Marriage licenses in Colorado are handled locally, and the details that matter — the fee, the wait, how long the license lasts — are set by state law. This page collects the statewide rules from Colorado’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: County Clerk and Recorder of any county (CRS secs. 14-2-106, 14-2-107)
- License fee (statewide): $30
- Waiting period: None – the license is valid upon issuance (CRS sec. 14-2-107)
- License validity: 35 days
- Witnesses: Not required
- Minimum age: 18; 16- or 17-year-olds may obtain a license only if a juvenile court determines the minor is capable of assuming the responsibilities of marriage and the marriage serves the minor’s best interests (HB19-1316, 2019); under 16 prohibited
- Residency / where to apply: No residency requirement – applicants need not be Colorado residents; license from any county clerk and recorder; valid only in Colorado; at least one party must appear in person (an absent party may use a notarized affidavit)
- Who can officiate: A judge of a court, a court magistrate, a retired judge, a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, THE PARTIES TO THE MARRIAGE THEMSELVES (self-solemnization), or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by a religious denomination or Indian nation or tribe (CRS sec. 14-2-109)
- Courthouse ceremonies: Judges, magistrates and other authorized public officials may solemnize; the clerk and recorder’s office issues licenses
Colorado counties in this directory
We have published 16 verified county guides for Colorado so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $30 to $30. 1 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all Colorado county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2015-title-14.pdf (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.