Banners

A banner permit grants permission to temporarily occupy any City-owned utility poles (primarily poles with streetlights but no utility wires) for the purpose of providing notice to residents and visitors of San Francisco about City-sponsored, City-funded, City-wide special events and locations of the City's diverse neighborhoods. Article 5.7 Section 184.78 (PWC) 

New Banner Bracket Requirements (see Letter)
 

APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS

1.  Requests to install vertical banners on City-owned utility poles shall include the following:
   • A Banner Permit Application stating the name of the applicant, the name and address of the organization requesting the permit, streets and number of poles to be used, the name and date(s) of the event, date(s) of banner installation and removal, size, design (or logo) and description of hardware and material of banner, and method of attachment to the pole(s). See Public Works Order 175,208.
   • A fully dimensioned plan indicating street name(s), location of poles, size, detail and design/logo of banner, and method of attachment to the pole(s).
   • A Certificate of Insurance naming the City and County of San Francisco as additional insured, with general liability coverage of not less than $2 million.
   • A processing fee, payable to San Francisco Public Works. Fee Schedule
2. If the application meets all design guidelines, we will issue a permit.
3. If the application does not meet guidelines.
   • Applicant may revise application and plan in order to meet guidelines.
   • Applicant may request an exception to said guidelines:

     • An additional processing fee shall be submitted

     • Application will require further review by Public Works, Bureau of Light, Heat & Power (BLHP) and/or MUNI

     • Requests for exception to guidelines must be submitted at least six (6) weeks from intended date of installation.

If Public Works, BLHP and/or MUNI approve exception, refer to Paragraph "B" above. If exception to guidelines is not granted, application will be denied.

GUIDELINES FOR APPROVAL

1. Any non-profit, cultural, promotional or civic organization located in San Francisco may submit a request to install vertical banners.    

2. Request for banners may be made either for all poles within a specific district or for selected poles within a district. The applicant shall be responsible for determining whether a pole is under the jurisdiction of Bureau of Light, Heat and Power, MUNI and/or PG&E.    

3. Banners may advertise an event, and shall not advertise any business or product.    

4. Standard banner dimensions shall not exceed 36 inches in width by 72 inches in length. See Figure One below.

5. Effective Monday, January 25, 2016, banners exceeding 18 inches in width and 36 inch in height or the cumulative surface area of all signs and banners on a pole exceed 15 square feet shall utilize appropriate collapsible and flexible brackets in order to be collapsible and flexible. 

6. The top bracket of the banner shall be a minimum of 2 feet below a riser or guy wire; such as, on MUNI poles. See Figure Two below.

7. The bottom bracket of the banner shall be at a minimum height of 14 feet from the street level and 12 feet from the sidewalk level. See Figure Three below.

8. Should an organization identify sponsor(s) on the banners, all logos should be no more than 15 percent of the overall size of the banner. Sponsors will be restricted to their logo or company name only in the bottom 15 percent of the banner and shall not include any advertisement or slogan. See Figure One below.

9. Only stainless steel bands shall be placed with protective material (neoprene) to protect the surfaces of the poles. 

10. The banner shall not obstruct in any way the public's view of traffic signals, street signs or any other City approved sign.

11. The banner shall not be hung in any manner from the arm of the pole.    

12. Banners shall not be installed on lamp posts on Market Street's "Path of Gold" located at 1 thru 2470 Market Street; Market Street between Steuart and Castro Streets. Article 5.7, Section 184.78(f) PWC.

13. Upon conclusion of the event or promotion, the banner(s) and all attachments must be removed within five (5) business days.

BANNER MANUFACTURER COMPANIES

This list is provided for the convenience of the recipient only; no recommendation is inferred or implied. The following is a sample listing of a few manufacturers that have compliant collapsible banner brackets. Referral to this list does not constitute an endorsement by the City or its personnel, and the user is encouraged to find other vendors, whether listed here or elsewhere, that meet City standards.

• Ameron
• Banner Flex Hardware
• Valmont - Model A, Model B

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information or clarification on any of the permit requirements, please contact us at:
San Francisco Public Works • Bureau of Street-Use & Mapping 
49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 300 • San Francisco, CA 94103 
Phone : (628) 271-2000

San Francisco Public Works • Permit Center 
49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 200 • San Francisco, CA 94103 • Map

Processing Hours:
• Please visit https://sf.gov/location/permit-center for operating hours of the Permit Center. 
• Closed on official holidays