Permit processes vary by location. This page only covers rules for events on City streets.

Different rules apply for events in parks, at the Presidio, along the waterfront, on Treasure Island, etc. Find links to each of these locations' instructions.

Email SpecialEvents@sfmta.com to ask if the location you’re planning is in one of these special jurisdictions.

You must conduct outreach before your event.

Notify nearby residents and businesses about your event plans and give them a chance to share their concerns.

Be clear and honest about potential impacts like noise, traffic, and access changes like street closures. Be prepared to adjust your plans based on feedback. Strong outreach helps build community support and helps ensure a successful event.

Learn how to create an outreach plan.

Submit your main event permit application online. This permit authorizes street closure(s) for your event. It also gives you details about additional permits and requirements for your event.

Apply

*Note, some events may be eligible for a fee waiver. Submit your fee waiver application before applying for your street closure permit.

When in doubt, apply early! Here is some guidance:

• New event or event organizer: apply at least 3 months before the event
• Small or recurring events: apply at least 30 days before
• Large or new events: Contact us at least 6 months before. New road races may need even longer.

The total cost you pay to the City for your event will include the street closure application fee plus fees for other permits you need for your event. The total cost will vary widely.

Street closure permit fee is based on how far before your event you apply:

• 120+ days before: $1,280
• 90-120 days before: $1,601
• 60-89 days before: $1,921
• 30-59 days before: $2,347

Learn if your event is eligible for a fee waiver or reduction.

Once you’ve applied, City staff from several departments will review your application. We may need more information or revisions before we consider your application final.

Public hearing scheduled

Your application will be scheduled for a public hearing at ISCOTT, which stands for Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation.

Hearings are held online.

You’ll be notified of your hearing date at least one week in advance. If you’ve applied early enough, it may be possible to pick a hearing date that works well for you.

The hearings are held on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of most months and start at 9:00 AM. Because of the holidays, in November, there's only one hearing (2nd Thursday), and in December, hearings are on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays.

Attend the hearing

For newer or larger or more complex events, you (or a representative of the event) must attend the hearing to:

• Give a brief presentation (1-3 minutes) describing your event, location, and activities
• Answer questions from City departments
• Respond to public comments

After hearing your presentation, public comments, and addressing any concerns, the Committee will vote to approve or deny your event permit.

After you submit your application, relevant City departments may contact you directly to get more information about your event and tell you what additional permits your event will need.

This may include the Fire Department, Public Health, Entertainment Commission, and others.

Email SpecialEvents@sfmta.com to get help with your permit application or tracking its progress.

A site plan is a drawing showing the event’s layout. It is submitted as part of your special event permit application to close a street(s).

Learn how to prepare a site plan.

All food vendors must have the necessary permits, licenses, and safety equipment.

You’ll need permit(s) from the Department of Public Health if you plan to sell or give food to the public - even if food is free or offered as samples. There are limited exceptions to the permit requirement.

You may also need a Fire Department temporary special event permit if your vendors are:

• Cooking with open flames
• Using generators
• Operating cooking equipment

See the full guide for food permits at special events.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) issues permits for alcohol service. The SF Police Department must sign your ABC permit application.

Learn more about service and selling alcohol at outdoor events.

You can only sell cannabis at certain events.

Check if you can sell cannabis at your event.

The Entertainment Commission issues permits for events with outdoor amplified sound or entertainment.

• One Time Outdoor Event Permit: required for an event that provides outdoor amplified sound or entertainment. Examples include a band, DJ, dance act, pre-recorded streaming music, amplified speeches.
• Sound Truck Permit: required for the outdoor use of amplified sound equipment attached to, or being carried on, a motor vehicle or other means of conveyance. Examples include parades, floats, marches that use amplified sound equipment.

Many events have temporary structures ranging from tents to stages and or carnival rides.

Learn more about the safety requirements and Fire permit process.

They will also need to be included in your site plan (see above).

No structure can be fixed or bolted into the roadways or sidewalk.

Night construction

If your setup exceeds 5 dBA and will be performed between 8pm-7am, you need a Night Noise permit from Public Works.

Keep sidewalks open even when a street is closed to vehicles.

Sidewalks must always remain accessible for pedestrians.

Emergency lane

Maintain a minimum 14-foot wide emergency access lane running the full length of the event.

• Recommended Placement: Center of the road, not on the side. People can be in the emergency lane during the event, just not objects like tents, or tables/chairs.
• All intersections must remain clear of any objects to allow for emergency vehicle movement.

Placement restrictions

Maintain clear zones of at least 5 feet of any fire hydrant, fire alarm box, or police call box. Don’t put anything within 10 feet of any fire escape and stand pipe inlet, measuring horizontally.

Don’t have anything in any intersection or pedestrian crosswalk, including any vehicles.  Curb ramps must remain clear and accessible.

You will need to arrange for barricades.

Rent barricades from a private vendor or SF Public Works. Email dpweventrequest@sfdpw.org to rent from SF Public Works.

Refer to your approved site plan when you set them up.

You are responsible for setting up, monitoring, and removing the barricades.

Learn more about how to set up barricades at your event.

The Fire Department will need to permit parts of your event for safety. They have the authority to shut down your event if public safety is compromised.

After your overall street closure permit is approved, you will need to get permits for some common event features, including:

• Tents, canopies, or similar
• Food and beverage booths
• Cooking appliances that use liquid petroleum (LP) gas, butane, propane, natural gas, mesquite wood, or charcoal briquettes
• Assembly spaces to prevent over-crowding
• Temporary built structures such as stages, scaffolding and large tents
• Generators
• Pyrotechnics, fireworks, or flame effect performance
• Liquid Nitrogen

* List is not complete. Other restrictions may apply.

Learn about the process for Fire Department permits for your event.

You must submit a security plan if you expect more than 500 attendees.

Smaller and simpler events generally will not require security plans.

Events with alcohol service are more likely to require one.

A security plan is a detailed description of your plans to ensure the safety and security of the people. It also includes keeping the physical area in and around the event safe and secure.

The Police Department and the Department of Emergency Management review your plan and coordinate emergency personnel as needed.

Learn more about event security.

If your special event has more than 1000 attendees, more than 100 swimmers, or is required by a permitting agency, you have to submit an event medical plan and arrange for the right level of emergency medical services and resources. This includes having ambulances. Start at least 90 days in advance of your event.

Learn how to create and submit an emergency medical plan.

SFMTA requires some larger events to provide traffic management plans for detours, signage, and other elements. These plans need to be professionally prepared. This is uncommon.

Encourage attendees to ride bikes or take public transit. Include transit directions in promotional materials. You may want to add an area for monitored bicycle parking to your plans.

If your event displaces any accessible parking spaces (Blue Zones), you must provide temporary replacement spaces.

Replacement typically is whichever is greater:

• 1:1 replacement (one temporary Blue Zone for each displaced space), OR
• One temporary Blue Zone per block closed

Include directions to temporary Blue Zones in your promotional materials.

We will tell you where to have temporary Blue Zone locations during the permit review process. They will be included in the request for “no parking” spaces for your event.

If your event will take place in an area where vehicles park, you will likely need to have “no parking” signs posted by SFMTA.

You may need signs beyond the street closure itself, too. This would be for taxi zones, temporary delivery and/or Blue Zones (see above). There’s an additional fee for this City service.

Learn about SFMTA Temporary Signage.

To minimize towing, distribute fliers on the blocks. This gives people advance notice of the closure and the “no parking” restrictions.

To have parked vehicles removed, contact SFMTA to arrange towing. Only authorized SFPD or SFMTA personnel can legally remove vehicles from City streets or authorize towing in the public right-of-way.

Some events may need to arrange for a dedicated “tow detail” from SFMTA. SFMTA will tell you if this is something you’ll need.

Ensure that people with disabilities can access and enjoy your event. Review this checklist for hosting an accessible event.

If your event is not a simple residential block party, you may need to provide portable toilets.

If you will have food or drink, you should plan on having at least 2 or 3 toilets, with one being ADA accessible.

If you can guarantee free and open access to toilets in adjacent facilities and buildings, you may not need portable toilets.

We will let you know whether you need toilets and how many after our initial review of your application.

Every event held in San Francisco is required to offer recycling and composting at the event.

If you’re hosting an event with more than 1,000 attendees you must also have a zero waste plan. You will submit this plan to SF Environment at least 30 days before the event.

Learn how to hold a zero waste event and prepare a zero waste plan.

Recology provides special event recycling, compost, and landfill collection services. Order at least 30 days in advance.

You can hire a private vendor or pay a fee for SF Public Works to clean up the street after your event. Here is a list of private vendors that provide clean-up and sorting services.

If the area isn’t left clean, you may be billed by SF Public Works.