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City and County of San Francisco exact answer

Where can a marriage license from City and County of San Francisco be used?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

In City and County of San Francisco, a San Francisco license may be used for a ceremony anywhere in California, but not outside California. Filing is tied to the issuing county: a San Francisco public license is returned to the San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder, and a San Francisco confidential license to the Office of the County Clerk. California differs from Illinois here — the ceremony is not restricted to the issuing county, only the recording is.

Published rule and conditions

Where the license is valid
A San Francisco license may be used for a ceremony anywhere in California, but not outside California. Filing is tied to the issuing county: a San Francisco public license is returned to the San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder, and a San Francisco confidential license to the Office of the County Clerk.

California differs from Illinois here — the ceremony is not restricted to the issuing county, only the recording is.

Official requirement

Once you get a marriage license, you can get married anywhere in California.

Issuing office

San Francisco Office of the County Clerk

Open the issuing office

Official sources for this answer

  • Get a marriage licenseSan Francisco Office of the County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026

    Before you get married in California, you must have a marriage license issued in the past 90 days. You can get married if you: are not currently married are 18 or older have unexpired, government-issued photo ID. For a public license: you need at least one witness at the ceremony is a public record For a confidential license: you must be living together no witnesses are required at the ceremony marriage record is only available to the couple. You need an appointment to get a marriage license. You must submit a marriage license application when you book the appointment. Both people getting married must go to the appointment and bring: unexpired, government-issued photo ID (like a passport, driver's license, resident alien card, or military ID). If your ID doesn't have your full legal name, bring a certified copy of your birth certificate or social security card that shows your full legal name. Once you get a marriage license, you can get married anywhere in California. Your license is valid for 90 days. If the marriage ended less than 90 days before your appointment, you must bring a certified copy of the divorce, annulment, termination or death record with you. You can not reschedule an appointment for a marriage license. You must call to cancel your appointment. There are no refunds.

  • Get married in San FranciscoSan Francisco Office of the County Clerk - checked July 26, 2026

    Only 2 unmarried persons who are at least 18 years of age with valid legal identification may apply for a marriage license in California. California residency and US citizenship are not requirements for marriage in California. Before you get married in California, you must have a California marriage license issued within 90 days of the date of your ceremony. You can download and complete the application and bring it to your appointment in person at City Hall. If your marriage license was issued in California, you may get married in any California county. Your marriage license must be recorded in the County where it was issued. If you had a confidential marriage license, return the signed license to the Office of the County Clerk. If you were married by someone from the Office of the County Clerk, we will file the documents for you.

Answer boundary

MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.

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