Getting here
The nearest MUNI and BART station is the Civic Center station. Get help planning your trip by public transportation with the 511 trip planner. 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
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
Accessibility
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.
Bringing a bag into City Hall
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
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
Lighting schedule
Lighting schedule
March 2024 scheduled lighting events (subject to change)
Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3, 2024 – red/white/blue – in recognition of early voting at City Hall for the March 5, 2024 Consolidated Presidential Primary Election
Monday, March 4, 2024 – purple – in recognition of Women’s History Month
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 – red/white/blue – in recognition of Election Day
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 – green – in recognition of the Mayor’s Office Flag Raising Ceremony for the National Day of Ireland and the 40th Anniversary of the San Francisco-Cork Sister City relationship
Thursday, March 7, 2024 – blue/green/red – in recognition of Festival of Napa Valley’s awarding of their “Angel of the Arts” award to Gordon Getty
Friday, March 8, 2024 – purple/green/white – in recognition of International Women’s Day
Saturday, March 9, 2024 – green/yellow/pink – in recognition of “Tulip Day” in Union Square; an activity that is part of the “Union Square in Bloom” Campaign
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 – orange – in recognition of World Kidney Day
Thursday, March 14, 2024 – blue – in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Saturday, March 16, 2024 – green – in recognition of San Francisco’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Sunday, March 17, 2024 – green - in recognition of St. Patrick’s Day
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 – red/white/green - in recognition of Nowruz
Thursday, March 21, 2024 – blue – in remembrance of those lost to COVID-19
Friday, March 22, 2024 – red/white/green – in recognition of the Nowruz Gala at City Hall
Sunday, March 24, 2024 – red – in recognition of World TB Day
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 – blue/white – in recognition of the National Day of Greece
Friday, March 29, 2024 – green – in recognition of the Ramadan Iftar Dinner at City Hall
Saturday March 30, 2024 - blue - in recognition of the inaugural game of the Bay FC Women's Soccer League at PayPal Park in San Jose
Sunday, March 31, 2024 – blue/pink/white/pink/blue – in recognition of Transgender Day of Visibility
City Hall will be lit in special lighting on the following days in April 2024:
Monday, April 1, 2024 – blue – in recognition of Child Abuse Awareness Month
Thursday, April 4, 2024 – green/blue – in recognition of International OCNDS Awareness Day
Friday, April 5, 2024 – orange – in recognition of the SF Giants 142nd Opening Day
Saturday, April 6, 2024 – green – in recognition of the annual “Heart Your Parks” Campaign
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 – green – in recognition of National Arab Heritage Month and the conclusion of Ramadan
Friday, April 12, 2024 – blue/green – in recognition of National Donate Life Month
Saturday, April 13, 2024 – blue – in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the International Ocean Film Festival (April 12-14, 2024)
Friday, April 19, 2024 – pink/blue – in recognition of Global Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day
Sunday, April 21, 2024 – red/pink – in recognition of the SF Cherry Blossom Festival and Parade
Monday, April 22, 2024 – green – in recognition of Earth Day 2024
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 – orange – in recognition of National Infertility Awareness Week
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 – red/blue/orange – in recognition of Armenian Genocide Awareness Day
Friday, April 26, 2024 – red/orange/white/pink – in recognition of Lesbian Visibility Week
Saturday, April 27, 2024 – orange – in recognition of “King’s Day”: the National Day of the Netherlands
Monday, April 29, 2024 – green – in recognition of the 35th Anniversary of the Goldman Environmental Prize
Learn more about City Hall's exterior lighting and see past lighting schedules.
Rent space at City Hall
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
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
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
Archived website
See previous website archived August 2022.
San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett PlaceSan Francisco, CA 94102
Mon to Fri,
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
At San Francisco City Hall
Controller's Office
Controller's Office
City Hall1 Dr Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 316
San Francisco, CA 94102
San Francisco City Hall Events Office
San Francisco City Hall Events Office
City Hall1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 495
San Francisco, CA 94102
Department of Elections
Department of Elections
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett PlaceCity Hall, Room 48
San Francisco, CA 94102
Film SF
Film Commission
City Hall1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl
Room 473
San Francisco, CA 94102
Office of Contract Administration
Office of Contract Administration
City Hall1 Dr Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 430
San Francisco, CA 94102
City Administrator
City Administrator
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett PlaceCity Hall Room 362
San Francisco, CA 94102
Office of Labor Standards Enforcement
Office of Labor Standards Enforcement
City Hall1 Dr Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 430
San Francisco, CA 94102
Contact us
Office of the Mayor
Office of the Mayor
City Hall1 Dr Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 200
San Francisco, CA 94102
Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's Office
City Hall1 Dr Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Room 456
San Francisco, CA 94102
Treasurer & Tax Collector
Treasury and Tax Collector Office
Treasurer and Tax Collector OfficeCity Hall, Room 140
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Mon to Fri,
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Processing: Mon to Fri, 8am to 4pm
Information only: Mon to Fri, 4 to 5pm
Closed on public holidays
About
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.