A Practical Guide for Planning a Civil Ceremony Wedding in Beverly Hills Courthouse, Marriage License Cost and City Hall Photography Permit Fee

Before we dive in, let’s clear up two frequent points of confusion.

Skip to ☞ Courthouse Ceremony Appointment・City Hall Photography Permit・Parking Cost

Beverly Hills City Hall vs Beverly Hills Courthouse

Although often mentioned together, the Beverly Hills Courthouse and the Beverly Hills City Hall are not the same building. To add to the confusion, image searches for both "Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding" and "Beverly Hills Elopement" show photos of newlyweds in front of the iconic Art Deco City Hall. However, no one gets married there (unless you apply for a special permit). That said, I’ll focus more on photos at Beverly Hills City Hall—probably why you’re here, right? Because let’s keep it 100: the Beverly Hills Courthouse looks like a DMV office, both inside and out.

Yes, You Need a Permit to Take Wedding Photos in Beverly Hills

Getting married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse does not automatically grant you permission to take photos at Beverly Hills City Hall or nearby landmarks. The City of Beverly Hills requires a filming permit for "professional" photos at locations like City Hall’s Palm Court, the Civic Center Plaza, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Gardens Park, and even outside the courthouse itself. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t snap a few photos with your iPhone, but keep in mind that taking photos in front of City Hall without a permit could get you stopped by sekurrity!

・・・

Beverly Hills Courthouse Wedding Ceremony: Appointment Scheduling, Costs, and Marriage License Details

The process of getting married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse is similar to the other six L.A. County Clerk offices but involves a few extra steps. For one, unlike the other offices, Beverly Hills does not accept walk-ins, appointments are required. The entire process can take three to four weeks, including purchasing your marriage license, scheduling your ceremony, and two to three trips to apply and pick up your marriage license. Of course, you can do most of it online.

Apply for Your Marriage License: The cost is $90 for a public license or $85 for a confidential license, and you can apply online HERE or in person at any of the seven county clerk offices.
Schedule Your Civil Ceremony: After purchasing your marriage license, you can schedule your civil ceremony for an additional $35 online HERE, in person at your office of choice, or by calling the Los Angeles County Registar-Recorder/County Clerk directly at (800) 201-8999.
Schedule Limitations: Ceremonies are only scheduled on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30a.m. to 3:00p.m., and you can book your ceremony no more than three weeks in advance, but only after purchasing your marriage license. Note that ceremony schedules open at the beginning of each month for that month only, and dates fill up quickly—especially in the summer. If possible, plan for winter or early spring to have better availability.
Pro Tip: Ceremonies last a quick 10–15 minutes, but you’ll spend more time waiting in line in the hallway outside the ceremony room. If possible, schedule the first or last ceremony of the day, as it gets warm and stuffy in the waiting area, which offers little to no shade. Similarly, there’s hardly any shade in front of City Hall, so taking photos earlier in the morning or later in the day is recommended if you don’t like being out in the sun, like I do.

Witness, Guest Limits, and Ceremony Options

Witness Requirement: A witness for the civil ceremony is mandatory. One can be provided for you for an additional $20, but your photographer, me of course, can serve as your witness with a government issued photo ID.

Guest Limit: Is 20 per party, including both of you and your photographer. So technically, you're allowed 17 guests. However, it's best to keep the number of guests to an absolute minimum because, as I mentioned earlier, the hallway waiting area gets warm and stuffy.

City Hall/Palm Court Ceremonies: This option comes at an additional cost with a special permit from the city of Beverly Hills. Contact the city directly HERE.

・・・

Beverly Hills City Hall Photography Permit: Application Process, Fees, and Insurance Requirements

The one thing all "how to get married at the Beverly Hills Courthouse" guides overlook is the cost and process of applying for a photography (filming) permit to take wedding photos in front of and around Beverly Hills City Hall, as well as the required insurance coverage. Keep in mind, this permit is NOT automatically granted just because you get married at the courthouse.

Photography Permit Cost

The application and processing fee, as of July 1, 2024, is $67. Processing takes five business days.
The cost of the photography permit for either wedding or family photos is $80 per hour, with a maximum of two hours, totaling $227.
You can apply for the photography permit HERE or by calling the Beverly Hills Film and Photography Permit Office directly at (310) 285-2408.

Advance Application

You can apply for the permit a minimum of 7 business days in advance of your requested date, but no more than 60 days in advance.

Late Application Fees

If the application is submitted within 2 to 6 business days of the requested date, a $289 fee will apply.
If the application is submitted within 2 business days of the requested date, a $289 fee will apply, plus a $133 late permit fee.
The City of Beverly Hills might not grant a permit if you apply less than 2 business days of the requested date.

Insurance Requirement

You or your photographer MUST provide a certificate of insurance (COI) reflecting proof of general liability (or general aggregate) insurance coverage of $2 million, naming the City of Beverly Hills as additional insured.

・・・

Parking Cost

Street Parking: $1 per hour.
Parking Structure: I recommend the one behind the courthouse on Civic Center Dr. First 2 hours are free, then $1 per 30 minutes and daily maximums are $15 to $20.
Courthouse Parking: Underground parking beneath the courthouse is $10 cash only. The entrance is on the east side of the building on Burton Way.

Is It Worth the Extra Steps?

As a photographer, I'd say yes—especially for the unique photos you’ll get. While the process is a bit time-consuming, taking about three to four weeks during the summer and requiring two or three visits to the courthouse, assuming your paperwork is in order and your date is available, it's manageable. The good news is, despite being a popular location, many couples skip the process, which works in your favor.

If you're flying in, aim for winter or early spring, when the timeline might be shortened to a week or two. Again, this depends on having your paperwork ready and your preferred date is available. Lastly, if you book me as your photographer, my insurance is already filed with the city, one less thing for you to worry about. I can also serve as your witness if needed.