Marriage licenses in California are handled locally, and the details that matter — the fee, the wait, how long the license lasts — are set by a mix of state law and local practice. This page collects the statewide rules from California’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: County Clerk of any county (CA Family Code sec. 350)
- License fee: County-set
- License validity: 90 days
- Witnesses: Public license: 1-2 witnesses (at least one, max two sign the certificate); Confidential license: none
- Minimum age: 18; under 18 for a public license only with written consent of a parent/legal guardian AND permission of a California Superior Court judge (emancipated minors not exempt); confidential license is 18+ only
- Residency / where to apply: License may be obtained from any county clerk; no residency requirement; ceremony must take place in California; license is filed in the county where purchased
California counties in this directory
We have published 42 verified county guides for California so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $50 to $129. 39 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all California county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/Types-of-Marriage-Licenses-.aspx (checked 2026-11-09). County figures are checked separately against each county’s own official page and carry their own verified dates. Always confirm with your county clerk before you go — this is not a government site.