A wedding in a park or on a beach needs its own site permit, and national parks take applications a year out
To hold a wedding in a US park or on a beach, you need more than a Marriage License: you also need a site permit from the agency that manages that land. They are two different things. The Marriage License comes from the county and decides whether you are legally married; the site permit comes from the national park, the state park or the county's beach department and decides whether you can hold the event there. At Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, for example, a wedding or outdoor ceremony of any size needs a permit, and the US$60 application fee is non-refundable.
Below: first how to work out which agency to contact, then two verified examples showing the deadlines and restrictions.
First, find out who manages the land
A single stretch of coastline can belong to federal, state, county or city agencies, each with its own permit office:
- National parks and national recreation areas: the federal National Park Service (NPS), with each park handling its own applications.
- State parks: the state's parks department; rules and fees vary by park.
- County beaches and county parks: the county's beach or parks department.
- City parks: the city's parks department.
Confirm the name of the site on a map, then look on that agency's website for a "special event permit," "special use permit" or "wedding permit." Vendors on site, such as the photographer, officiant or caterer, usually count as part of the event too.
National parks: Golden Gate National Recreation Area
The rules at Golden Gate National Recreation Area (NPS, page updated 2026-07-06, checked 2026-10-23):
- A wedding or outdoor ceremony of any size needs a permit.
- Each application carries a US$60 application fee, non-refundable even if you are turned down; the payment counts toward the permit fee.
- You can apply up to one year ahead; initial review takes 4 to 15 business days, and after approval it can take several more months for staff to write the permit.
- Applying does not guarantee approval or give you exclusive use of an area; holidays and certain dates may be unavailable.
- No drones, for any purpose, and no permits are issued for them.
- Noise limits: 85 decibels in the park, 65 decibels near buildings and residences.
- Large events need at least US$1,000,000 in liability insurance with the US government named as an additional insured; events with rented equipment or catering need at least one park ranger on site.
- Alcatraz is not currently issuing special use permits.
County beaches: Los Angeles County
The rules for Los Angeles County beaches and Marina del Rey (Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, checked 2026-10-23):
- Every organized group activity on a county beach needs a permit, and weddings are one of the listed examples; so does any event that sets up tables and chairs or has food or entertainment vendors.
- Application window: no earlier than 90 days and no later than 3 weeks before the event.
- Apply online for a "Special Event Use Permit" through the county's Active Communities system, which requires an account first; applying does not guarantee the date or location.
- The page doesn't list fees or headcount limits; ask the permit office: (424) 526-7880.
Other places
For wedding permits in California state parks and New York City parks, our research only had summaries or old documents, and we did not open the current official pages this time. Go by each park's website and the NYC Parks website for rules and fees.
How to line up the deadlines
- Site permit windows vary a lot: a national park takes applications a year ahead, while LA County beaches only accept them within 90 days. Find the window first, then set the wedding date.
- The Marriage License also has a validity period (90 days in California, 60 in Washington, 30 in Hawaii), and it has to line up with the site permit date. For each state, see the official rules checked for 9 states.
- If the venue requires insurance, see 12 things to check before signing a venue contract for how the certificate of insurance (COI) should be worded.
- For aerial footage, confirm first whether the site allows drones; the Golden Gate national park unit explicitly bans them.
Common questions
Do we need a permit if it's just the two of us getting married in a national park?
Golden Gate National Recreation Area states that a wedding or outdoor ceremony of any size needs a permit, with a non-refundable US$60 application fee. For other national parks, check that park's website.
How early do I apply for a Los Angeles beach wedding?
No earlier than 90 days and no later than 3 weeks before the event, online through Los Angeles County's Active Communities system.
Can a site permit replace the marriage license?
No. A site permit only lets you hold the event there; to be legally married you apply to the county for a Marriage License and return it for recording after the ceremony.
The extra permits and deadlines for an outdoor wedding are all on the timeline in the wedding planning chapter of My Wedding Plan. The checklist has a free version, and you can start without giving an email address.
Sources (checked 2026-10-23)
- NPS Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Special Park Uses (checked 2026-10-23, page updated 2026-07-06)
- Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors: Beach Wedding Permits (checked 2026-10-23)