Harris County Clerk Opens All 10 Annexes for Back-to-School Birth Certificates on Aug. 1
For Harris County parents preparing children for a new school year, one missing document can quickly slow down the registration process. The Harris County Clerk’s Office is offering families a weekend opportunity to take care of that paperwork before the first day of school arrives.
All 10 Harris County Clerk’s Office annex locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, for the Sixth Annual Back-to-School Birth Certificate Event.
This year marks the first time every county clerk annex will participate, expanding Saturday access to families in Baytown, Houston, Spring, Humble, Pasadena and other parts of Harris County.
“By opening all 10 annex locations on a Saturday, we're making it easier for families across Harris County to check one more item off their to-do list,” Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said. “We're proud to help hardworking parents with busy schedules access the documents they need before the school year begins.”
Why families may need a birth certificate for school registration
Birth certificates are commonly used to confirm a student’s legal name, age and identity during school enrollment. The Texas Education Agency advises families to check their local district or charter school’s specific registration requirements because required records can vary by student, grade level and enrollment situation.
For prekindergarten registration, TEA specifically lists a birth certificate among the documents families may need to gather, along with proof of residency, a parent’s identification, immunization records and eligibility documents.
Texas education guidance also states that public-school records generally identify students by the legal surname appearing on a birth certificate, another suitable proof-of-identity document or a court order changing the student’s name.
Families should contact their child’s school or district before visiting an annex to confirm exactly which enrollment documents are required.
What families need to obtain a birth certificate
The Harris County Clerk’s Office issues short-form birth certificates that are accepted for school enrollment. HCCO can provide a short-form certificate for anyone born in Texas.
Applicants attending the Aug. 1 event must:
- Request a certificate for someone born in Texas.
- Be an immediate family member of the child or the child’s legal guardian.
- Present a valid photo identification, such as a driver’s license, state or federal identification card, military identification or U.S. passport, or provide accepted supporting documents.
- Complete a birth certificate application at the office.
- Pay the $23 certificate fee by cash or credit card.
The Harris County Clerk’s Office has held its back-to-school program since 2021, helping hundreds of families obtain documents before classes begin. The county clerk’s official website confirms that the 2026 event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1.
Harris County Clerk annex locations open Aug. 1
All locations below will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026:
Baytown Annex
701 W. Baker Road, Baytown, TX 77521
Chimney Rock Annex
6000 Chimney Rock Road, Houston, TX 77081
Clay Road Annex
16715 Clay Road, Houston, TX 77084
Clear Lake Annex
16603 Buccaneer Lane, Houston, TX 77062
Cypresswood Annex
6831 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX 77379
Humble Annex
7900 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, TX 77338
North Shepherd Annex
7300 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77091
Pasadena Annex
101 S. Richey Street, Pasadena, TX 77506
South Belt Annex
10851 Scarsdale Boulevard, Houston, TX 77089
Wallisville Annex
14350 Wallisville Road, Suite 111, Houston, TX 77049
The county clerk’s online office directory also provides annex contact information and notes that regular weekday hours are generally 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Other ways to request a Texas birth certificate
Families who cannot attend the Saturday event may request birth certificates online, by mail or in person during regular Harris County Clerk’s Office business hours.
Additional information is available through the Harris County Clerk’s Office website at cclerk.hctx.net or by calling 713-274-8690.
With school registration deadlines approaching, families may want to confirm their required documents now and use the Aug. 1 event to resolve any missing birth certificate needs before back-to-school schedules become even busier.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Harris County back-to-school information, school registration reminders and community updates.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
