How to Get a Marriage License in Sacramento: Step by Step

If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in California as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Sacramento, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder, Main office: 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95864. Satellite office: 8239 E. Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95828.

Booking

The county encourages booking an appointment through its online marriage appointment calendar; its calendar page says walk-ins may wait as long as 2 hours and an appointment lasts about 30 minutes. Appointment hours: main office Mon-Fri 8:00 am-4:20 pm, plus Thursday 5:00-7:20 pm by appointment only (extended Thursday hours are offered only at the main office from May 21, 2026); satellite office Mon-Fri 9:00 am-3:40 pm.

Fee

$97 County fee page (no year shown on the page): public licence $97; confidential licence $98; licence issued after regular hours (Thursday evening) $106 for either type; civil ceremony $49; witness for a civil ceremony $27 if you do not bring your own; one-time deputy marriage commissioner $30. Confirm with the clerk.

Who attends

Both people must appear together in person at an office when the licence is issued.

Valid for

90 days from the date of issue; after that the licence is void and a new one must be bought. California rules allow the ceremony anywhere in the state.

Same day?

The county's appointment page says licences are issued on the day of your appointment.

Step by step

1. Apply. You can fill in the application online before your visit (the county stores a completed application for up to 60 days), then both of you come to an office together, finish the application and show valid photo ID.
2. Book or plan your visit. The county encourages booking an appointment through its online marriage appointment calendar; its calendar page says walk-ins may wait as long as 2 hours and an appointment lasts about 30 minutes. Appointment hours: main office Mon-Fri 8:00 am-4:20 pm, plus Thursday 5:00-7:20 pm by appointment only (extended Thursday hours are offered only at the main office from May 21, 2026); satellite office Mon-Fri 9:00 am-3:40 pm.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Both people must appear together in person at an office when the licence is issued.
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in California. 90 days from the date of issue; after that the licence is void and a new one must be bought. California rules allow the ceremony anywhere in the state.

What to bring

• Valid photo ID showing name and date of birth: driver's licence, passport, military ID or resident alien card
• Both people must be unmarried; if either was previously married or in a state-registered domestic partnership, you must give the exact date and how it ended (death, dissolution, divorce or nullity)
• If a previous marriage or partnership ended by dissolution, divorce or nullity within the past 90 days, bring a copy of the final court judgment
• No need to be a U.S. citizen or California resident
• No blood test or health certificate required

Good to know

• A confidential licence is available to people who are already living together as spouses and meet the required conditions
• The county also performs civil ceremonies and lets couples request a one-time deputy marriage commissioner
• Do not arrive more than 20 minutes before your appointment time (county notice)
• Minimum age and Social Security number rules were not stated on the pages read

Your nikah and the license

The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in California, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Sacramento and our California nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.

A few common questions

Details come from the Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder: marriage license page. Contact: (916) 874-6131 (Marriage Unit, as listed on the county appointment calendar page). This guide is general information, not legal advice.