Apply for a premise licence for marriage or civil partnership

How to apply

To apply for a premise licence for marriage or civil partnership email regoff@plymouth.gov.uk or complete our online form.

The freeholder, leaseholder or trustee of the premises must make the application including a plan of the premises, showing all the rooms that will be used for the ceremony. A separate application (and fee) must be made for a new venue or to add a new room.

We'll aim to process applications within six weeks and a public notice will be advertised in the local newspaper for three weeks to allow for any objections.

Licences are valid for 3 years from the approval date. You can renew a licence up to 12 months before the current licence expires. The renewed licence will take effect from the expiry date of the current licence.

Before we can 'grant approval' we must be happy that:

• the premises are 'seemly and dignified'
• they're regularly available for marriages or civil partnerships
• they've all the necessary fire and safety provisions
• you've identify a specific room or rooms where the weddings or civil partnerships will take place (not in the open air or under a marquee)

You must:

• appoint someone suitable to make sure all conditions are followed
• provide this person's details after you get the licence
• tell us if the person's details change
• tell us about any change to the premises
• make sure our superintendent registrar has approved all wedding or civil partnership arrangements before the proceedings take place
• make sure your premises can be inspected at reasonable times
• display a notice that the premises are approved one hour before and during the proceedings
• make sure that there's no food or alcoholic drinks sold or consumed in the specified area one hour before and during the proceedings

You also need to make sure that the proceedings:

• only take place in the specified area
• don't have any religious content (for example music or readings)
• are freely open to the public

 Premise licence fees