Marriage License

Cost: $110

How: Make appointment online

Where: San Francisco City Hall, Room 168

Bring: Valid IDs for both of you

You can either purchase your marriage license ahead of time or on the wedding day before the ceremony. We recommend getting the license ahead of time; it’ll make the process of checking in for your ceremony much smoother. Just make sure that you schedule your ceremony within 90 days of receiving your license as it does expire! Currently, the cost is $110 for a marriage license at San Francisco City Hall. This cost does change periodically; you’ll be able to view the current rate when you make your appointment. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm. When it’s time for your appointment, head to Room 168 on the first floor of City Hall – and don’t forget your IDs!

Make an appointment for your marriage license

Public Civil Ceremony

Cost: $90

How: Make reservation online

Time: Every half hour, Monday through Friday between 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Check-In: Information Desk in Room 168 ten minutes before your ceremony reservation

Ceremony Location: Rotunda

Guests: Six permitted, including witness

Bring: Witness, marriage license, valid IDs for both of you

There are two types of ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall: civil ceremonies, which are public and by far the most popular, and private ceremonies. Public civil ceremony appointments are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm and can be made up to 90 days in advance. So if you’re eyeing a date more than 90 days beforehand, set a reminder for yourself exactly 90 days before that date so you can snag your ideal time slot.

Public civil ceremonies are performed on the second floor of the beautiful Rotunda, at the top of the grand staircase. City Hall can schedule up to three couples in every 30-minute slot, so it’s very likely that you will be with other couples during your time. Don’t worry, there is so much excitement and love surrounding everything, and honestly everyone has so much fun. Officiants are incredible at keeping things moving without rushing.

Only six guests are permitted to attend civil ceremonies due to space and the number of couples who book at the same time. It’s common to see excited couples and their guests waiting their turn along the edges of the Rotunda’s second floor, along with tourists roaming through the building.

Public civil ceremonies are short, just six minutes long, and a volunteer judge officiates. The reservation cost for a civil ceremony is $90. You must present your wedding license at the time of the ceremony. If you are getting your license the same day as the ceremony, schedule your license appointment at least 30 minutes before your ceremony appointment.

When you arrive on the day of your wedding ceremony, you must check in to the Information Desk in Room 168 in San Francisco City Hall. Make sure to arrive at least ten minutes before your appointment. We recommend getting there much earlier. Traffic and parking often cause delays, so give yourselves lots of time. You couldn’t ask for a better location in which to spend extra time!

Make your civil ceremony appointment online.

More information about civil ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall