Marriage Licenses for Lake Tahoe
If you have decided that the Lake Tahoe region is the right destination for your wedding, you should be aware of the rules regarding Marriage Licenses before you get here. First and foremost, during the COVID-19 pandemic, you must make an appointment in order to obtain a marriage license.
In general, there are different marriage license laws in each state. So if you’re getting married on the Nevada side of the Lake, you need a Nevada Marriage License, and similarly, California weddings require a Marriage License from California.
The issuance of marriage licenses takes place at the County level, typically through the County Clerk’s office. But the marriage license can then be used for a wedding anywhere in the State where it is issued. So this means, for example, if you live in LA or the San Francisco Bay Area, and you’re getting married on the California side of the Lake, you can pick up your marriage license in the County where you live, before traveling to Tahoe for your destination wedding. Check the website for the County Clerk’s office in your County for details on how to obtain a Marriage License locally.
But what should you do if you live out of state? You will need to pick up your marriage license at a location near your Tahoe nuptials. Here are your options, depending on whether your wedding will be in Nevada or California.
Nevada Weddings
If you are flying into the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, you can obtain a marriage license at the Washoe County Clerk’s main office, located at 1001 E. 9th Street, Building A, in Reno. Click here for more info.
Also, there is a satellite office for the Washoe County Clerk in Incline Village. It is located at the Incline Village General Improvement District, 893 Southwood Blvd., and is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, except holidays. Phone: 775-784-7260. Click here for more info.
If your wedding is on the Nevada side of Tahoe’s South Shore, you can pick up your marriage license at these locations:
- Douglas County Administrative Building, 175 Highway 50, Stateline. Phone: 775-586-7270.
- Carson City Courthouse, 885 East Musser Street, Suite 1025, Carson City. Phone: 775-887-2084.
- Douglas County Administration, 1616 8th Street, Minden. Phone: 775-782-9014.
California Weddings
If you’re flying into Sacramento, San Francisco or Oakland Airport, and driving to North Lake Tahoe on Interstate 80, you may find it convenient to stop at the Placer County Clerk’s office, located in the city of Auburn at 2954 Richardson Drive. This office processes marriage license applications between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Click here for more info.
If you are traveling up Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe, you can stop at the El Dorado County Clerk’s office at 360 Fair Lane in Placerville. You can also get your marriage license in South Lake Tahoe at the El Dorado Center, 3368 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Room 108. For either location, call 530-621-5490 for an appointment.
You can also obtain a Marriage License right in North Lake Tahoe – at Placer County’s satellite office, located at 5225 N. Lake Blvd. in Carnelian Bay. However, you must have an appointment, and the office hours only run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. To schedule an appointment, call 530-886-5610. Click here for more info.