Sacramento County Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Sacramento County are issued by the County Clerk-Recorder office with three locations to serve you. A public marriage license costs $84 during regular hours or $90 for after-hours service. Both people must appear together in person and bring valid photo IDs to apply for a license. The main office is at 600 8th Street in downtown Sacramento and you can call 916-874-6334 with questions about the application process or to schedule an online appointment through the county website at omac.saccounty.net for Sacramento County.
Sacramento County Marriage License Facts
Clerk-Recorder Office Locations
The Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder operates three offices across the county. The main office is at 600 8th Street in downtown Sacramento. This is the busiest location and handles the most marriage license applications in the county. The other two offices are in suburban areas to make it easier for residents outside downtown to apply for their licenses.
Call 916-874-6334 to reach the main office or ask questions about marriage licenses. The county website is ccr.saccounty.gov. Check the website for addresses and hours for all three offices. Parking is available at or near each location, though downtown parking may be more limited during busy times.
Sacramento County has about 1.6 million residents. The county includes the state capital and surrounding communities. The clerk office processes thousands of marriage licenses each year for residents and others who want to get married in Sacramento County. The three-office system helps reduce wait times and makes the process more convenient.
Online Appointment System
Sacramento County offers an online appointment system for marriage licenses. Visit omac.saccounty.net to schedule your appointment at any of the three office locations. The online system shows available times and lets you pick a date and time that works for both of you. Appointments help reduce wait times and make the process faster when you arrive at the office.
Both people must attend the appointment together. California law under Family Code Sections 350-360 requires both parties to appear in person and sign the application at the same time in Sacramento County. You cannot send someone else to pick up your license or apply by mail.
When you book your appointment online, make note of the date, time, and location. Bring your confirmation information when you visit the office. If you need to cancel or reschedule, do it through the online system or by calling the office in Sacramento County.
What You Need to Apply
Bring a valid photo ID for each person when you apply for your marriage license. A driver license is the most common form of ID. You can also use a passport or state ID card. The clerk will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If either person was married before, you must say when and how that marriage ended.
There is no blood test required in California. That requirement was dropped in 1995. There is also no waiting period once you get your license. You can have your ceremony the same day if you want. Most couples wait a few days or weeks to plan their wedding, but the license is valid as soon as it is issued in Sacramento County.
The application process takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you have all your documents ready. The clerk reviews your information and checks your IDs. Then you pay the license fee. Once payment is complete, the clerk prints your marriage license. You get it right away at all three Sacramento County office locations.
You do not need to be a California resident to get married here. Couples from other states or countries can apply for a marriage license in Sacramento County. Your marriage will be legal in California and recognized in other states once it is properly registered. The county clerk office handles applications from residents and non-residents the same way.
Marriage License Fees
A public marriage license in Sacramento County costs $84 during regular office hours. If you need after-hours service, the fee is $90. You pay the fee when you apply in person at one of the three clerk offices. The office accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Make sure you bring enough to cover the full fee when you visit.
The difference between regular and after-hours fees is set by the county to cover the cost of staffing outside normal business hours. Check the website or call ahead to find out what counts as regular hours versus after-hours in Sacramento County. Most couples apply during regular weekday hours to save the extra fee.
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate. Each copy costs extra. The fee is set by California law under Health and Safety Code Section 103625. Most couples order at least one or two certified copies for legal purposes like name changes or updating insurance.
Using Your Marriage License
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued in Sacramento County. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time. If you do not, the license expires. You would need to apply again and pay the fee again if you miss the 90-day window. This is a statewide rule in California.
After your ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder office within 10 days. The officiant keeps one copy of the license. You keep another copy. The county files the official copy once it is returned. That filing makes your marriage part of the legal record in California.
Make sure your officiant knows how to properly complete and file the license. If they do not return it to the county on time, your marriage will not be registered. You might need to follow up with the Sacramento County Clerk office if your officiant forgets to file the paperwork. Most officiants are familiar with the process and file the license without problems.
Public and Confidential Licenses
Sacramento County offers public marriage licenses. A public license becomes part of the public record after your ceremony. Anyone can look up the record or request a certified copy from the county or from the California Department of Public Health. Public licenses require at least one witness over age 18 at the ceremony. The witness signs the license along with the officiant.
California also offers confidential marriage licenses under Family Code Sections 500-511. Confidential licenses stay private. Only the couple can get certified copies. To qualify for a confidential license, you must be living together as a married couple at the time you apply in California. No witnesses are required at the ceremony for confidential licenses. Check with the Sacramento County Clerk office about confidential license availability and fees.
Most couples choose public licenses. They are the standard option and the process is straightforward. Confidential licenses are good for couples who value privacy and meet the living-together requirement. Both types of licenses are equally valid under California law. The main difference is public access to the record after the marriage is registered.
Getting Certified Copies
After your marriage is registered, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder office. You can request copies in person at any of the three office locations, by mail, or online through third-party services. VitalChek is an authorized online vendor for California vital records. The VitalChek website charges a service fee on top of the county fee.
If you want to order by mail, send a written request to the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder at 600 8th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Include your full names, the date of marriage, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose a check or money order for the fee. Mail orders take longer to process than in-person or online requests.
In-person orders are the fastest way to get certified copies in Sacramento County. Go to any of the three offices with your ID and request copies at the counter. If your marriage was recently filed, there may be a short wait while the record is processed. Most marriages are fully registered within a few days after the signed license is returned to the county clerk office.
You will need certified copies for many legal purposes after marriage. This includes changing your name on government documents, updating insurance policies, and other official business. Order a few copies when you pick up your certificate or shortly after your marriage is registered in Sacramento County.
More Resources
The Sacramento County website has detailed information about marriage licenses and vital records. Visit the clerk-recorder page for forms, fee schedules, and contact information. The website is a good place to check current hours and office locations before you visit or call.
California does not require a blood test or waiting period for marriage licenses. You can have your ceremony the same day you get your license if you want. The 90-day validity period gives you plenty of time to plan your wedding, but some couples prefer to marry right away. Both options are fine under California law.
If you need older marriage records from Sacramento County, contact the county clerk office. For public marriages that occurred before 2000 or after 2007, you can also request copies from the California Department of Public Health. The state website is cdph.ca.gov for state-level vital records requests.
Note: Fees and procedures may change. Always check the Sacramento County Clerk website or call the office before you visit to confirm current information.
Major Cities in Sacramento County
Sacramento County includes two cities with populations over 100,000. Sacramento is the county seat and state capital. Elk Grove is a large suburban city south of Sacramento. All residents of these cities apply for marriage licenses through the Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder offices. There are no separate city offices for marriage licenses in California.
The qualifying cities in Sacramento County with populations over 100,000:
If you live in smaller cities or unincorporated areas of Sacramento County, you still use the same county clerk offices. The process is the same no matter where you live in the county.
Nearby Counties
Sacramento County is in the Central Valley region of California. If you live near the edge of the county, you might be close to another county's clerk office. You can apply for a marriage license in any California county. Your marriage is legal throughout the state once it is registered.
Counties adjacent to Sacramento County include: