DATA STORY

Index to Records of San Francisco

Learn what types of records are kept by San Francisco's City departments, and for how long.

Understanding this Index

The Index to Records lists:

  • Records City and County of San Francisco officials and departments keep
  • Length of time records must be kept

Chapter 8 of the San Francisco Administrative Code requires each department to adopt and maintain a Records Retention and Destruction Policy and Schedule (aka “Records Policy and Schedule”). This Records Policy and Schedule must cover all records and documents, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that the department creates or receives in connection with the transaction of public business. It consists of two parts:

  • Part I: Records Retention and Destruction Policy 
  • Part II: Schedule (A list of different kinds of records and their retention period)

For your convenience, please find all the Schedules (Part II) from each City department listed collectively in the database below. You can filter and see records kept by individual department. If you are interested in reading each department's Records Policy (Part I), please visit their websites. 

Department records and retention period

Data notes and sources

San Francisco Administrative Code requires this information to be publicly available. The Office of the City Administrator collects record schedules developed by each City department. 

Full database can be downloaded at datasf.org 

Index supports record requests

The Index helps members of the public make public records requests by listing records available. Full database can be downloaded at datasf.org 

Please visit individual department's website for information on how to submit a public records request. See below for a list of City departments and their specific Records Policy: