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Approval as a place for Civil Marriage

 

Licence summary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If you wish to offer marriages or civil ceremonies at your premises or vessel, your premises or vessel must be approved by Fife Council.

Applications may be for permanent (period) or temporary approval.

Applications for approval must include specified information and be accompanied by a fee. If applying for a temporary approval, you must include the date and time of the intended civil marriage.

You must comply with conditions attached to an approval.
 
Eligibility Criteria
 
 
 
To apply for this licence you must be a suitable person to hold the licence.

The type of place or vessel must meet statutory Health & Safety requirements.
 
Regulation Summary
 
Application Evaluation Process


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Applications must be on a prescribed form and be accompanied by:
 
  • the application fee
  • 1 copy of the plan of the premises in A3 or A4 format
  • details of public liability insurance

Fife Council will:
  • send a copy of the application to the Council’s Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
  • send a copy of the application to the Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary
  • send a copy of the application to the Chief Fire Officer of Fife Fire and Rescue Service
  • send a copy of the application to the Council’s Environmental Services
  • send a copy of the application to the Council’s Building Standards & Safety Service
  • keep a register of applications in which it will enter the details of the receipt of the application, its final decision, the details of the terms of each licence granted and a note of any suspension, variation of the terms, or surrender, of a licence
  • advertise the application in a local newspaper
The register is available for inspection by any member of the public at reasonable times and places and any member of the public is permitted to make a copy of it.

Approval will not be granted if:
 
  • the application is not in the correct format
  • the place or vessel would compromise the solemnity and dignity of civil marriage
  • the place is in religious premises
  • the place or vessel is deemed unsuitable
The Council must have regard to the guidance issued by the Registrar General for Scotland.

For further information, please see the attached publication, Guidance Notes – Licence for approval as a place for Civil Marriage
 
Will Tacit Consent Apply?
 
No. It is in the public interest that the Council must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the Council within a reasonable period, please contact them.
 
Apply online
 
To apply online, please click on the link in the Do It On-line box at the top right of this page.
 
Failed Application Redress
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If your application is refused, the Council will provide reasons for its decision.

You have the right of appeal to the Sheriff of the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife against a refusal of the application.

Appeals can only be made under one of the following grounds:
 
  • the Council erred in law
  • the decision was based on incorrect material facts
  • the Council acted contrary to natural justice
  • the Council used their discretion in an unreasonable manner
If you have had an application refused the local authority will not consider another application in respect of the same place or vessel within one year unless there has been a material change of circumstance.
 
Licence Holder Redress
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Please contact the Council in the first instance.

The Council may also vary the terms of the licence.

You have the right of appeal to the sheriff against any conditions attached to the granting of approval.

If your approval is revoked, suspended or varied you will be given the opportunity to be heard by the Council. You also have the right of appeal to the Sheriff.
 
Consumer Complaint
 
 
 
 
If anyone wishes to complain about an approval holder, normally the first contact is made with you. Contact may also be made with either the Council’s Registrar or the Licensing Team.

If that has not worked, they may seek their own professional advice. If they are in the UK, Consumer Direct will give advice or if outside the UK, the UK European Consumer Centre.
 
Other Redress
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
Objections relating to an approval application may be made in writing to the Council, within 21 days of the date of the public notice of the approval application was given, stating:
 
  • the reasons for the objection
  • the name and address of the person making the objection
 

 


For more information contact

Regulation Team
Tel: 08451 55 11 77 Contact Regulation Team online
By Post: Fife Council, Fife House, North Street, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT

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