Register a marriage venue application guidance

The application must be made by the proprietor or trustee of the premises and be submitted with all relevant documents to York Register Office.

You may need to consult other departments within the City of York Council prior to making your application. For example, you may need planning permission or specific licences.

Read more about planning and building as well as the different business licences offered by City of York Council.

Documentation required:

• completed Licence Application form
• current Fire Risk Assessment documentation
• current Public Liability Insurance documentation
• a copy of the plans that highlight the rooms to be licensed

Payment for consideration of the application can be made by cheque, payable to ‘City of York Council’, invoice or over the phone by card, telephone: 01904 553190.

Once the application has been submitted in full, with all accompanying documents and payment, the Ceremonies Operations Manager will contact you to arrange to inspect the premises.

Once a successful inspection has been undertaken an email will be sent to the Local Fire Authority asking them to inspect the premises.

The Superintendent Registrar will place a notice on the council's website inviting any objections to the application to be made to the City Solicitor. The objection period is a full 21 days from the date of publication.

If any objections are received within the 21-day consultation period the Superintendent Registrar will arrange for the application to be heard by a panel of Officers.

The applicant(s) will be invited to submit any additional supporting evidence following notification of the objection within 14 days of the end of the 21-day consultation period. This supporting evidence and the objection will be looked at by the panel before the application is determined. Any objections to the application will be dealt with within 28 days from the end of the 21-day consultation period.

If there are no objections to your application, and it meets all the stipulated criteria, your approval will be granted.

We'll aim to determine your approval in line with the above processes within a 3-month period. It is therefore recommended that for applications in respect of a grant of an approval that no bookings for ceremonies are taken by you until an approval is granted and in your possession.

A Marriage and Civil Partnership Premise Approval is valid for 3 years.

You're not authorised to hold civil marriages or civil partnerships until an approval has been signed, dated and is in your possession.