San Francisco City Hall

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.

ADA-accessible entrances are located on the Van Ness Avenue, Grove Street and Goodlett Place (Polk Street) sides of the building. Accessible restrooms are located on every floor.

There are elevators on every floor.

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.

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 Photo and Facts Tour
• City Hall School Tour Fun Book

November 2023 scheduled lighting events (subject to change)

Wednesday, November 1, 2023 – green/yellow – in recognition of American Indian Heritage Month

Thursday, November 2, 2023 – teal – in recognition of the Alzheimer Foundation’s “Light the World Teal” annual campaign

Friday, November 3, 2023 – purple – in recognition of the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” occurring in San Francisco on November 4, 2023

Saturday, November 4, 2023 – yellow/orange – in recognition of the SF Symphony’s annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration

Sunday, November 5, 2023 – green/teal – in recognition of Emerge California’s Annual Reception in the Green Room of the War Memorial (City Hall will be lit green/teal until 8 PM)

Sunday, November 5, 2023 – red/white/blue – in recognition of San Francisco’s annual Veteran’s Day Parade (City Hall will be lit red/white/blue from 8 PM until approximately Midnight)

Saturday, November 11, 2023 – red/white/blue – in recognition of the Veteran’s Day Holiday

Sunday, November 12 through Friday, November 17, 2023 – blue – in recognition of APEC Economic Leaders Week in San Francisco

Saturday, November 18, 2023 – purple – in recognition of World Prematurity Day

Sunday, November 19, 2023 – yellow/black – in recognition of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Monday, November 20, 2023 – blue/pink/white – in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 – blue – in recognition of UNESCO’s World Children’s Day

Thursday, November 23 through Friday, November 24, 2023 – shades of amber – in recognition of the Thanksgiving Holiday

Saturday, November 25, 2023 – orange - in recognition of the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women; this is part of the annual United Nations Campaign: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

Learn more about City Hall's exterior lighting and see past lighting schedules.

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.

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.

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

See previous website archived August 2022.