Hillsborough County Marriage License: The Full Process.

Where to apply.

Marriage licenses in Hillsborough County are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The main office is at 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. Satellite locations operate throughout the county — check the clerk's website for current hours and availability at branch offices. Both partners must appear together in person. You cannot apply online or by proxy.

What to bring.

Both partners need a valid, government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or state ID card all work. If either partner was previously married, proof of dissolution is required — a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. Social Security numbers are required but the card itself is not. No blood test. No witnesses needed at the application.

How much it costs.

The marriage license fee in Hillsborough County is approximately $86.00 as of 2026. Florida residents who complete a premarital preparation course receive a discount — the fee drops to approximately $61.00. These amounts are set by the state and can change, so confirm the current fee on the Hillsborough County Clerk's website before you go. Payment methods vary by location.

Hillsborough County Marriage License — Key Facts

Detail	Information
Fee	Approximately $86.00
With premarital course	Approximately $61.00
Waiting period	3 days (waived with premarital course)
ID required	Valid government-issued photo ID for both partners
Location	Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, Tampa
Valid statewide	Yes — any Florida county

Source: Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, verified May 2026. Fees and requirements are subject to change — confirm with the clerk's office before your visit.

The premarital course option.

Florida offers two incentives for couples who complete an approved premarital preparation course. First, the marriage license fee is reduced by approximately $25.00. Second, and more importantly, the three-day waiting period is waived entirely. Without the course, there is a mandatory three-day wait between the date the license is issued and the date the ceremony can legally take place.

The course must be completed through a registered provider. Dovetail Edition offers the Florida Premarital Course for $49, completed online. It satisfies the state requirement and is accepted by every county clerk in Florida. For couples who are already planning to marry within a few weeks of applying, the course is effectively mandatory — the three-day wait can disrupt tight timelines.

The waiting period.

Without a premarital course completion certificate, Florida law requires a three-day waiting period after the license is issued. The ceremony cannot legally take place during those three days. With the course, there is no waiting period — the license is effective immediately upon issuance.

The license expires 60 days after issuance. If the ceremony does not take place within that window, the couple must reapply and pay the fee again.

After the ceremony: returning the license.

This is the step most couples overlook. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage license. But the license must then be returned to the county clerk's office within 10 days for recording. This is not the officiant's responsibility — it falls to the couple or their designated representative. If the license is not returned and recorded, the marriage may not be reflected in the county's official records.

At Dovetail Edition, the officiant signs the license immediately after the ceremony and returns it to the couple or their planner. We confirm the return process during the planning conversation so nothing slips.

Cities covered by Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough County covers Tampa, Plant City, Brandon, Valrico, Riverview, FishHawk Ranch, Temple Terrace, and surrounding unincorporated areas. If your ceremony is in any of these locations, Hillsborough County is where you apply for the license — regardless of where you or your partner live.

Couples getting married in Polk County (Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale) apply through the Polk County Clerk of Courts in Bartow. If you are getting married in Orange County instead, we have a separate Orange County marriage license guide covering that process. Florida allows you to apply for a marriage license in any county, but most couples apply in the county where the ceremony will take place.

Common questions.

Can we apply in a different county than where we're getting married? Yes. A Florida marriage license is valid statewide. You can apply in Hillsborough and marry in Polk, or vice versa.

Do both partners need to be Florida residents? No. Non-residents can obtain a Florida marriage license. However, the premarital course fee reduction only applies to Florida residents.

Can we apply the same day as the ceremony? Only if you have completed the premarital course (which waives the waiting period). Otherwise, you must wait three days.

Next steps.

Once you have your license in hand, the next step is planning the ceremony itself. If you are considering a simple, intimate celebration, our guide to eloping in Plant City covers what that looks like from start to finish. If you need an officiant who writes the ceremony from scratch, the next step is a short inquiry. The form takes two minutes. A response lands within one business day.