What to do
Check status of business types
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.
Special cases
Closed businesses can only do minimum basic operations
Businesses that are not allowed to reopen must cease all activities at facilities located within the City, except minimum basic operations.
Operations that can continue include:
- Inventory, ensure security, process payroll, and employee benefits
- Activities that help employees work from their homes
- Sanitation, including janitorial
All businesses can have their employees work from home.
Enforcement
If you see a business or organization that might be violating the order and endangering the public or its employees, report a health order violation.
The Public Health Order is a legal order issued under the authority of California law. You are required to comply if you do not fall within the exemptions specified in the order. It is a misdemeanor crime not to follow the order, although the intent is not for anyone to get into trouble.
Appeal a City decision
The City may direct you to temporarily shut down or change your business operations.
To be reconsidered, email HealthOrderAppeals@sfcityatty.org with:
- Business name
- Street address
- Email and phone number of business manager or contact
- The directive the business was given
- Name of the City official who gave you the directive
- Explanation of why you’re appealing
- References to the relevant provisions in the Public Health Order.
Get help
Phone
If you see a business open that should not be open, call 311.
Last updated January 21, 2021