AGENCY
Civil Service Commission
We maintain a fair system to make sure the City hires the best-qualified people for public service.
AGENCY
Civil Service Commission
We maintain a fair system to make sure the City hires the best-qualified people for public service.
Civil Service Commission Meeting of January 5, 2026 Cancelled
The Civil Service Commission’s Regular Meeting of Monday, January 5, 2026, has been cancelled. A Special Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in City Hall, Room 400. Call the Commission Office at (628) 652-1100 or email at civilservice@sfgov.org if there are questions or if further information is required.Get ready for your hearing
If you filed an appeal, learn what to expect and how to prepare.
Prepare a staff report
City staff: When someone makes an appeal, you need to prepare a staff report in response.
2026 meeting calendar
See our full schedule of important dates for 2026 meetings.
Civil Service Commission Accessibility Statement
Accessibility statement
Calendar
Full calendarCity Hall - Room 4001 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
San Francisco, CA 94102
Schedule
Meetings occur twice monthly on the first and third Mondays, except holidays.
Listen to audio recordings of previous Civil Service Commission meetings.
PAST CALENDAR
Services
Appeals and hearings
File an appeal with the Civil Service Commission
If you do not agree with a decision related to the City's merit system, you can file an appeal.
Prepare documents for a Civil Service Commission appeal
Find out how to share documents with the Civil Service Commission to support an appeal.
Ask to reschedule a Civil Service Commission hearing
If you need to postpone your hearing or schedule it after after 5 pm, here's what to do.
Prepare a staff report for the Civil Service Commission
City staff: When someone makes an appeal, the department needs to prepare a staff report in response.
File an action request for a Civil Service Commission hearing
City staff: Learn how to postpone or cancel an upcoming hearing about an appeal.
Get a copy of a report from the Civil Service Commission
Anyone can ask for a copy of a Civil Service Commission report related to a hearing.
Employee Relations Ordinance
File a bargaining unit assignment protest
If the Employee Relations Director makes a decision or decides to make a change to a current bargaining unit, and if an employee or labor union disagrees with the decision, within sixty (60) days from the Director’s decision, a protest can be filed.
Management, Supervisory, or Confidential Designation Complaint
The Employee Relations Director decides which job classes of employees are to be considered as management, supervisory or confidential. If an employee disagrees, the decision can be reviewed by an administrative law judge for a hearing and decision.
Filing Petitions for Recognition, Challenging, or Decertification of Union
Any registered employee union can ask to be recognized as the labor union representative of a bargaining unit; another employee labor union may challenge to be the labor union of a bargaining unit; or employees or employee labor unions may file to decertify the union of the unit.
File an unfair labor practice charge
Find out how to file a labor complaint against a department if you are a peace officer or management employee. The Employee Ordinance explains what are considered reasons for filing charges.
Respond to an unfair labor practice charge
City staff: If your department has received an unfair labor complaint from a peace officer or a management employee, here’s what to do.
Appeals from MTA service-critical employees
File an action request for an MTA service-critical staff hearing
MTA staff: An action request allows you to postpone or cancel an upcoming Civil Service Commission hearing. It may also be used if the appeal is resolved administratively.
Prepare an MTA service-critical staff report for the CSC
MTA staff: When a service-critical employee makes an appeal, you need prepare a staff report in response.
Resources
Frequently accessed rules and policies
Rule 114: Appointments (Civil Service Commission)
Rule 117: Probationary Period (Civil Service Commission)
Rule 119: Resignation (Civil Service Commission)
Rule 120: Leaves of Absence (Civil Service Commission)
Rule 122: Employee Separation Procedures (Civil Service Commission)
Policy on Prohibiting Violence in the Workplace (Civil Service Commission)
Commission policies
Commission rules
Rules that apply to most City employees (Civil Service Commission) - Vol I
Learn about the rules that apply to most City employees (also called “miscellaneous” employees).
Rules for uniformed ranks of the police department (Civil Service Commission) - Vol II
Learn about the rules that apply to the uniformed ranks of the San Francisco Police Department.
Rules for the uniformed ranks of the fire department (Civil Service Commission) - Vol III
Learn about the rules that apply to the uniformed ranks of the San Francisco Fire Department.
Rules for MTA service critical employees (Civil Service Commission) - Vol IV
Learn about the rules that apply to employees of the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) who are classified as "service-critical."
Preparing for a hearing
Get ready for your Civil Service Commission appeal hearing
If you filed an appeal and received notice of your hearing date, learn what to expect from your hearing and how to prepare.
Prepare to represent your department at a Civil Service Commission hearing
City staff: If your department has to respond to an appeal during a hearing, here's what you need to know.
Civil Service Commission hearing policies and procedures
About
The Civil Service Commission oversees the City’s merit system. We help make sure that San Francisco hires and promotes the best-qualified people for City jobs. We also conduct investigations and hold hearings for workers who think they have been treated unfairly.
Learn more about usCommissioners
The Civil Service Commission consists of 5 members appointed by the Mayor. At least 2 members of the Commission must be women. Each member serves a 6-year term.
Contact information
Address
Civil Service Commission25 Van Ness Avenue
Suite 720
San Francisco, CA 94102
Suite 720
San Francisco, CA 94102
Get directions
Mon to Fri, 8 am to 5 pm
If you need to meet with us outside of business hours, call us.