LOCATION
San Francisco City Hall
City Hall is now open to the public.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Getting here
The nearest MUNI and BART station is the Civic Center station. For information on getting to City Hall by bus and other MUNI services, call 311.
At City Hall
The main entrance to City Hall is on Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street) between McAllister Street and Grove Street. To enter City Hall, you will need to go through security screening, including metal detector and bag screening. If you are carrying any bag larger than 11" x 17" x 7", you must enter through the loading dock on Grove Street. See a list of items and activities prohibited inside of City Hall.
Individuals are strongly recommended, but not required, to wear masks in City Hall regardless of vaccination status.
Please visit San Francisco City Hall Events for questions about space rental at City Hall for private events.
Parking
You can park in metered spaces on Van Ness, McAllister, Grove, and Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. Civic Center Garage is located on McAllister, between Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place and Larkin.
Bike parking is available on nearby sidewalks.
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrances are located on Van Ness Avenue and Grove Street. Please note the wheelchair lift at the Goodlett Place/Polk Street is temporarily not available. After multiple repairs that were followed by additional breakdowns, the wheelchair lift at the Goodlett/Polk entrance is being replaced for improved operation and reliability. We anticipate having a functioning lift after the completion of construction in May 2025. There are elevators and accessible restrooms located on every floor.
About
Known as the People's Palace, San Francisco City Hall is the seat of government for the City and County of San Francisco. It is also a destination historic landmark, frequently visited by tourists and photographers. Themed colored LEDs light up the building at night. The City Hall Building Management manages the building operations of City Hall, a National Historic Landmark, and is a subsidiary of the Real Estate Division.Additional location info
Bringing a bag into City Hall
You must enter City Hall through the Goodlett entrance (Polk Street) or the loading dock on Grove Street if you are carrying any of the following:
- Backpacks
- Gym bags
- Sealed items
- Drawstring bags
- Large camera cases
You must enter through the loading dock on Grove Street if you are carrying any bag larger than 11" x 17" x 7".
Your bag will be screened or inspected by a member of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department before you can enter City Hall. See a list of items and activities prohibited inside City Hall.
For City Hall tours
The San Francisco City Hall Docents provide guided tours to the public. The tours are about an hour long and are currently offered on Fridays at 11am and 1pm.
Booking
Call 415-554-6139 for a reservation, or sign up for a tour at the Docent Tour kiosk (located in the Goodlett Lobby).
Groups over 8 people need to make a reservation in advance.
Cost
There is a fee for private groups of 8 people or more. There is no charge for school groups from elementary to high school level.
Volunteer
To volunteer to be a City Hall Docent, call 415-554-6139. Orientation / training sessions are available on an individual basis. All sessions are 1 hour in length.
Additional information
City Hall Front Step Permit
This permit application is for having a rally/press conference on the front steps of City Hall. City Hall Front Step Permit
Lighting schedule
City Hall will be lit in special lighting on the following days in May 2025:
Thursday, May 1, 2025 – red/gold – in recognition of AAPI Heritage Month
Sunday, May 4, 2025 – red – in recognition of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Monday, May 5, 2025 – red – in recognition of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Woman Awareness Day (The official day of observance is May 5.)
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 – blue – in recognition of San Francisco’s Annual Small Business Week
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – lime green – in recognition of International Maternal Mental Health Day
Thursday, May 8, 2025 – lime green – in recognition of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
Friday, May 9, 2025 – blue/yellow – in recognition of the European Union’s “Europe Day”
Saturday, May 10, 2025 – lime green – in recognition of AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander) Mental Health Day
Monday, May 12, 2205 – pink/red/blue – in recognition of Women’s Health Awareness Month
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – blue/yellow – in recognition of European Union’s “Europe Day”
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – purple – in recognition of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
Thursday, May 15, 2025 – blue – in recognition of National Peace Officers Memorial Day
Friday, May 16, 2025 – purple – in celebration of the season home opening game of the Golden State Valkyries
Saturday, May 17, 2025 – rainbow colors – in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
Sunday, May 18, 2025 – green – in recognition of Food Allergy Awareness Month
Monday, May 19, 2025 – blue/white – in recognition of EMS Week
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 – lime green – in recognition of SFDPH’s Behavioral Sciences Client Council’s Mental Health Awareness event
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 – white – in recognition of the Ride of Silence – honoring the lives lost while biking in San Francisco
Thursday, May 22, 2025 – rainbow colors – in recognition of Harvey Milk Day
Friday, May 23, 2025 – purple/gold – in recognition of San Francisco State University’s graduating Class of 2025
Saturday, May 24, 2025 –red/green/blue/yellow – in recognition of Eritrean Independence Day
Sunday, May 25, 2025 - red/white - in recognition of the National Day of Georgia
Monday, May 26, 2025 – red/white/blue – in recognition of the Memorial Day Holiday
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 – orange – in recognition of California Tourism Month
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 - red/black/white/green in recognition of the National Day of Jordan
Thursday, May 29, 2025 – green – in recognition of National Arthritis Month
Learn more about City Hall's exterior lighting and see past lighting schedules.
Rent space at City Hall
City Hall is available for weekday wedding rentals as well as for full evening events on weekdays and weekends. For information on private rentals, visit the San Francisco City Hall Events page or call 415-554-6079.
About the building
Known as the People’s Palace, San Francisco City Hall is the seat of government for the City and County of San Francisco. It is also a destination historic landmark, frequently visited by tourists and photographers. Themed colored LEDs light up the building at night.
The City Hall you see today took two years to build. Steel, granite, and four floors of white marble interiors make up San Francisco's symbol of resilience, built after the previous City Hall was destroyed in the Great Earthquake and Fire of April 18, 1906.
Civic leaders were determined to demonstrate the city's rebirth in time for the start of the World's Fair of 1915. Designed by architect Arthur Brown, Jr. and begun in 1913, natives and the world were suitably awed by the gilt exterior detailing, the sweeping grand staircase, and the massive dome. At 307 feet in height, the dome is a full 42 feet taller than the dome of the nation's capitol.
During the past century, the building has seen major political upheavals and demographic shifts in the makeup of its legislators. City Hall is often a focus of drama: the tragic assassinations of 1979; and jubilation, when same-sex marriages were first performed in 2004. Once the repository of records and a site for smaller courts, current debates and decisions about labor, land use, and public policy issues take place inside on a regular basis. City Hall has been a location for movies from Dirty Harry and Indiana Jones to Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
An earthquake of 7.1 magnitude struck on October 17, 1989 and damaged City Hall severely enough that the dome itself moved four full inches. Repair and restoration, completed in 1999, included an earthquake safety enhancement called a base isolator system. This absorbs shocks and movement at the foundation, protecting the structure above.
For decades, adjusting the tint of the exterior lights required walking through legislators' offices to change the colored gels by hand. Starting in 2016, a computer-controlled LED lighting system adds themed colors to the plaza façade with some energy savings. City Hall is still a favorite site for weddings, and cheers regularly echo through the rotunda.
Learn more about the exhibits on display in City Hall.
City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission
The City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission's mission is to:
- Ensure that the maintenance and operation of City Hall is consistent with its stature and dignity as a national landmark and as the seat of City government
- Assure that the building is a welcoming place for all people
- Promote the understanding of its history and cultural values
Archived website
See previous website archived August 2022.
At San Francisco City Hall
Contact us
Address
San Francisco, CA 94102