Check if a business can be open

See what business activities are allowed to continue under the Public Health Order. The City has a plan for gradually reopening businesses.

Allowed businesses must follow certain rules to continue operating, such as limiting their maximum capacity.

Accounting services

Open as an essential business, for compliance with non-elective, legally required activities or related to death or incapacitation.

After school programs

Open for all children. See more information about schools, childcare, and youth programs.

Appliance or cell phone repair shops

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Aquariums

Closed.

Art galleries

Can open indoors up to 20% normal capacity, with everyone being able to stay 6 feet apart. Must close at 10 pm, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order. See indoor retail guidance.

Auto dealerships

Open as an outdoor business, delivery, and indoor retail.

Auto supply and repair shops

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Banks and credit unions

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Includes related financial institutions, including money lenders, check cashing services, and financing services at pawn shops (by appointment only).

Bars (where no meals provided)

Closed.

Bicycle supply and repair shops

Open as an essential business.

Body waxing studios

Closed.

Bookstores

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). Must close indoor services between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Breweries (where no meals provided)

Closed.

Cannabis 

Retailers open for takeout, delivery, and indoor retail up to 20% capacity. Consumption lounges closed, even for storefront retailers that are open. Indoor retail must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Other cannabis businesses may be open to support retailers.

Carwashes

Open as an outdoor business.

Charter boats (fishing and sightseeing)

Closed.

Chefs

Open as an in-home service. Must stop working between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order. See guidance for safer in-home services during the pandemic.

Childcare

Open for all children. See more information about schools, childcare, and youth programs.

Climbing gyms

Open outdoors with people 6 feet apart, including outdoor classes for up to 12 people. Closed indoors. 

See detailed guidance for gyms and fitness centers.

Clothing and shoe stores

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Concert venues

Closed, but can livestream with 12 crew. Singers and wind or brass players must be in separate spaces. Must stop between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Construction

All construction projects can continue, as long as they follow safety requirements.

Find out the safety requirements of your specific construction project.

Convenience stores

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). See guidance for indoor retail.

Convention centers

Closed.

Dance studios

Open outdoors with people 6 feet apart, including outdoor classes for up to 12 people. Closed indoors.

See detailed guidance for gyms and fitness centers.

Day camps

Open for all children. See more information about schools, childcare, and youth programs.

Delivery services

Open as an essential business. See guidance for delivery services.

Distilleries (where no meals provided)

Closed.

Doctors and dentists

Open as an essential business. Get healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Health Order does not advise or encourage healthcare workers over 60 to stop working.

Dog walkers

Open as personal household or curbside service. Must stop between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Drive-in theaters

Open, up to 100 cars 6 feet apart. All attendees must leave by 10 pm. See guidance for drive-in gatherings.

Dry cleaners

Open as an essential service. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Electricians

Open as an essential service.

Electrologists

Closed.

Estheticians

Closed.

Exterminators

Open as an in-home service. See guidance for safer in-home services during the pandemic.

Family entertainment centers

Closed.

Farmers markets

Open as an essential business. See guidance for farmers markets.

Festivals

Closed.

Film productions

Allowed indoors and outdoors. Up to 25 people can be at one location. Must stop between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Fire stations

Open as an essential business.

Florists

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Food banks

Open as an essential business.

Food cultivation (farming, livestock, fishing)

Open as an essential business.

Funeral homes, mortuaries, cemeteries, and crematoriums

Open to transport or prepare remains. Can hold funerals for up to 12 attendees.

Garden centers

Open as outdoor business and indoor retail up to 20% capacity. Must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order

Gas stations

Open as an essential business.

Government services

Open. See what City services are open.

Grocery stores

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). See guidance for grocery stores.

Gyms and fitness centers

Open outdoors with people 6 feet apart, including outdoor classes for up to 12 people. Must stop between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order. 

Closed indoors.

See detailed guidance for gyms and fitness centers.

Hair salons and barbershops

Closed.

Handypersons and general contractors

Open as an essential business and in-home service. See guidance for safer in-home services during the pandemic.

Hardware stores

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). See guidance for hardware stores.

Home and furnishing stores

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Home-based care for adults, children, and pets

Open as an essential business. See guidance for safer in-home services.

Hospitals and urgent care

Open as an essential service.  Get healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Hotels and short-term rentals (Airbnb and hostels)

Open only for essential travel or for isolation and quarantine periods. See guidance for hotels.

Housekeepers

Open as an in-home service. See guidance for safer in-home services during the pandemic.

Indoor playgrounds (bounce centers, ball pits, laser tag)

Closed.

Jewelry stores

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Job training businesses

Open as an essential business, to help people find jobs with essential businesses.

Landscapers

Open as an outdoor business.

Laundromats and laundry services

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Legal services

Open as an essential business, for compliance with non-elective, legally required activities or related to death or incapacitation.

Libraries

Open for curbside service. See more information about SFPL to Go.

Liquor stores

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). Must close at 10 pm, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Live theaters

Closed, but can livestream with 12 crew. Singers and wind or brass players must be in separate spaces. Must stop between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Massage therapy studios

Closed.

Medical supply

Open as an essential business.

Movie theaters

Closed.

Moving companies

Open as an essential business.

Museums

Closed.

Nail salons

Closed.

News media (newspapers, television, radio, photography)

Open as an essential business.

Nightclubs

Closed.

Non-profit organizations

Open to provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.

Notaries

Open as an essential business, for compliance with non-elective, legally required activities or related to death or incapacitation.

Offices

Offices can reopen only inside a business already allowed to reopen, or if needed for basic minimum operations. Only staff who cannot work from home should use the office. This includes coworking spaces. All other offices must close.

Offices with 20 staff or more can operate at 25% normal maximum capacity. Offices with fewer than 20 staff can operate at more than 25% capacity, if everyone can stay 6 feet apart.

All offices must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order. 

See guidance for offices.

Pet groomers

Open for curbside pickup and dropoff or as an in-home service.

Pharmacies

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). See guidance for pharmacies.

Piercing shops

Closed.

Places of worship (churches, synagogues, mosques)

Closed for services indoors. Open outdoors, up to 200 people 6 feet apart. All attendees must leave by 10 pm, due to the State’s Limited Stay Home order.

Playgrounds

Outdoor playgrounds are open. Must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Plumbing services

Open as an essential business. See guidance for hiring in-home services.

Police stations

Open as an essential service.

Post offices

Open as an essential service. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Real estate services

Open as an essential business. Includes service providers that enable residential transactions, such as rentals, leases, and home sales. Real estate inspectors, appraisers, and photographers can continue working. Stagers can work if there is no one in the home.

Real estate agents may only show homes to potential residents over video. 

When a virtual showing is not feasible, one agent may show a home in person only to a maximum of 2 people. Those 2 people must be from the same household. The current occupant must not still live in the home. Everyone involved must wear face coverings and stay 6 feet apart. Realtors should let in fresh outside air, like by opening windows and doors. 

Rental cars

Open as an essential business. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Restaurants

Open for take-out and delivery. Maximum 20% normal capacity for customers waiting inside for takeout.

Closed for in-person dining.

See restaurant guidance.

Retailers

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). Must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Rideshare (including bikeshares and scooters)

Open as an essential business.

Schools

Closed for in-person learning for most students. 

Grades TK to 6 can reopen with approval from the Health Officer, which includes an approved safety plan and a site assessment. Middle and high schools can apply to open for outdoor classes. Check the school reopening dashboard to see where schools are in the process.

Segway tours

Closed.

Shipping services

Open as an essential business.

Shopping malls

Open indoors with an approved safety plan. Maximum 20% of normal capacity. Must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Closed for indoor dining.

Short-term lodging rentals

Open only for essential travel and for isolation and quarantine periods. Rentals must be for the entire home. See details for hotels and lodging.

Skin care services

Closed.

Smoking or hookah lounges

Closed as lounges. Can open as indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). Must close for indoor services between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Sporting goods stores

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less). Must close for indoor services between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Sports

Non-contact outdoor facilities are open, like outdoor gyms, golf, tennis, and pickleball. Outdoor classes for up to 12 people. Must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

See details about staying active during the pandemic.

Supply chain businesses (manufacturing, warehousing, logistics)

Open as an essential business. See guidance for warehousing and logistics. See guidance for manufacturing.

Swimming pools

Open outdoors. Must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order. See guidance for sports facilities.

Tattoo establishments

Closed.

Toy stores

Open for curbside and indoor retail, if open to the street or sidewalk. Maximum 20% normal capacity, or however many can be inside while 6 feet apart (whichever is less).

Must close for indoor retail between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Stores enclosed in malls must follow shopping mall rules.

Walking tours

Closed.

Weddings (ceremonies only)

Open as outdoor gatherings. Allowed as a religious ceremony up to 200 people outside, 6 feet apart. All attendees must leave by 10 pm, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

See guidance for having safer outdoor gatherings.

Wineries (without food)

Closed.

Yoga studios

Open outdoors with people 6 feet apart, including outdoor classes for up to 12 people. Must close between 10 pm and 5 am, from the State’s Limited Stay Home Order.

Closed indoors.

See detailed guidance for gyms and fitness centers.

Zoos

Closed.