Planning permission may be required depending on the circumstances of the venue and the current use class.
Planning advice for holding civil ceremonies may be different to using the venue for wedding receptions/functions.
Whether a proposal would require a change of use, is a matter of fact and degree. Key points to consider are frequency and scale.
- Estimated number of ceremonies to be held per year
- Number of guest
- The existing use of the building
- The part of the building being used
- The type of ceremony (just the civil ceremony or wedding receptions)
- Will the event require staffing and catering
- Traffic and parking facilities
- Noise, disturbance and lighting implications at unsociable hours
Planning Options
If you are considering establishing a wedding venue, please see the three options below.
Do I need planning permission form
Do I need planning online form
You can use the above form to enquire the need for planning permission to hold a Civil Ceremony. The completion of the form and the relevant fee will be required to process your request.
Planning base their decisions on fact and degree using the information provided on the ‘do I need planning’ application form.
Planning will also search the planning history on your venue to see if there are any conditions which may restrict the use.
The decision will be an informal opinion and not a formal decision of lawfulness
Certificate of lawful proposed use or development application
This is a legal document which will provide a formal decision as to whether the proposed use requires planning permission or not.
The response will include an officer’s report explaining the decision.
In submitting an application you should include a precise description of the proposal and provide plans.
It is up to the applicant/agent to submit sufficient information for a determination to be made.
If there is insufficient information presented which accurately describes your proposal, a Certificate will not be issued.
The fee for proposed requests if half the planning fee.
Further information regarding lawful development certificates including how to apply can be found of the Planning Portal's Lawful Development Certificates web page.
Change of use planning application
If the frequency and scale of the civil ceremonies and/or wedding receptions would result in a change of use of the building, please submit a change of use application.
Please visit Cornwall Council's how to make a planning application page, for details on how to submit an application.
Licensing
You will need to apply for a venue licence to hold civil ceremonies at your premises.
Licensing of premises for civil ceremonies