Street Space

A street space permit grants permission to temporarily occupy a portion of a public roadway or sidewalk for building construction and other construction related work. Material and equipment may not occupy more than 1/3 of the roadway width and not more than 1/2 of the sidewalk width unless an additional street space permit is granted per Article 15, Section 724 Public Works Code. The street space permit fee calculator may be used to estimate the permit fee for your project.
 

WHEN A STREET SPACE PERMIT IS NEEDED

A street space permit is required for any occupancy within the public right of way for construction and other purposes. Examples include:

1. New construction 

2. Major renovation of existing structures 

3. Minor building repair including roofing, scaffolding, landscaping, etc. where the public street or sidewalk is occupied 

4. Reserving parking in the street for use related improvements to the fronting private property 

5. Placement of contractor offices, portable toilets, and/or equipment, debris boxes in the public right of way 

Once you have received an approved street space permit, you be allowed to place construction material and equipment ONLY along the boundaries in front of the property. You are not allowed to use the sidewalk or roadway in front of any other property. In addition, you can only utilize 1/2 or less the width of the sidewalk as well as only the designated parking lane. If there is no designated parking lane, you are allowed to use only 1/3 of the width of the sidewalk. 

IMPORTANT: You cannot occupy any area outside of the designated street space permit limits unless you are granted an additional street space permit: Article 15, Section 724.7 Public Works Code. If you cannot meet the restrictions stated above, e.g., you do not have any parking available in front of the property, or, if the sidewalk is too narrow to allow for both construction materials and pedestrian accessible access, you will be required to obtain an additional street space permit. EXCEPTION: When you have obtained a Mobile Storage Container permit.
 

WHERE TO GET A STREET SPACE PERMIT

Applications for both new and renewal Street Space permits are accepted at our office at 49 South Van Ness Avenue. For additional information about our current in-person services, please visit here.

Alternatively, you may apply for both new or renewal Street Space requests online. You may apply online here. Following submission of your request, you will be sent an invoice via email with payment instructions. Tow away signs and placards will be sent by email after payment is received. There is no need to visit our offices at 49 South Van Ness Avenue when applying online

A fee is applicable - see fee schedule. Street space is charged at twenty-foot intervals. Additional fees and administrative action may be required if more space than the maximum allowed by the Public Works Code is requested. See our street space permit fee calculator to estimate the permit fee for your project.
If you have any questions related to Street Space permits, please reach out to our Street Space Division at streetspace@sfdpw.org
 

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NEXT

You may not legally occupy the space under the permit until a street occupancy meeting has been conducted and the agreement signed by the applicant.

1. Request a Site Meeting Online and if applicable, complete the Contractor Parking Plan. You will receive an approval email once your Parking Plan has been accepted. 

2. If a site meeting is deemed necessary, an inspector will contact you within five business days to schedule a site visit. 

3. Once you receive your no-parking signs via email from your plan checker or your inspector, you will need to print the no parking tow-away signs pursuant to DPW Order 183160.  

4. In order to receive tow rights at your construction site, follow the instructions outlined in the Tow Away Activation and Photo Upload Process. A member of our administrative staff will verify the photos of the No Parking signs and placard to ensure they are properly posted. After you receive your approval email from Public Works, you may contact the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) at 415-553-1200 to tow any vehicles in your permitted zone. 

NOTE: Until the No Parking signs are verified in the Public Works database, SFMTA will not provide enforcement or Tow-Aways at the construction site. 

You may check your permit status and fill out the necessary information outlined above on our website.
 

GENERAL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Public Works will provide a copy of a fact sheet summarizing many of the common concerns and regulations for the worksite. Call 628-271-2000 to request a copy of the regulations which include:

1. A four-foot minimum clear width for pedestrian path of travel is maintained at all times. 

2. The public right of way is maintained clean and free of sand, dirt, litter, graffiti, and equipment. 

3. Clear access for Police and Fire Department equipment including call boxes, fire alarms, hydrants, mains, and valve covers is maintained. 

4. Parking and traffic signs and signals, signal control and pull boxes may not be included within in the affected right of way. Allow space for SFMTA access.  

5. Unobstructed, clear visibility to any traffic signals and signs is maintained 

6. MUNI Bus zones, and Department of Parking and Traffic “No Parking” limitations remain in effect and must be observed. 

7. A 4’ 6” minimum clearance is required from the outer rail of railroad tracks. 

8. Place Public Works Placards in a conspicuous location and post construction “No Parking signs” along the ends of the occupied streets/sidewalk. 

   DPW Order 183160	Tow-Away User Guide
   Tow-Away FAQ	Tow-Away Sign Template

9. Violations of Public Works Code may result in the imposition of a financial penalty. Nonconformance to any related City regulation may result in the revocation of the Occupancy permit.
    

ESTABLISHING CONSTRUCTION ZONES

In order to utilize the parking lane for construction related purposes a street space permit must first be obtained. The permittee may then obtain permission to restrict parking using the following rules for posting temporary "Tow-Away, No Parking" signs upon verification at the job site. The City provides the notice placard only. The notice placard is to be mounted on private property in such a manner so as to be visible from the street frontage. The Inspector verifies the information and posting.  

1. Tow-Away Signs are installed by the permittee:
   • Place signs in such a manner that the maximum spacing between signs is no more than 20 feet.  
   • Signs may be attached to parking meter posts or
   • Place signs flat on wood or aluminum or other approved material, and attach them directly on solid barrier       fences and/or
   • Mount the signs securely to existing poles, posts, type II barricades as per Cal Trans specifications, or on           construction fences. 

2. Signs must be in place in accordance with DWG. A-32400. (Revision 3) of the standard plans, with the following information shown on each sign in clear and legible condition: Street space permit number, effective times, effective dates, name of contractor, limits of zone (i.e. directional arrows on end signs) and San Francisco Public Works Hotline number 628-271-2000. 

3. Signs must be place at least 72 hours in advance of the date and time of occupancy. Obtain Bureau of Street-Use & Mapping verification at least 72 hours in advance of any tow-away requests to SFMTA. Please call 628-271-2000 to request sign verification without BSM sign verification, SFMTA will not tow-away.   

4. If additional time is needed to complete construction, an extension of time must be obtained from Bureau of Street-Use & Mapping within 15 days of the permit’s expiration. 

5. The contractor shall maintain the signs on a continual basis and shall replace damaged or missing signs daily or as needed. 

6. "No Parking" signs cannot be modified or altered. 

7. Any infractions or deviations from the above may be grounds to revoke the construction zones and the occupancy of the ROW. 

8. Remove all signs and mounting materials immediately following completion of construction/activities.  

9. Parking of private vehicles is not permitted in the construction zone during the effective  hours of the zone. The purpose of construction zones is for construction activities only, such as loading and unloading of materials, special equipment occupancy, storage of materials, etc. Worker’s parking is not allowed within the reserved street frontages.
    

VIOLATIONS

Violations of Public Works code may result in the imposition of a financial penalty. Nonconformance to any related City regulation may result in the revocation of the occupancy permit. Violations of these requirements may be subject to financial penalties of up to $1,000 per day.
 

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