utah State Archives at archives.utah.gov holds Iron County death records older than 50 years. The archive provides free online access to index entries. Many historical records have been digitized. Researchers can search by name, date range, and county. Early Cedar City records from the pioneer era are sometimes listed under Iron County rather than the Cedar City city name. Searching by county and date range is often more effective for records from the early 1900s.
FamilySearch has indexed Utah death certificates for Iron County from 1904 through 1965. The FamilySearch Utah death certificate collection includes Cedar City records and is free to search. Some entries include scanned images of original certificates. Death registers from 1847 to 1966 in the FamilySearch collection may also include Iron County entries that predate the state registration system. Cross-referencing FamilySearch with the Utah State Archives database is a sound method for researching Cedar City families across multiple generations.
The Social Security Death Index provides another cross-reference for Cedar City deaths after 1962. The SSDI does not include all deaths but is useful for individuals who received Social Security benefits. Combining SSDI data with the Utah death index can help resolve uncertain names and dates in historical research.
Cedar City Death Record Access
Utah law governs access to Cedar City death records. Records within 50 years of the death date are restricted. Only authorized immediate family members and legal representatives may obtain certified copies during that period. After 50 years, records are public and open to any requester.
Authorized requesters must provide valid government-issued photo ID and proof of their specific relationship to the deceased. A driver's license or passport qualifies as primary ID. Other official government documents serve as secondary ID. The relationship proof required depends on the connection to the deceased. Grandchildren must trace their link through two generations. Estate attorneys must show written authority. The SWUPD office at (435) 586-2437 can explain what specific documents are needed for each situation.
Under Utah Code 63G-2, the Government Records Access and Management Act sets the rules for public records in Utah. Government agencies, courts, and law enforcement can access restricted records for official purposes without meeting the family relationship requirement. Researchers with a documented legal need may apply under GRAMA provisions. Each such request must include a written explanation of purpose and is reviewed by the records office before access is granted.
Records older than 50 years are fully public. Any person can request a certified copy or search index information. Genealogists, historians, and the general public all have equal access. The 50-year period runs from the date of death. Given Cedar City's 1851 founding, a substantial portion of its historical death records have already crossed the public threshold and are accessible through the Utah State Archives and FamilySearch.
Note: Applications for Cedar City death records are available in both English and Spanish through the SWUPD website, making the process accessible to Spanish-speaking residents of the region.
Iron County Death Records
Cedar City is the county seat of Iron County. Southwest Utah Public Health manages death records for Cedar City and all of Iron County. For full details on Iron County death records, office contacts, fees, and resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Residents of nearby Utah cities can find death records through their local health departments. Select a city below to learn more about that area's death index and vital records.