LOCATION
San Francisco City Hall
City Hall offers services like marriage licenses, civil ceremonies, event space rentals, vital records, public tours, recorder services, and more.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Know before you go
Security screening
- You will pass through security to enter (metal detector and bag check).
- Bags larger than 11" x 17" x 7" must enter through the Grove St. loading dock.
Prohibited items and activities
- You may not bring certain items or perform certain activities inside of City Hall.
- See a list of prohibited items and activities
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrances are located on Van Ness Avenue and Grove Street.
- Accessible restrooms and elevators are available on every floor.
Private events
- You must rent space for private events at City Hall in advance.
- Visit San Francisco City Hall Events or call 415-554-6079 for information about City Hall space rental.
Getting here
Parking
You can park in metered spaces on Van Ness, McAllister, Grove, and Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.
There are nearby parking garages you can use: Civic Center Garage (355 McAllister Street) or Performing Arts Garage (360 Grove Street).
You can find bike parking on nearby sidewalks.
Public transportation
BART: BART lines stop at Civic Center station at Market and 8th Streets. Exit Civic Center station and walk two blocks west down Grove Street past Civic Center Plaza. BART typically runs until midnight daily.
Muni: In San Francisco, Muni Bus Lines 5, 6, 9, 21, 47, 49 and 71 stop within four blocks of San Francisco City Hall. All Muni underground lines and the F streetcar stop at Van Ness and Market. Muni typically runs until midnight daily.
AC Transit: From the East Bay, take AC Transit to the Transbay Terminal at Main and Beale Streets, walk two blocks north to Market Street and take any outbound Muni underground line to Van Ness Station, then walk three blocks north to Grove Street.
Caltrain: From the South Bay, take Caltrain to the San Francisco station at 4th and King Streets, transfer to Muni and take the T line through downtown to Van Ness Station, then walk three blocks north to Grove Street.
Golden Gate Transit: From the North Bay, take Lines 10, 70, 80, 92, 93 or 101 to Van Ness Avenue and Turk Street, then walk three blocks south to Grove Street. Check schedules in advance.
Call 311 for more information on getting to City Hall.
Services
Get married at City Hall
Events and tours
About
San Francisco City Hall, known as the People's Palace, is the seat of government for the City and County of San Francisco. This National Historic Landmark is a popular attraction for tourists and photographers. The City Hall Building Management, a subsidiary of the Real Estate Division, oversees the building operations of City Hall. At night, themed colored LEDs illuminate the building.Additional location info
About the City Hall building
San Francisco City Hall: The People's Palace
Known as the People’s Palace, San Francisco City Hall is the seat of government for the City and County of San Francisco. It is also a destination historic landmark, frequently visited by tourists and photographers. Themed colored LEDs light up the building at night.
A symbol of resilience
The City Hall you see today took two years to build. Steel, granite, and four floors of white marble interiors make up San Francisco's symbol of resilience, built after the previous City Hall was destroyed in the Great Earthquake and Fire of April 18, 1906.
Civic leaders were determined to demonstrate the city's rebirth in time for the start of the World's Fair of 1915. Designed by architect Arthur Brown, Jr. and begun in 1913, natives and the world were suitably awed by the gilt exterior detailing, the sweeping grand staircase, and the massive dome.
At 307 feet in height, the dome is a full 42 feet taller than the dome of the nation's capitol.
A century of change
During the past century, the building has seen major political upheavals and demographic shifts in the makeup of its legislators. City Hall is often a focus of drama: the tragic assassinations of 1979; and jubilation, when same-sex marriages were first performed in 2004. Once the repository of records and a site for smaller courts, current debates and decisions about labor, land use, and public policy issues take place inside on a regular basis. City Hall has been a location for movies from Dirty Harry and Indiana Jones to Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
Withstanding earthquakes
An earthquake of 7.1 magnitude struck on October 17, 1989 and damaged City Hall severely enough that the dome itself moved four full inches. Repair and restoration, completed in 1999, included an earthquake safety enhancement called a base isolator system. This absorbs shocks and movement at the foundation, protecting the structure above.
Modern enhancements and continued legacy
For decades, adjusting the tint of the exterior lights required walking through legislators' offices to change the colored gels by hand. Starting in 2016, a computer-controlled LED lighting system adds themed colors to the plaza façade with some energy savings. City Hall is still a favorite site for weddings, and cheers regularly echo through the rotunda.
Lighting schedule
City Hall will feature special lighting displays on the following dates in November 2025:
Saturday, November 1, 2025 – orange/gold – in recognition of Día de los Muertos
Monday, November 3, 2025 – purple – in recognition of Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – red/white/blue – in recognition of Election Day
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 – red/white/blue – in recognition of Veteran’s Day Holiday
Friday, November 14, 2025 – blue – in recognition of World Diabetes Day
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – red/white/red – in recognition of National Day of Latvia
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – red/white – in recognition of National Day of Monaco
Thursday, November 20, 2025 – blue/pink/white – in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 – orange – in recognition of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Thursday, November 27, 2025 – shades of amber – in recognition of Thanksgiving Holiday
Sunday, November 30, 2025 – periwinkle blue – in recognition of Stomach Cancer Awareness Day
Request City Hall lighting in specific colors to honor a cause
Archived website (August 2022)
See previous website archived August 2022.
At San Francisco City Hall
Contact us
Address
San Francisco, CA 94102