Configure Self Service Site Creation in SharePoint

What is Self Service Site Creation in SharePoint?
To create a new site collection in SharePoint, Usually, SharePoint Administrators use the SharePoint Central Administration site or SharePoint Management Shell. The self-Service Site Creation feature enables end-users to create site collections within a particular web application on their own. Self-service site creation is not enabled by default. For the “My Site” host web application, it should be enabled in order to provision SharePoint My Sites.

In a project collaboration environment, We had a requirement to enable end-users to create their own Site collections without the help of SharePoint administrators.

How to enable self-service site creation in SharePoint?

You can enable/disable SSC in these three ways:

  1. Using SharePoint central admin to configure Self-service site creation in SharePoint 2013
  2. Using PowerShell to enable self-service site creation in SharePoint
  3. Using STSADM to enable self-service site creation

Using Central Admin to Configure Self Service Site Creation in SharePoint 2013:
Go to your SharePoint 2013/2016 central administration site >> Application Management >> Manage Web Applications >> Select your target web application >> Click on the “Self-Service Site Creation” button from the ribbon.

sharepoint self service site creation 2013

It’s a best practice to set quota and specific managed path for Self Service Site Creation – So that we can keep users in control.

How to enable Self-Service site creation using STSADM:

stsadm -o enablessc -url https://crescent.com

This enables self-service site creation in SharePoint 2013. You can disable self site creation in SharePoint 2010 using Stsadm:

stsadm -o disablessc -url https://crescent.com

Enable self-service site creation in SharePoint 2016 with PowerShell:

Add-PSSnapin microsoft.sharepoint.powershell -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# Enable Self Service Site Creation 
Write-Host "Enabling Self Service Site Creation..."
$WebApp = Get-SPWebApplication "https://crescent.com"
#sharepoint 2013 enable self service site creation powershell 
$webApp.SelfServiceSiteCreationEnabled = $true
$webApp.RequireContactForSelfServiceSiteCreation = $false
$webApp.Update()

SharePoint self service site creation link
Once SSC is enabled, users get a “New Site” link in their My Sites.

Configure Self Service Site Creation in SharePoint 2013

You can directly access Self Service Site creation page URL at: https://your-sharepoint-web-app/_layouts/15/scsignup.aspx

Create Self Service Site programmatically with PowerShell:

Add-PSSnapin Microsoft.SharePoint.Powershell -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

#Configuration Variables
$WebAppURL ="https://crescent.com" 

$SiteCollectionUrl ="https://crescent.com/projects/sales"
$SiteTitle="Sales Site" 
$Description=""
$Locale="1033"
$Template ="STS#0"
$AdminLogin="crescent\SP_Farm"
$AdminName="Farm Account"
$AdminEmail="SP_Farm@crescent.com"
$SecondaryAdminLogin="crescent\SP_Setup"
$SecondaryAdminName="Setup Account"
$SecondaryAdminEmail="SP_setup@crescent.com"

$RootSite = Get-SPSite $WebAppURL

$RootSite.SelfServiceCreateSite($SiteCollectionUrl, $SiteTitle, $Description, $locale, $template, $AdminLogin, $AdminName ,$AdminEmail, $SecondaryAdminLogin, $SecondaryAdminName, $SecondaryAdminEmail)

You may get: Access is denied. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80070005 (E_ACCESSDENIED)) error while creating SharePoint self service site programmatically if you don’t have enough access.

 SharePoint self service site creation permissions:

Once the self service site creation is enabled, Any user can create site collections from their My Sites! However, it’s possible to restrict this feature within a particular group of people, Say for e.g., You may want to limit this feature available only within a specific team. (provided, that specific team has an Active Directory security group!).

Step 1: Remove “Self Service Site Creation” from user permissions.
Go to Central administration >> Application Management >> Manage Web Applications >> Select your target web application >> Click on “User Permissions” icon from the ribbon >> Scroll down and remove “Self Service Site Creation” permission.
sharepoint self service site creation permission
Step 2: Create a new permission policy with “Self service site creation” access.
From the Manage web applications page, Click on “Permission Policy” >> Add Permission Level Policy >> Give it a name and description (I’ve named it as: Self Site Creators – Users who can Create Site collections). Choose “Self service site creation” access and Click “OK” to save your changes.

self service site creation sharepoint 2016

Step 3: Add a web application user policy to assign the permission policy to the required user group.
We have the permission policy ready. Now, the last step is to add a web application user policy by clicking “User Policy” from the ribbon >> Click on “Add Users” >> Select “All Zones”, Click Next >> Specify the relevant group allowed to create site collections through self site creation. Choose the permission policy created (Self Site Creators – Users who can Create Site collections).
sharepoint 2013 powershell self service site creation

Salaudeen Rajack

Salaudeen Rajack - Information Technology Expert with Two-decades of hands-on experience, specializing in SharePoint, PowerShell, Microsoft 365, and related products. He has held various positions including SharePoint Architect, Administrator, Developer and consultant, has helped many organizations to implement and optimize SharePoint solutions. Known for his deep technical expertise, He's passionate about sharing the knowledge and insights to help others, through the real-world articles!

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