Part of City Administrator

Entertainment Commission

We permit and regulate entertainment for venues and events in San Francisco.

Get an entertainment permit for your outdoor event

The One Time Outdoor Event permit is for an outdoor event with entertainment/amplified sound.

Find an event in San Francisco

Search events in the nightlife and entertainment scene.

Commission meetings

Find information about upcoming meetings and what happened in past meetings.

Services

Permits for events

Get an entertainment permit for your outdoor event

The One Time Outdoor Event permit is for an outdoor event with entertainment/amplified sound.

Get an entertainment permit for your indoor event

Apply for a One Time Indoor Entertainment Permit from the Entertainment Commission

Get a sound truck permit

This permit lets you have amplified sound on a vehicle outdoors.

Permits for brick-and-mortar businesses

Get a Place of Entertainment permit for your business

You need a Place of Entertainment (POE) permit if you want to host entertainment on a regular basis, like at a venue, concert hall or nightclub.

Get a Limited Live Performance permit

You need a Limited Live Performance permit if you want to host entertainment on a regular basis as a secondary activity, like a restaurant with live music.

Get a Billiard Parlor permit for your business

A Billiard Parlor (BP) permit lets you charge customers to use 1 or more pool tables.

Get a Mechanical Amusement Device permit for your business

A Mechanical Amusement Device (MAD) permit lets you charge customers to use mechanical or arcade games.

Get a Fixed Place Outdoor Amplified Sound permit for your business

You need a permit if you want to host outdoor amplified sound on a regular basis with no live performer at your business.

Get an Extended Hours Premises permit for your business

An Extended Hours Premises (EHP) permit lets you host entertainment and/or serve food and non-alcoholic drinks between 2 am and 6 am.

File a complaint

Report a business or event for a sound issue

File a sound complaint if you have a problem with a business or event.

Pay for an entertainment permit

Pay your entertainment permit fee

Pay your entertainment permit fee online or by mail.

Check your entertainment permit fees

View the application and license fees for our entertainment permits. Fees are updated each year.

Check inspection fees for your entertainment business

There are different inspection fees for each City department.

Residential development and nightlife

Get your housing project reviewed if it’s near a venue

Follow the steps if your housing or hotel/motel project is near an existing Place of Entertainment

Know your rights as a Place of Entertainment (POE) permit holder

Learn more about the Residential Development Review (RDR) process.

A view of downtown San Francisco, with the Transamerica Pyramid and Salesforce Tower visible, and the Bay Bridge in the background. The sky is awash in gentle golden light, with a boundary of fog seen past the Bay Bridge.

“Downtown San Francisco skyline at sunrise” by Kehn Hermano

Roadmap to Downtown San Francisco's Future

Mayor London Breed announced a roadmap to move our City forward by building a cleaner, safer, and thriving Downtown. The Roadmap sets forth a key strategy in driving SF's economic recovery: Transform Downtown into a leading arts, culture, and nightlife destination.

Learn more

News

Video now online - SF Nightlife & Entertainment Summit

June 8, 2023

SF Nightlife & Entertainment Summit - Attend In-Person or Livestream

June 2, 2023

SF Nightlife & Entertainment Summit returns June 5!

April 17, 2023

See more news

Events

There are no upcoming events right now.

View past events

Resources

Entertainment rules and notices

See the rules and public notices for the Entertainment Commission.

Good Neighbor Policy

For a business with an entertainment permit, learn how to be a good neighbor to nearby residents and businesses.

Reports for entertainment and nightlife industry

See the Entertainment Commission’s reports and related studies that affect the industry.

SF Outdoor Event Planning & Permitting Guide

Help for event organizers navigating the rules, permit processes, and agencies that affect outdoor events.

View a map of businesses with entertainment permits

Check which business establishments in SF have a permit to host entertainment on a regular basis.

Overdose Prevention Resources for Nightlife

Find information on trainings, education, access to Naloxone and supplies, and other harm reduction resources.

About

The Entertainment Commission supports a thriving entertainment and nightlife culture that balances the needs of the City’s entertainment community, its audiences, and its neighbors across all district neighborhoods.

Learn more about us