Introduction
The SFMTA's street closure process for trick-or-treating helps community groups and residents close streets so children can safely go door-to-door without many vehicles in the way during Halloween, especially where large groups of children are anticipated.
To do this, you need to tell us which streets and times you want to close the street and pay a fee between $56 and $320 based on how many blocks and how early you apply. You also need to talk to the people on those blocks, provide and set up barricades at each end of the blocked street, and have at least one adult at each barricade for safety and access. We will give you tips on talking to neighbors and where to rent barricades.
Details
Activities
These “trick-or-treat” street closures through this program are intended for very simple events. They only involve closing the street to thru-traffic and deliveries.
If you want to have activities like bouncy castles or booths on the street, you need to apply for a special event in the usual way. For this program, nothing else is allowed on the street except barricades. You also cannot post signs on the street as “Tow Away – No Parking”
Activities like barbecuing, booths, apple bobbing, or movie screenings on private property along the street are okay. Small tables on the sidewalk might be allowed in some spots, but there must be a clear, straight, unobstructed path of at least 4 feet for people to walk.
Vehicles and Parking
Cars that are already parked on the street or in garages when the road closes should be helped to leave safely. The adults in charge of the closure at each barrier are required to move the barricades to let them out and then put the barricades back in place.
After the closure starts, only residents going to their garages, emergency vehicles, or official paratransit vehicles should be allowed in. The adults helping with the closure must assist these vehicles to get safely to their garages. Other cars, like those looking for parking, Uber or Lyft rides, or delivery trucks, should not be allowed in because the street is closed.
Outreach
Since people living on the streets that will be closed won't be able to get to their homes easily, and deliveries can't happen, it's important for everyone to know what will happen. If you've done the "trick or treat" road closure before, a simple notice will be enough. But if this is your first year, you should do a bit more to make sure it goes well for you and your neighbors.
Talk to your neighbors ahead of time. You can go door to door or hand out flyers explaining your plans. This is also a great chance to encourage them to decorate and have plenty of treats for kids in costumes. Make sure to include your contact info, maybe using a special email for the event, so people can reach out if they have questions.
You should also share our contact info so your neighbors can ask us any questions. Plus, you’ll need to put up public notices on each block about the public hearing where your request will be discussed.
These hearings take place at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. They are held online, so people can join by computer or phone. If your event is new, you'll need to attend to answer any questions from the review committee, but they usually don't ask many. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly since you would have already talked to your neighbors about it.
Barricades and Staffing
You are required to put up special barricades when closing streets. Regulation barricades are required, and their high visibility treatment and other features are useful safety enhancements. You can rent barricades from the City’s Public Works or from private companies.
(If you plan to close the street often, like for block parties or Halloween events, and have enough space to store them, it might be cheaper to buy barricades instead of renting each time.)
An adult must watch over the barricades at all times to make sure they stay in place and that cars and people move safely. Without someone watching, drivers or delivery people might move the barricades, which can leave the street open and confusing for drivers and children.
Applying
If you apply at least 90 days before the event, it costs $56 for a one-block street closure if you live on that block or are part of a group of neighbors. For longer closures covering multiple blocks, it costs $160.
You don’t need to send a detailed plan or layout of the event. The street will look the same, with just barricades in place. We only need to know which blocks you want to close and the start and end times.
Read all this information carefully before you proceed.