Designing and producing a tiled mural is the perfect way to gather neighbors in an act of communal expression and bonding. Murals can serve many purposes – from commemorating a piece of local history to evoking a scene in nature – but each one goes a long way toward creating a more vibrant and beautiful neighborhood.
Tiled murals are considered Tier 2 Love Our Neighborhoods projects and require the following steps for permitting.
Step One: Check if you're eligible
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Only the following types of organizations can apply:
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A nonprofit organization
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A community benefit district
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A merchants’ association
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An established community-based organization
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Your organization must have been in existence for a minimum of two years at the time of application submission.
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Your project must be located within the public right of way that is under Public Works’ jurisdiction.
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Prior to submitting a Love Our Neighborhoods permit application for a tiled mural, your proposed design must be approved by the San Francisco Arts Commission. You will need your San Francisco Arts Commission resolution number and document packet in order to submit a Love Our Neighborhoods permit application.
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Check if your project can be safely placed within the desired area by reading the “General Placement Guide” on our Helpful Documents page. Every location is different, but this will help you get started.
Step Two: Gather your documents
We will ask for:
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Your name and contact information.
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Your organization’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) or other proof your organization has existed for at least two calendar years. Documents that can be used to prove an organization’s existence include articles of incorporation, notes from past meetings, proof of past projects or events and financial statements.
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If your project has a sponsor, your sponsoring organization’s name and contact information.
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Your proposed project’s location.
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A general description of your proposed project.
You will need to upload:
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Your maintenance plan. You will be responsible for repairing the mural if there is necessary structural construction that damages the mural.
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Your construction plan and budget.
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Your San Francisco Arts Commission document packet and resolution number.
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If available, please include information about any materials you plan on using on this project. If you are using a prefabricated or mass-manufactured product, please include the specific product’s name as well as the manufacturer’s specification sheet for that product.
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A detailed site plan, that follows these requirements:
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Be submitted in PDF, TIF or JPG format.
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It need not be done to scale; hand drawings are accepted.
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The following should be clearly indicated: existing streets, curbs, public rights of way, street trees and other structures within 20 feet of the site, width of existing sidewalk or public right of way, north arrow, and names of fronting streets.
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Clearly indicate the location of your proposed project within the larger site and structure including dimensions in feet and inches.
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Photos of your proposed site in its current condition. Please show the site’s dimensions on the photo and label any existing structures.
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Step Three: Start your application
Your application will take 30 to 45 minutes to fill out.
What to expect after you apply:
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Public Works will contact you for additional or clarifying information.
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After your application is submitted, Public Works will inspect the structural integrity and ADA accessibility condition of the retaining wall that you wish to create the mural on. Public Works will notify you if there is repair work necessary. Any repairs will be done by Public Works and need to be completed before the project can proceed. Available Public Works funding may influence the timeline for these repairs.
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You will need to provide mailed notice of your Love Our Neighborhoods mural application to all property owners of record within 250 feet of the proposed project.
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You will be required to sign a Maintenance and Liability Agreement for your project based on your Maintenance Plan.