DC birth certificates are available to Americans born in the District of Columbia. Even if you've moved out of the District of Columbia and now reside in another state, your birth records will be held by the vital statistics offices of the District of Columbia. Hence, it is them that you will need to deal with when you apply for a copy of your DC birth certificate.
Having your birth certificate readily available will save your sanity if you ever lose your driver's license. Has this already happened to you? Then you'll know that, when you go to the DMV for a replacement license, they require you to present your birth certificate in order for your request to be honored.
The DC Birth Certificate
This insistence on presenting birth certificates has a sound basis in good security principles. Official identification, in all its forms, is not only a powerful tool for life, but also an utter necessity. If just anyone can obtain official identification without having to present documentation proving that they indeed are who they say they are, then we're in a lot of trouble - both as individuals and as a society.
What happens if you're one of those people who need a replacement copy of a DC birth certificate? You can get it either one of two ways: the traditional way, or by going online. Your options are usually greater, as well as your time saved, if you use one of the convenient online services that specialize in retrieval of birth certificates for citizens from all states.