San Francisco attracts thousands of sightseeing buses each year. Whether your bus is based in the Bay Area, elsewhere in California, outside the state, or even internationally, it is important to be aware of and in compliance with all local regulations. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has a strong commitment to Vision Zero, pledging to end traffic deaths by 2024, and tour bus operators play an important role in helping us achieve that goal.
Parking and Loading
Tour buses may load and park in the following locations, subject to any posted regulations:
- Tour bus-only loading zones (see below)
- Regular white passenger loading zones and yellow commercial loading zones
- Metered parking spots, provided they pay at the meter for each space they are occupying
- Any other available curb space
Tour buses are never allowed to double-park, idle for more than five minutes, stop in red zones, including Muni bus stops, or stop in commuter shuttle-only white zones during their posted hours. Tour bus operators are strongly discouraged from travelling, loading, or parking on residential, non-arterial streets.
San Francisco has a network of tour bus-only loading and parking zones near major tourist attractions, which you can find on the citywide tour bus loading and parking map. For detailed information on tour bus loading and parking around Fisherman's Wharf, visit the Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District website.
The City does not provide overnight tour bus parking. The Mission Rock parking lot near AT&T Park often has dedicated tour bus parking spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tour buses are also permitted to park overnight in non-residential areas of the city as long as there aren't signs posted there specifically prohibiting large vehicle parking.
Restricted Streets
San Francisco has three types of street restrictions:
- Vehicles with capacity for 8 or more passengers
- Gross vehicle weight of over 3 tons
- Gross vehicle weight of over 9 tons (rare)
Please see the map of restricted streets. Tour bus operators are encouraged to plan their routes in advance to ensure they avoid restricted streets, as buses operating on restricted streets are subject to citation.
Safety
Driving a tour bus in a dense urban environment with high numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists like San Francisco requires a different skillset than driving in more suburban or rural locations outside the city. The SFMTA's Large Vehicle Urban Driving Safety Program has created a training video for drivers.
The SFMTA strongly encourages all tour bus operators to show this video to their drivers before operating in San Francisco. Tour bus and other large vehicle operators can help show their support for the SFMTA's Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths in San Francisco by 2024 by filling out the Large Vehicle Driver Training Program Pledge and sending it to tourbus@sfmta.com.
The California Highway Patrol's Commercial Vehicle Section includes a Commercial Industry Education Program that offers free educational safety seminars for commercial vehicle drivers.
Regulations
A number of different regulations apply to tour bus operators in San Francisco. Tour bus operators may also need a variety of different permits depending on where and how they operate.
- California Public Utilties Commission (CPUC): Passenger Carriers in California that operate in more than one city are regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). To determine what type of permits and regulations apply to your company, read the CPUC's Basic Information for Passenger Carriers and Applicants document or visit the CPUC Transportation Licensing website.
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The California Highway Patrol (CHP) conducts inspections of CPUC-licensed Passenger Carriers at least once every 13 months and, together with the CPUC, enforces all relevant maintenance and operations regulations. More information is available at the CHP Commercial Vehicle Section website.
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Department of Public Health (DPH): San Francisco law requires that amplified sound systems on unenclosed ("open-top") tour buses must not be audible from more than 50 feet away from the vehicle. Any carrier operating an unenclosed tour bus in San Francisco with an amplified sound system must coordinate with DPH to obtain an annual registration sticker that must displayed on each vehicle. Registration stickers can only be issued to operators for buses that pass an annual sound test and after receiving the annual registration fee for each bus. For more information, see DPH's Guidance for Noise Management and Enforcement. To schedule appointments for tour bus registration and sound tests, contact the DPH Noise Program at (415) 252-3800.
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Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Commercial carriers, including tour buses, are required to obtain a Commercial Use Authorization if they operate within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) more than one time per month. The GGNRA includes the Presidio, Fort Mason, and Lands End among other locations in San Francisco, along with several other sites across the Bay Area. For more information and to acquire a Commercial Use Authorization, please visit the GGNRA Commercial Use Authorization website.
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San Francisco Business License: Tour bus companies operating in San Francisco for at least seven days per year must hold a San Francisco Business License. More information is available on the Treasurer and Tax Collector's website.
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The San Francisco Transportation Code prohibits tour bus drivers from providing narration while the tour bus is in motion. In order to provide narration during a tour, tour bus operators must hire a separate, non-driving tour guide.
Questions?
Please contact the SFMTA tour bus team at tourbus@sfmta.com with any questions. You can also file any complaints regarding tour buses through SF 311's website or by dialing 311 from anywhere within the City of San Francisco.