Check if a business can be open

On May 6, 2021, SF reopened more businesses within the State’s Yellow Tier.

See what's changed.

See what business activities are allowed under the Public Health Order. 

Businesses must follow certain rules to continue operating, such as posting required signage, limiting their maximum capacity, maintaining physical distance and face coverings.

 

Accounting services

Open indoors up to 50% capacity. Everyone must wear face coverings, especially if clients will visit the office

After school programs

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

Appliance or cell phone repair shops

Open indoors up to 50% capacity. 

Aquariums

Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See museum guidance.

Art galleries

Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See indoor retail guidance.

Auto dealerships

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

Auto supply and repair shops

Maximum 50% capacity.

Banks and credit unions

Maximum 50% capacity.

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

Bars

Can open indoors at 25% capacity up to 100 people, or 50% if they serve meals. Maximum 8 people to a table. Live entertainment is allowed. See dining guidance.

Bicycle supply and repair shops

Open indoors up to 50% capacity.

Body waxing studios

Open outdoors with customers stationed 6 feet apart. Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal cares services.

Bookstores

Open for indoor retail up to 50% capacity. 

Cafes and restaurants inside bookstores can open up to 50% capacity. See dining guidance.

Breweries

Outdoor breweries open, with patrons at different tables 6 feet apart. Maximum 8 people to a table.

Indoor breweries are open at 25% capacity, up to 100 people.

See dining guidance.

Cannabis 

Retailers open for takeout, delivery, and indoor retail, up to 50% capacity.

Consumption lounges allowed. See dining guidance.

Carwashes

Open..

Charter boats (fishing and sightseeing)

Open, with everyone 6 feet apart. See guidance for larger tour groups.

Chefs

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

Childcare

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

Climbing gyms

Open outdoors with people 6 feet apart, including outdoor classes.

Open indoors up to 50% capacity for patrons. Locker rooms can open. Steam rooms and saunas can open up to 25% capacity, masks not required.

Indoor fitness classes open, maximum 50% capacity up to 200 people. Six feet of physical distance allowed if the business posts the Ventilation Checklist and implements at least one measure in the room. Otherwise 12 feet distancing required between people engaged in aerobic exercise

See detailed guidance for gyms and fitness centers.

Clothing and shoe stores

Open for indoor retail up to 50% capacity.

Concert venues

Outdoor live events with assigned seats are allowed with 67% capacity. Suites and boxes up to 25% capacity.  

See detailed guidance about seated live events and performances with in-person audiences.

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 indoors up to 50% capacity. See guidance for indoor retail.

Convention centers

Conference rooms, business centers, lounge areas and other gathering places allowed for events with capacity limits up to 200, 300, or 400.  Assigned seating is required. Rules are based on: 

• If it is indoor or outdoor
• COVID-19 testing requirements
• Vaccination status 

See detailed guidance for conferences, meetings, and receptions.

Dance studios

No capacity limit outdoors. People do not have to be masked if 6 feet apart.

Indoor fitness classes open, maximum 50% capacity up to 200 people. If at least one ventilation measure is done, people can be 6 feet apart. If not, people must be 12 feet apart in classes where you have to breathe hard.

Locker rooms can open. 

Steam rooms and saunas can open up to 25% capacity, masks not required.

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. See guidance for delivery services.

Distilleries

Outdoor distilleries can open, with patrons at different tables 6 feet apart. Maximum 8 people to a table.

Indoor distilleries are open at 25% up to 100 people.

See dining guidance.

Doctors and dentists

Open. 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.

Drive-in theaters

Open up to 100 cars 6 feet apart. See guidance for drive-in gatherings.

Dry cleaners

Open indoors up to 50% capacity. 

Electricians

Open

Electrologists

Open for indoor services only, up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal care services.

Estheticians

Open outdoors with customers stationed 6 feet apart. Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal care services.

Exterminators

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

Family entertainment centers

Open outdoors. Allowed outdoor activities include playgrounds, skate parks, roller and ice skating, laser tag, paintball, batting cages, kart racing, and mini golf, without capacity limits. 

Ferris wheels, carousels, trampolines, and train rides allowed, masks required. Each space must be 6 feet apart.

Open indoors up to 50% capacity, for group activities that are already distanced. Examples are bowling, billiards, and mini golf. One household per group.

Activities where people mingle can open up to 50% capacity. Examples are arcade game centers, ice and roller skating rinks, and indoor playgrounds.

Farmers markets

Open. See guidance for farmers markets.

Festivals

Outdoor music and art festivals without assigned seating are allowed, for up to 100 attendees. Each household group must be 6 feet apart. See guidance for festivals without assigned seating.

If the festival is outdoors with assigned seating, see guidance about seated live events and performances with in-person audiences.

If the festival is indoors with assigned seating, see guidance for conferences, meetings, and receptions.

Film productions

In a single location, up to 100 people outdoors or up to 50 people indoors, with safety measures in place.

In a single location, up to 300 people outdoors or up to 200 people indoors if everyone provides proof that they are fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test.

Craft services are allowed outdoors and indoors, following dining guidance.

Fire stations

Open

Florists

Open for indoor retail up to 50% capacity. 

Food banks

Open

Food cultivation (farming, livestock, fishing)

Open

Funeral homes, mortuaries, cemeteries, and crematoriums

Open to transport or prepare remains. Can hold funerals inside, up to 50% capacity. Outdoor funerals can be held, with all attendees 6 feet apart. Only 1 service per space at a time.

For receptions, see detailed guidance for conferences, meetings, and receptions.

Garden centers

Open as outdoor no restrictions. Indoor retail up to 50% capacity.

Gas stations

Open

Government services

See what City services are open.

Grocery stores

Open up to 50% capacity. Self-serve bulk foods are allowed with restrictions. Reusable bags and containers are allowed with restrictions. See guidance for grocery stores.

Gyms and fitness centers

No capacity limit outdoors. People do not have to be masked if 6 feet apart.

Open indoors up to 50% capacity for patrons, with everyone being able to stay 6 feet apart with some conditions. Locker rooms open at 25% capacity. Steam rooms and saunas can open up to 25% capacity, no masks required

If at least one ventilation measure is done in the room, people can be 6 feet apart. If not, people must be 12 feet apart in classes where you have to breathe hard.

See detailed guidance for gyms and fitness centers.

Hair salons and barbershops

Open outdoors with customers stationed 6 feet apart. Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal care services.

Handypersons and general contractors

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

Hardware stores

Open indoors up to 50% capacity.  See guidance for hardware stores.

Home and furnishing stores

Open for indoor retail up to 50% capacity. 

Home-based care for adults, children, and pets

See guidance for safer in-home services.

Hospitals and urgent care

Get healthcare during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Hotels and short-term rentals (Airbnb and hostels)

Open for tourists who are registered guests.

Short-term rentals must be for entire homes. 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)

Open up to 50% capacity, with masks. See guidance for indoor playgrounds.

Jewelry stores

Open for indoor retail up to 50% capacity. 

Job training businesses

Open

Landscapers

Open

Laundromats and laundry services

Open

Legal services

Open up to 50% maximum capacity.

Libraries

Can open indoors up to 50% capacity. See guidance for indoor retail

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

Liquor stores

Open for indoor retail, up to 50% capacity.

Live theaters

Allowed

See detailed guidance about seated live events and performances with in-person audiences.

Massage therapy studios

Open outdoors with customers stationed 6 feet apart. Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal care services.

Medical supply

Open

Movie theaters

Open up to 50% capacity, up to 500 people for each theater screen. Food and concessions can be sold. See movie theater guidance.

Open as drive-in theaters, up to 100 cars 6 feet apart.

Moving companies

Open

Museums

Outdoor museums can open with no capacity limits.

Open indoors up to 50% visitor capacity, with distancing. See museum guidance.

Nail salons

Open outdoors with distancing. Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal care services.

News media (newspapers, television, radio, photography)

Open

Nightclubs

Closed unless operating only as a bar. See dining guidance.

Non-profit organizations

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

If the organization provides non-essential services, they must follow guidance for offices.

Notaries

Open, up to 50% maximum capacity. Everyone must wear face coverings.

Offices

Offices can operate up to 50% capacity for unvaccinated staff, if everyone can stay 6 feet apart. Only staff who cannot work from home should use the office.

See guidance for offices.

Pet groomers

Open for curbside pickup and dropoff and indoor up to 50% capacity. Open also as an in-home service.

Pharmacies

Open indoor up to 50% capacity. See guidance for pharmacies.

Piercing shops

Open for indoor service only, up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal care services.

Places of worship (churches, synagogues, templates, mosques)

Open indoors up to 50% normal attendee capacity. Open outdoors, as long as people are 6 feet apart. See guidance for places of worship.

Playgrounds

Open outdoors. Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See RecPark safety tips about playgrounds. 

Plumbing services

Open. See guidance for hiring in-home services.

Police stations

Open

Post offices

Open indoors up to 50% capacity. 

Professional sports

Outdoor professional sporting events are allowed for up to 67% attendee capacity. Each household group must be 6 feet apart, with assigned seating. Suites and boxes up to 25% capacity. 

Both indoor and outdoor venues can have special sections with 100% capacity, if everyone 16 and older shows proof of vaccination. Youth under 16 must show a negative COVID-19 test.

See detailed guidance about seated live events and performances with in-person audiences.

Real estate services

Real estate agents can show homes by appointment. Everyone involved must wear face coverings and maintain distance. Realtors should let in fresh outside air, like opening windows and doors.

Rental cars

Open as retail business with up to 50% capacity.

Restaurants

Open for take-out and delivery.

Open for outdoor dining, with patrons at service tables 6 feet apart. Maximum 8 people to a table.

Open indoors up to 50% capacity, with patrons at service tables 6 feet apart. Maximum 8 people to a table.

See dining guidance.

Retailers

Open for curbside and indoor retail, up to 50% capacity.

Rideshare (including bikeshares and scooters)

Open

Schools

Grades TK to 12 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

Allowed. 

Shipping services

Open

Shopping malls

Open up to 50% capacity.

Food courts can open up to 50% capacity.

Short-term lodging rentals

Open only for rentals of the entire home. See details for hotels and lodging.

Skin care services

Open outdoors with customers stationed 6 feet apart. Open indoors up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal care services.

Smoking or hookah lounges

Closed as lounges. Can open as indoor retail up to 50% maximum capacity.

Sporting goods stores

Open for curbside and indoor retail up to 50% capacity.

Sports

Outdoor and indoor sports facilities are open. Outdoor and indoor classes are allowed.

See details about staying active during the pandemic.

See rules for organized recreational sports, outdoors and indoors.

Supply chain businesses (manufacturing, warehousing, logistics)

See guidance for warehousing and logistics. See guidance for manufacturing.

Swimming pools

Open outdoors. 

Open indoors up to 50% capacity.

Locker rooms are open. Saunas and steam rooms are allowed up to 25% capacity and masks are not required. Indoor hot tubs are allowed at 50% capacity, outdoor hot tubs are allowed at full capacity.

See guidance for sports facilities.

Tattoo establishments

Open for indoor service only, up to 50% capacity. See guidance for personal care services.

Toy stores

Open for indoor retail up to 50% capacity.

Walking tours

Allowed.

Weddings (ceremonies only)

Allowed as a religious ceremony outside, with distancing.

Allowed as religious ceremony indoors, up to 50% attendee capacity. See guidance for places of worship.

For receptions, see detailed guidance for conferences, meetings, and receptions.

Wineries

Open outdoors, with patrons at different tables 6 feet apart. Maximum 8 people to a table.

Open indoors at 25% capacity up to 100 people.

See dining guidance.

Yoga studios

Open outdoor with people 6 feet apart. 

Open indoors up to 50% capacity. Up to 25% capacity fors locker rooms.

See detailed guidance for gyms and fitness centers.

Zoos

Open for outdoor exhibits, with visitors 6 feet apart.

Open indoors up to 50% maximum visitor capacity. See museum guidance.