Kern County marriage license: hours, fee and what to bring
Kern County Administrative Building, at 1115 Truxtun Avenue, First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301 handles marriage licenses for Kern County, California. Expect a $101 fee; the office is open to walk-ins.
Open the issuing office's page (kerncountyclerk.com)
Office hours and address
Kern County Administrative Building
1115 Truxtun Avenue, First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301Walk-ins accepted. Walk-ins only; begin the application on a computer in the lobby upon arrival.
| Monday - Friday | 8:30 am to 3 pm | Excluding Holidays |
|---|
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
Call ahead: sources differ on the phone number.
- 661-868-3588
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
- 661-868-3743
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
Fee and payment
Expect to pay $101 for the license, per the office's own page.
| Public Marriage License | $101.00 | |
|---|---|---|
| Confidential Marriage License | $123.00 |
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
What to bring and who must come
What the office asks applicants to bring:
- valid, government issued picture identification
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
Call ahead: sources differ on the rule on who must appear.
- Both people appear in person. Both parties must appear together.
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
- Both people appear in person.
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
Call ahead: sources differ on the residency rule.
- U.S. citizenship and California residency are not required.
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
- U.S. citizenship and California residency are not required
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
Validity. The county page says the license is valid for 90 days.
Source: kerncountyclerk.com, checked
State rules
We have not yet verified California state law against the statute or the state vital-records page, so this page does not state the waiting period, validity or age rules. Ask the office, or check with the state vital-records office.
How Kern compares
Among 7 covered counties in this comparison (California), the median fee is $81; Kern charges $101, which is higher than that. For visits, this county's page says the office is open to walk-ins. 0 of 2 comparable covered counties list Saturday hours; Kern does not list one.
Nearby covered counties
These covered counties are the closest by straight-line distance from the county center. Whether you may apply there depends on state and county rules, so confirm before you drive.
- Los Angeles County, CA: about 84 mi, fee $91, appointment required, no Saturday hours listed
- Fresno County, CA: about 111 mi, fee $58, appointment required, no Saturday hours listed
- San Bernardino County, CA: about 148 mi, fee $120, appointment required, no Saturday hours listed
- Stanislaus County, CA: about 198 mi, fee $76, appointment required, no Saturday hours listed
Call ahead before you go
Fees, hours and appointment rules change, and offices close for holidays and training days. We last checked these facts on . Confirm with the office, and if something here is out of date, report a change.