Certification
After successful application and screening, artists receive certificates licensing them to sell their work in the spaces designated by the Board of Supervisors.
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Image of Street Artist Certificate
“The bearer of this Certificate is in a binding agreement with the San Francisco Arts Commission and this Certificate is issued subject to the following conditions:
- All work presented for sale is a handmade craft product of the vendor or his “Family Unit.”
- The Certificate is subject to revocation at any time for violation of any Street Artist regulation.
- The issuance of this Certificate does not constitute an endorsement by the City and County of San Francisco of the article sold pursuant to the terms of this Certificate.
- This Certificate is not transferable.
- This Certificate shall be prominently displayed.
- The Arts Commission reserves the right to establish such conditions as to further the interest of the artists and community. Its decision shall be final.
- This Certificate must be renewed within ten (10) office work days prior to or after its date of expiration. Failure to renew shall result in forfeiture of this Certificate.
- A Street Artist who has forfeited a Certificate in the manner described above, and who wishes to obtain a new Certificate, must re-apply by submitting a new application along with a $20 application fee.
“Your signature on the front of the Certificate indicates that you have read the above conditions and you have agreed to these conditions.”
Renewals
A Certificate should be renewed prior to its expiration date, but there is a ten (10) day grace period (not counting weekends or holidays) in which to renew the Certificate without reapplying. During this 10-day grace period, you may not sell any items. If you sell any items after the expiration date of your Certificate, the Arts Commission may deny renewal of your Certificate, suspend it for a period of its validity once you do renew it or revoke the certificate. Expired certificates will not be accepted at the lottery for street artist spaces.
Renewal Payments by Mail and In Person
You may renew your certificate by mailing the appropriate certificate fee amount ($166.02 for a three-month renewal or $664.08 for one year. You may also renew your certificate in person at the Street Artists Program office during regular business hours. Payment must be made by check or money order and paid to the order of the "S.F. Arts Commission".
Failure to renew your certificate within ten business days of its expiration will automatically eliminate you from the program. You must then reapply, and pay a new application fee, in order to re-enter the program.
Some 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. You may want to contact the Police Department at the Hall of Justice,(415) 553-1115, to inquire about a “Peddler’s Permit” for these items.
Street Performers
The Street Artists Program does not issue a certificate for the activity of street music or performing, as there is no provision in the Street Artist Ordinance for the certification of such activities. You may want to contact the Entertainment Commission for further information in this category at (415) 554-7793.
Warning against use of deception in obtaining a certificate
San Francisco Administrative Code, Appendix 5, Section 5, lists “deception resorted to in obtaining the certificate” as a ground for denying issuance of a Street Artist Certificate. This is also grounds for denying renewal of a certificate.
In 1996, the Arts Commission adopted procedures to be used by the Program Director and the Arts Commission in acting on charges of deception resorted to in obtaining the certificate, as well as on charges of other violations. These procedures may be used to address violations in addition to, and may be taken with, the existing suspension/revocation procedures.