Fee Waiver Program

Introduction

In late Spring, Mayor London Breed called for waiving city fees for a variety of special events. These include night markets, block parties, farmers markets and other outdoor community events. The Board of Supervisors subsequently passed legislation to enact this policy by establishing a program to approve waivers of various city fees and costs for outdoor special events held on city streets. In August, the SFMTA Board of Directors, which has jurisdiction over SFMTA fees, voted to waive those as well. The purpose of the fee waivers is to encourage events that revitalize San Francisco neighborhoods and support the city’s economic recovery.

The legislation designates the SFMTA as the agency responsible for administering this program as we also administer the special event street closure program that approves the events to which the fee waiver will apply.

Applying

If you wish to apply for consideration for a fee waiver for a proposed event, please review the information on this page and then submit a request using the link at the bottom of this page.

• Informal requests will not be considered.
• Applications for special event street closures previously submitted or approved are not eligible for consideration.
• Fee waiver applications will be accepted for proposed events to be held on San Francisco public streets with closures approved by the Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation (ISCOTT).
• Events in the city’s parks or elsewhere are not eligible for consideration.
• The proposed event must be scheduled for at least 90 days from the date of application.

SFMTA staff will review applications and decide on eligibility within one week, except for events that impact Muni service, which may take longer.

Applicants will then have one week to submit a complete application to ISCOTT for a special event street closure.

Applicant Eligibility

To be eligible for a fee waiver, the person or group applying must be one of the following:

• Nonprofit arts and culture organization that provides programming in San Francisco; or
• Small business with less than $5 million in annual gross revenue that has a physical place of business within or immediately adjacent to the area in which the proposed event would take place; or
• An established merchant or resident association that represents the area in which the proposed event would take place (Home Owners Associations are not considered resident associations); or
• An official Community Benefit District (CBD), also known as Business Improvement District (BID).

You will be asked to provide information to verify your eligibility. 

Event Eligibility

To be eligible for a fee waiver, a proposed event must meet certain criteria:

• The event is primarily intended to attract residents and workers from neighboring areas.
• The event is free and open to the public.
• If incorporating amplified sound, the event does so for a maximum of six hours.
• The event occupies a maximum of three continuous blocks or occupies streets in a hub-and-spoke pattern within a one block radius from a central intersection.
• The event is a single-day event that involves a street closure for no longer than 24 hours for all event activities, with public programming taking place outdoors within the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• As determined by the SFMTA, the event does not:
  • impact Muni Metro, streetcar or cable car operations;
  • require the rerouting of an SFMTA Rapid Line;
  • require substituting with regular buses for trolley buses;
  • restrict direct access by SFMTA vehicles to rail stations;
  • require the SFMTA to shut down electrification of overhead Muni wires;
  • impact major streets; or
  • unduly disrupt vehicle or pedestrian traffic.

Additional Information

• Events planned for blocks under Muni overhead wires will be required to supply a detailed site plan, accurate and to scale, showing locations and dimensions (including height) for all elements to be placed on the street.
• Larger events may not be split over multiple applications.
• Each applicant is eligible for fee waivers for up to 12 events over the course of the fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).
• Applications for fee waivers must be submitted by the person or group that will apply for and be the primary beneficiary of the special event for which the fee waiver is granted.
• Only three fee waivers per fiscal year will be approved for closures of blocks that require the rerouting of any SFMTA transit service, regardless of the applicant.
• Fees subject to waiver include application, permit, staffing and inspection fees assessed by specific city departments/agencies:
  • ISCOTT application fees;
  • SFMTA fees and costs associated with the special event, including but not limited to temporary "no parking" signage;
  • Fire Department fees;
  • Police Department fees;
  • Department of Public Health fees, including but not limited to fees for Temporary Food Facility permits; and
  • Entertainment Commission fees.

Once you have read all the above information and any referenced additional material:

Apply Online