SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The deadline to be able to board a domestic flight or enter secure facilities without a REAL ID card is looming. May 7, 2025, is the deadline, and the El Dorado County Clerk’s office will have office hours in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday to help with documents required for the REAL ID.

The El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk’s Office in South Lake Tahoe will be open by
appointment only on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to assist residents with requests for certified copies of vital records, including birth, death, and marriage certificates. This special, one-day-only service is being offered to accommodate the increased demand for vital records in advance of the REAL ID deadline.

Appointments are required for this limited availability and will be exclusively for those seeking certified copies of vital records. The Recorder-Clerk’s office urges residents to schedule an appointment in advance to ensure timely processing of their requests.

To schedule an appointment, please call 530-621-5494. The office will not be offering other services on this date.

“We understand the urgency many residents face as the Real ID deadline approaches,” said Janelle Horne, Recorder-Clerk of El Dorado County. “We are committed to providing this additional service to help ease the process for individuals needing vital records for their Real ID applications.”

Important Details:

  • Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
  • Hours of Operation: 9:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
  • Service Available: Issuing certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates
  • Appointment Required: Yes
  • Contact Information: 530-621-5494

Having a REAL ID is optional, but you’ll need it or another accepted form of identification to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities starting May 7, 2025. If you already have a U.S. passport, passport card, or certain other forms of federal identification, you can use those instead of a REAL ID. When your driver’s license expires, you may choose to renew as a non-REAL ID or get a REAL ID at that time. There are no penalties for not getting one at this time.

For more information about the Real ID, please visit the Department of Motor Vehicles.