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 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 can give you tips on talking to neighbors and where to rent barricades.
text: View a map of 2026 Halloween street closures.
link: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/78571bdf630e47278f0ce0a67346b9a2
image: https://www.sfmta.com/files/images/2026-10/Screenshot%202026-10-27%20at%202.27.18%E2%80%AFPM.png
Details
Activities
The “trick-or-treat” street closures approved 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 is allowed on the street except barricades (and of course kids!). You also cannot request "no parking" signs for the street.
Activities like barbecuing, booths, apple bobbing, or movie screenings on private property along the street are okay. Small tables on the sidewalk might be allowable 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 where they're going. Other cars, like those looking for parking, Uber or Lyft rides, GrubHub deliveries 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 as easily and deliveries can't happen, it's important for everyone to know what's being planned. If you've done the "trick or treat" road closure before, a simple notice should be enough, such as flyers delivered to the houses or posted on poles on the blocks reminding them of the event. 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 - specialevents@sfmta.com. Plus, if it is the first time a “trick-or-treat” closure, will be happening on the block, you’ll need to put up public notices about the review where your request will be discussed so that people can ask questions or raise concerns. Hopefully, there will be no opposition and the review will go smoothly since you will have already talked to your neighbors about it. What we've found is that people generally are happy that the event is taking place and we get no objections if there's decent information provided in advance.
Barricades and Staffing
You will be required to put up barricades for the closing blocks. Regulation barricades are required, and their high visibility treatment and other features are useful safety enhancements. You can rent barricades through the City’s Public Works department or from private companies.
(If you plan to close the street often, like for annual 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. What we've found is that without someone watching, drivers or delivery people often move the barricades — which can leave the street open and confusing for drivers and children — and drive in unescorted, which is obviously a concern.
Applying
To begin the application process, please visit: Host a neighborhood block party.