San Francisco Marriage License Records
Marriage license services in San Francisco County are provided by the Office of County Clerk, located in Room 160 of San Francisco City Hall at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. San Francisco operates as a consolidated city-county, so the County Clerk serves all residents and visitors who want to get married in this iconic California location. Public marriage licenses cost $127 and civil ceremonies cost $111, with appointments required for both services and available through the city's online scheduling system. San Francisco City Hall is one of the most popular wedding destinations in California, hosting thousands of civil ceremonies each year in its historic Beaux-Arts building.
San Francisco County Marriage License Facts
San Francisco County Clerk Office
The Office of County Clerk operates from Room 160 at San Francisco City Hall, located at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. This is the only location where you can apply for a marriage license or have a civil ceremony in San Francisco County. The office is part of the city-county government structure unique to San Francisco.
You must make an appointment to apply for a marriage license or to have a civil ceremony. Walk-ins are not accepted. Call 415-554-4950 to ask questions about marriage services. The city website at sf.gov has information about scheduling appointments and current fees in San Francisco County.
San Francisco City Hall is one of the most famous wedding locations in California. The grand rotunda, marble staircases, and historic architecture make it a popular choice for couples from around the world. Thousands of weddings happen at City Hall each year in San Francisco County.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
San Francisco County requires you to schedule an appointment before visiting City Hall to apply for a marriage license. You can find the appointment scheduling system on the County Clerk website. Both people must attend the appointment together. You cannot apply without an appointment in San Francisco County.
At your appointment, both people must bring valid photo identification. Driver licenses, state ID cards, and passports all work. The clerk will ask for your full name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you must provide details about when and where that marriage ended in San Francisco County.
The application process takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The clerk reviews your information and answers any questions you have. Once everything is complete, you pay the license fee and receive your marriage license the same day in San Francisco County.
What Happens at Your Appointment
Both people must appear together at the San Francisco County Clerk office in City Hall for your scheduled appointment. Bring valid photo ID for each person. The clerk reviews your information and verifies everything. This process takes about 15 minutes in San Francisco County.
You pay the license fee at the appointment. A public marriage license costs $127 in San Francisco County. The office accepts credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. After you pay, the clerk prints your marriage license. You get the physical document right away. It is valid for 90 days from that date under California Family Code Section 359.
Your wedding ceremony must happen within those 90 days. The license has multiple copies. One stays with you. Another goes to your officiant, who must file it with the San Francisco County Clerk within 10 days after the ceremony. Make sure your officiant knows to file the license on time. If it is not filed, your marriage will not become an official record in San Francisco County.
Note: City Hall security procedures may add time to your visit in San Francisco County.
Marriage License Fees
San Francisco County charges $127 for a public marriage license. This is higher than many other California counties. The fee covers the full application and processing in San Francisco County.
Civil ceremony fees are $111 in San Francisco County. You can pay for the license and ceremony at the same time, or get your license first and schedule the ceremony later. Many couples choose to have their ceremony at City Hall because of the beautiful historic building in San Francisco County.
After your wedding, you can order certified copies of your marriage certificate from the County Clerk office. The first certified copy usually costs around $25. Each additional copy in the same order costs less. You can order copies in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online in San Francisco County.
Civil Marriage Ceremonies at City Hall
The San Francisco County Clerk performs civil ceremonies at City Hall in designated ceremony rooms. The ceremony fee is $111. Ceremonies are available during regular business hours Monday through Friday. You must book your ceremony through the online appointment system in San Francisco County.
Civil ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall last about 5 to 10 minutes. The deputy clerk reads a standard ceremony script. Both people say their vows. You can exchange rings if you want. Up to six guests can attend your ceremony. This guest limit is strictly enforced. No music, decorations, or special requests are allowed at civil ceremonies in San Francisco County.
Many couples choose City Hall ceremonies because of the iconic setting. The building's architecture and grand rotunda provide a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos. Some ceremony rooms have views of the rotunda. The ceremony is legally valid just like any other wedding in California. After the ceremony, the clerk signs your marriage license and files it with the county. Your marriage becomes official at that moment in San Francisco County.
Public and Confidential Licenses
San Francisco County issues public marriage licenses for $127. After the ceremony and filing, the record becomes public. Anyone can request a copy of a public marriage certificate from the county or from California state vital records.
Confidential marriage licenses are also available in San Francisco County. These records do not become public. Only the two people who got married can request copies later. To qualify for a confidential license, both people must be living together as a married couple when they apply under California Family Code Section 500. No witness is required at the ceremony for a confidential marriage.
Some couples choose confidential licenses for privacy. Others prefer public licenses because they are more common. Both types are equally legal in California. You cannot switch from one type to the other after the license is issued in San Francisco County.
Who Can Get a Marriage License
Both people must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in San Francisco County. If someone is under 18, a court order is required. No blood test is needed. California eliminated the blood test requirement in 1995. You do not need to be a resident of San Francisco County or California. People from all over the world come to San Francisco to get married.
Both people must apply in person together at a scheduled appointment. You cannot send someone else to apply for you. Each person needs valid photo ID. The clerk asks for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and social security number. If you were married before, you must state when and where that marriage ended. Divorce decrees are not usually required, but the clerk may ask for proof in some cases in San Francisco County.
Marriage licenses expire 90 days from the date of issue under California law. You must have your wedding ceremony within that time, or you will need to apply for a new license in San Francisco County.
Certified Marriage Certificate Copies
After your wedding ceremony, your officiant files the marriage license with the San Francisco County Clerk office. This usually happens within 10 days of the ceremony. Once filed, the marriage becomes an official California vital record. You can then order certified copies from the County Clerk office in San Francisco County.
Certified copies are available in person at the City Hall office or by mail. You can also order online through VitalChek, which adds extra service fees. In-person requests are usually processed the same day or within a few business days. Mail requests take longer. Allow two to three weeks for mail orders in San Francisco County.
For older marriages, the County Clerk office has records going back many decades. Some very old records are stored in archives and take longer to retrieve. If you need a copy of a marriage certificate from many years ago, allow extra time in San Francisco County.
San Francisco City and County
San Francisco is unique in California as both a city and a county. The entire county consists of the city of San Francisco. All marriage licenses are issued by the Office of County Clerk at City Hall. With a population over 800,000, San Francisco is one of the most densely populated areas in California.
Nearby California Counties
San Francisco County is surrounded by water on three sides and borders several other Bay Area counties. Each county has its own clerk office with different fees and procedures.