Port Street Vendor Permit

Please click here for the Port's Lottery Results for January 2025.

The next lottery will be on Monday, January 27th, 2025. The results will be sent to all participating vendors and posted on this webpage on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025.

Application – To apply for a street vendor permit in the Port’s jurisdiction, email to Public Works via StreetVendorPermit@sfdpw.org the following documents:

• Port Street Vendor Permit application
• San Francisco Business Registration
• California Seller’s Permit
• Photo of yourself
• Department of Public Health (DPH) Certificate of Sanitation and Decal (for food vending)
• San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) Inspection Report and Decal (for food vending)
• Certificate of Insurance (COI) – Each Vendor using any power source (including but not limited to a battery, generator, or other instrument for ignition or combustion to produce heat or light) at its sole cost and expense shall submit a COI as evidence of general commercial liability coverage and language that complies with Public Works-BSM’s requirements as identified in the Sample COI.

Payment of Fees – The fee for the Port Vending permit is $100 with a non-refundable $11 Board of Appeals fee. There is no fee waiver for this permit.

The permit will not be approved until all fees have been paid. See the San Francisco Public Works Fee Schedule.

Location - Please see this detailed map of all locations.

Please keep in mind that all vending locations at the Port are available on a first come, first served basis Monday – Thursday. 

The following locations will be subject to a lottery that will occur monthly to vend Friday – Sunday: 

• Pier 45 (A-1, A-2)
• Pier 43 (B-1, B-2, B-3)
• Powell & The Embarcadero (C-1, C-2)
• Pier .5 (G-1, G-2)

The locations below are subject to a lottery according to the Giants Home Game schedule: 

• Pier 30 (I-1, I-2)
• Brannan St Wharf (J-1, J-2)
• Pier 48.5 (K-1, K-2)

Vendors that have submitted all documents required for Port vending will receive a link to participate in the lottery each month. Public Works staff will perform the lottery drawings for each location in the following order: first for the location with the greatest number of vendors entered for the lottery; second for the location with the second greatest number of vendors; etc., until the lottery is completed for the location with least number of interested vendors.

All Port permittees shall comply with all regulations set forth by the Port of San Francisco.

Street Vendor permittees in the Port’s jurisdiction must maintain the following clearances:

• Vending is restricted to non-motorized conveyances, stands, or pushcarts.
• Vending equipment must be no more than 10 feet in length, depth, and height, including wheels, axles, umbrellas, tents, or canopies.
• Umbrellas, tents, or canopies must be made of a sturdy and safe material and must be attached and anchored to the vending equipment in such a way that sudden bursts of wind will not dislodge them.
• Vending equipment must not lean against or attach to a permanent building or structure.
• Vending equipment must be self-contained and have no connection to external power, piping, or plumbing.
• Food and merchandise must be securely fastened to or secured within the vending equipment.
• Food or merchandise must not be displayed directly on streets, sidewalks, pathways, piers, wharfs, grass, landscaping, or other structures.
• Vendors are prohibited from vending any counterfeit, stolen, harmful, or dangerous items, noise-making devices, or items that are prohibited by law, such as alcohol, cannabis, and firearms.

Sidewalk Clearances

• Minimum clearance is 16 feet on the Embarcadero Promenade or 6 feet elsewhere on the Port property.
• No Street Vending near Oracle Park Special Event Area defined by SFMTA two hours before and after the event unless vendor has written consent from SFMTA.
• Stationary Vending equipment needs to be parallel to the curb, with the longest side of the vending equipment parallel to the curb.
• Vendors should not make excessive noise and cannot use speakers, amplifiers, musical instruments, or other noise-making devices.
• Equipment cannot be chained or fastened to the sidewalk, street furniture, fence, rail, bench, bike rack, tree, pole, sign, or other publicly owned objects.

Resources for Street Vendors: 

• Vendor Space Guide