Golden Gate National Recreation Area Outdoor Ceremony Permit
San Francisco, CA
| Venue type | State Park |
| Location | San Francisco, CA |
| Published price | From $60 |
| Setting | Outdoor |
| Event type | Ceremony only |
What the venue publishes
NPS Golden Gate NRA Special Park Use Permits page: "There is a $60 non-refundable application fee." The park's published Permit Cost Recovery Schedule (starting 1/4/2025) lists the same "Application Fee $60 - Non-refundable" plus "Hourly Staffing $100 - Per staff member" and tiered Special Event permit costs beginning at "Event 1 $120". The $60 application fee is the published floor; total cost depends on participant numbers, complexity and monitoring requirements and is quoted by a permit specialist.
$60 is the lowest published rate for this space. Day, season, and residency can move it up.
Covers outdoor ceremonies at NPS-managed Bay Area sites including the Marin Headlands, Crissy Field, Baker Beach, Ocean Beach, Fort Point and Muir Woods. A permit is required for a wedding or outdoor ceremony of ANY size. Applications are accepted up to one year ahead and most locations book out fully; the park says it cannot accommodate last-minute requests. Initial review takes 4-15 business days and writing the permit can take several months after approval. Picnic tables and beach fire rings are first-come first-served and cannot be reserved. Sound cannot exceed 85dB. Drones are prohibited. Catering requires a Temporary Food Event permit; large events need $1,000,000 liability insurance. Does NOT cover the Presidio Trust, California State Parks, Mt. Tamalpais, Angel Island or SF Rec & Park sites.
Published on nps.gov, checked August 2026. Fee schedules change, so confirm before booking.
Where this price sits in San Francisco Bay Area
$60 is the 3rd lowest published starting price of the 46 venues listed in the San Francisco Bay Area metro. The metro median starting price is $487, and 43 of the 46 listings publish a higher starting price than this one.
Among the 3 state park listings in the metro it ranks 1st lowest, against a median of $450 for that type.
Cheaper published prices in San Francisco Bay Area metro
These listings in San Francisco Bay Area metro publish a starting price below $60.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder Civil Marriage CeremonyMartinez, CA · Courthouse & City Hall | $50 to $75 | not published |
| Santa Clara County Wedding Chapel Rental (bring your own officiant)San Jose, CA · Chapel | $40 | 20 guests |
Other state park listings in San Francisco Bay Area
Same venue type, prices closest to this one.
| Venue | Published price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Building 989, Crissy Field (GGNRA Short-Term Lease)San Francisco, CA · State Park | $450 to $600 | 50 guests |
| Building 1050, Fort Cronkhite (GGNRA Short-Term Lease)Sausalito, CA · State Park | $450 to $600 | 50 guests |
Marriage license in City and County of San Francisco, CA
The venue fee above does not include the license. San Francisco sits in City and County of San Francisco, CA, and these are the terms that county publishes. Checked September 2026.
| Issuing office | Office of the County Clerk, City and County of San FranciscoCity Hall, Room 160, 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102 |
| License fee | $129Public Marriage License $129; Confidential Marriage License $129. New fees effective July 1, 2026. |
| Waiting period | None |
| License valid for | 90 days |
| Who must appear | Both parties, in person |
| ID required | unexpired government issued photo ID such as a passport, driver's license, resident alien card or military ID; if the ID does not show the full legal name, a certified copy of the birth certificate or Social Security card is also needed |
| Appointment | Required |
| Apply online | Application available online |
| Same-day issue | Issued the same visit |
| Ceremony at the office | Offered for $113Civil marriage ceremony at City Hall during office hours by appointment, $113. Offsite, weekend and holiday ceremonies are $336 total ($186 at reservation plus a $150 commissioner fee). A one-day deputy marriage commissioner is $186. |
| Witnesses | 1 required by statute |
Source: sf.gov, sf.gov, cdph.ca.gov
You must submit the marriage license application when you book the appointment. Appointments cannot be rescheduled, only cancelled, and there are no refunds. Applicants under 18 need written consent of at least one parent plus written permission from a San Francisco Juvenile Court judge and are only eligible for a public license.
How the metro prices out
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