Steps to Obtain Art Vendor License
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What You Need to Know:
- You MUST make your artwork yourself. If you outsource the design or have an employee who assembles your craft, you are ineligible for the art vendor program. All artists' work must be verified by the Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners.
The application form requires additional attachments including receipts for your materials, images of your craft (in-progress and completed) and an image of your work-space.The total size of your uploaded files must not be larger than 35 MB. This includes your work samples, video attachments and any documents you upload into the application. Feel free to email these additional attachments to art-vendors@sfgov.org
- Once you submit an application, your application will be reviewed. Once your application has been screened for eligibility it will be reviewed by the Advisory Committee at a public meeting. Artists will receive notice of their appointment date and time in advance.
- After you have attended the screening and been approved by the Advisory Committee, you will need to take the additional steps below.
- Register your business with the City
Obtain a Business Tax Registration Certificate either online or in person at the Tax Collector’s office, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 140 (first floor), San Francisco. Phone (415) 554-4400. The fee is $91 per fiscal year (July 1-June 30). - You'll also need a Seller's Permit
This may be obtained from the State Board of Equalization. There is no fee for this permit and you can obtain one through a local office, SF Branch (415) 356-6600 or online. - And finally, obtain your license (also called a permit)
This is the last step! Contact art-vendors@sfgov.org for assistance. https://www.sfartscommission.org/find-opportunities/art-vendor/renew
Click here for the art vendor application: Art Vendor Online Application
Please email art-vendors@sfgov.org with questions or concerns about the online application.
Items for which certificates are not issued
- Food items, incense, perfumes, body oils, soaps, or other cosmetic products which come in contact with the human body or skin.
- Busking, theater or musical performance.
- Murals or other painting of buildings or street furniture of any kind.
OTHER PERMIT OPTIONS
If you already have a California Seller’s Permit from the State Board of Equalization and/or a Business Account Number from the SF Treasurer and Tax Collector, you may already be eligible to sell. The following links provide information for you to determine which permit is right for your business needs.
- California State Board of Equalization Seller’s Permit
- SF Treasurer and Tax Collector
- Safe Sidewalk Vending Act
- Street Vending: Department of Public Works
- Market Street Arts Busk It! | San Francisco (sf.gov)
PERFORMING
For Artists FAQs
The Art Vendor License is now free Renewals are now conducted via email.
To renew your license or gain access to the lottery, please email art-vendors@sfgov.org.
To view our currently active art vendors, please click the link below.
ACTIVE ART VENDORS
This list is updated once a week.
Lotteries are held Friday, Saturday and Sunday in some locations. Lotteries are used to assign selling spaces to participating artists.
Each designated area has a slightly different lottery process. Downtown, Fisherman’s Wharf and Embarcadero are conducted electronically using the online lottery system.
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MON |
TUES |
WED |
TH |
FRI |
SAT |
SUN |
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Fisherman's Wharf |
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9:00 AM |
9:00 AM |
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Embarcadero Plaza |
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7:00 AM |
7:00 AM |
7:00 AM |
*Mon-Thu at Embarcadero Plaza and Fisherman’s Wharf there is no official lottery. It is first come first served. Artists claim their space by setting up in their chosen space.
The lottery location for Fisherman's Wharf spaces is at Fisherman’s Wharf, Beach Street (between Larkin and Hyde), Bleacher steps of Aquatic Park. The lottery location for Embarcadero Plaza is in the plaza.
For more detailed information about how the lottery works, see the Blue Book or Program Resource Guide (under the Art Vendor Resources) or email art-vendors@sfgov.org.
Street maps showing locations of designated artists' spaces. Booth areas indicated in blue. Booth numbers correspond to those painted on the sidewalk.
GOOGLE MAP OF ALL STREET ARTISTS SPACES
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Map Name |
PDF | Image |
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0. Street artists’ display booth regulations |
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1. Beach between Polk and Larkin |
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2. Beach between Larkin and Hyde |
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3. Beach and Columbus |
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4. Hyde between Jefferson and Beach |
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5. Leavenworth between Jefferson and Beach |
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6. Jefferson between Hyde and Leavenworth |
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7. Jefferson and Leavenworth |
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8. Taylor between Northpoint and Bay |
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9. Taylor between Beach and Northpoint |
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10. Point Lobos |
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11. Market and 5th |
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12. Hallidie Plaza |
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13. Market and 4th |
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14. Market and O'Farrell |
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15. Market and Kearny |
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16. Market between Geary and Montgomery |
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17. Market and Montgomery |
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18. Sutter and Sansome |
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19. Market and Sutter |
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20. Market at Drumm |
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21. Stockton between Sutter and Post (S7-8 not available) |
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22. Stockton and O'Farrell (Not available) |
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23. O'Farrell between Powell and Stockton |
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24. O'Farrell between Stockton and Grant |
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25. Geary between Stockton and Grant |
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26. Grant between Bush and Sutter |
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27. Grant between Sutter and Post |
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28. Grant between Post and Geary |
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29. Grant between Geary and O'Farrell |
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30. Embarcadero Plaza by the Ferry Building |
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31. Market St. (Lottery version) |
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31. Market, Drumm to Steuart |
Learn about the Arts Commission's current and past neighborhood market partnerships. Discover where you can sell in San Francisco with an Art Vendor license.
Market Partnerships
The Arts Commission partners with other city agencies, neighborhood groups, Community Business Districts, Community Benefit Districts, Cultural Districts and other efforts for ongoing markets and onetime event partnerships. If you are looking for artists to activate your space or add to an event, please contact art vendor staff at art-vendors@sfgov.org or 415-252-2255.
CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS
City Hall Popup with the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development
December and May.
Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association Art Walks
Monthly on Saturdays.
PAST PARTNERSHIPS
Second Friday Arts Market at the War Memorial Veterans Building
March through July 2020, artists are activating the War Memorial Veterans Building Lobby every second Friday of the month. Artists licensed in the program can sign up for the monthly lotteries to get a space. For more information, please contact art vendor staff at art-vendors@sfgov.org or 415-252-2255.
Ocean Avenue Arts Bazaar at Unity Plaza
The Arts Commission in partnership with the Ocean Avenue Association are activating Unity Plaza Thursday afternoons and some Saturdays through 2020. The Ocean Avenue Association's (OAA) mission is to promote our local businesses & ensure the district's welfare through safe & clean programming. For more information, please contact art vendor staff at art-vendors@sfgov.org or 415-252-2255.