Do you need a permit to get married on a San Diego beach?
Yes. On City of San Diego beaches and parks, every wedding needs a Park and Recreation permit regardless of guest count. Dates open up to a year ahead by monthly lottery, and La Jolla Shores Beach allows the most guests: 200.
- Permit
- Required
- Biggest beach site
- 200 guests
- Next lottery
- Dec 7, 2026
- Booking length
- 2–4 hrs
City of San Diego Park and Recreation
Ceremonies and receptions
For December 2027 dates
One wedding per site per day
The short version
- The City's fee schedule says weddings require a permit regardless of the number of guests.
- Eight shoreline sites plus lawns at Santa Clara Point and Dana Inn in Mission Bay are bookable, from 50 guests at Windansea and Sunset Cliffs to 200 at La Jolla Shores Beach.
- A lottery on the first Monday of each month opens dates a year out; the Dec. 7, 2026 lottery (apply Nov. 30–Dec. 4) is for December 2027.
- Ceremonies are booked for 2 to 4 hours, one wedding per site per day, and applications close 10 days before the date.
- No glass anywhere, no alcohol at any Mission Bay park or beach, and no throwing petals, rice or birdseed.
A barefoot ceremony on the sand looks informal, but the City of San Diego treats it as a park reservation. Its Parks and Recreation fee schedule says weddings require a permit regardless of the number of persons, and the permit reserves a specific site for you, since each site takes only one wedding a day.
The beach and bay sites you can book
| Site | Max guests | Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| La Jolla Shores Beach | 200 | Ceremony and reception |
| Ellen Browning Scripps Park (La Jolla Cove) | 80 (50 in June–Aug.) | Ceremony and reception |
| Calumet Park (La Jolla) | 80 | Ceremony only, noon–8 p.m. |
| Cuvier Park "Wedding Bowl" (La Jolla) | 50 | Ceremony only |
| Windansea Beach | 50 | Ceremony only |
| Sunset Cliffs: Ladera, Luscomb's Point or Osprey | 50 each | Ceremony only |
| Santa Clara Point, North Lawn (Mission Bay) | 150 | Ceremony and reception |
| Santa Clara Point, Women's Club Lawn | 100 | Ceremony only |
| Dana Inn Beach/Lawn (Mission Bay) | 150 | Ceremony only |
La Jolla Shores Beach
- Max guests
- 200
- Allowed
- Ceremony and reception
Ellen Browning Scripps Park (La Jolla Cove)
- Max guests
- 80 (50 in June–Aug.)
- Allowed
- Ceremony and reception
Calumet Park (La Jolla)
- Max guests
- 80
- Allowed
- Ceremony only, noon–8 p.m.
Cuvier Park "Wedding Bowl" (La Jolla)
- Max guests
- 50
- Allowed
- Ceremony only
Windansea Beach
- Max guests
- 50
- Allowed
- Ceremony only
Sunset Cliffs: Ladera, Luscomb's Point or Osprey
- Max guests
- 50 each
- Allowed
- Ceremony only
Santa Clara Point, North Lawn (Mission Bay)
- Max guests
- 150
- Allowed
- Ceremony and reception
Santa Clara Point, Women's Club Lawn
- Max guests
- 100
- Allowed
- Ceremony only
Dana Inn Beach/Lawn (Mission Bay)
- Max guests
- 150
- Allowed
- Ceremony only
From the City's wedding sites list (dated June 2024), checked Nov. 2, 2026. The list also gives Santa Clara Point's South Lawn two different capacities (150 and 75); confirm with the Permit Center.
Shoreline
Mission Bay
Coordinates from OpenStreetMap.
See these on the full San Diego mapHow booking works
From application to permit
- 01
Create an SDRecConnect account
The person paying must have an account at SDRecConnect.com, then submit a Facility and Park Use Permit application.
- 02
Enter the monthly lottery
The Permit Center holds a lottery on the first Monday of each month for dates a year out. Applications are accepted only during the week before, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; early or late entries are rejected, and each couple may enter once.
- 03
Pay fast if you win
The results email has payment instructions. The City's wedding sites list says winners have five days from when the permit is created to pay, or the date is forfeited. Not selected? Staff offer alternative dates.
- 04
Or book closer in
Applications are taken in the order received and must arrive at least 10 calendar days before the event. Applying doesn't guarantee your site or date.
What it costs
The City's wedding pages don't print a single wedding price. Its Park and Recreation fee schedule (effective March 1, 2026, updated July 1, 2026) lists a ground-use fee of $191 per day per location for private groups of 50 to 300 people. Every City permit fee also carries a 3.56% processing charge, and the City no longer takes cash or personal checks for permits. Ask the Permit Center (619-235-1169, PRPermitCenter@sandiego.gov) for your exact quote, especially for a small wedding.
Not every beach is the City's
These rules cover City of San Diego sites. Coronado, the state beaches (such as Torrey Pines and Silver Strand) and Cabrillo National Monument are run by other agencies with their own permits. Cabrillo, for example, publishes its own wedding guidelines and fees.
Planning the timing? Check winter sunset times, where to park near La Jolla Cove, and the beach alcohol rules before you plan a toast.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 2, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
City of San Diego · effective 2026-03-01, updated 2026-07-01; checked 2026-11-02
Weddings require a permit regardless of number of persons; ground-use fee $191/day/location for other users, 50–300 people.
City of San Diego Parks & Recreation · checked 2026-11-02
Monthly lottery process; application window Mon–Fri week before; Dec. 7, 2026 lottery dates; 2–4 hour ceremonies; one per site per day.
- PrimaryWedding Sites (PDF)
City of San Diego Parks & Recreation · 2024-06; checked 2026-11-02
Site list and guest capacities; glass, alcohol and throwing rules; five-day payment window; Cuvier dog hours; Windansea palapa.
City of San Diego · checked 2026-11-02
SDRecConnect account; 10-day minimum; order received; Permit Center contact.
- PrimaryParks and Recreation FAQ
City of San Diego · checked 2026-11-02
3.56% processing fee; no cash or personal checks for permits since Dec. 29, 2022.
- BackgroundWedding Guidelines and Fees
National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument · checked 2026-11-02
Cabrillo runs its own wedding permits.