Dial 911 for emergencies and crimes in progress. The police non-emergency line is 415-553-0123, and 311 handles city services, all day, every day.
The police department’s advice for visitors starts with the car: leave nothing in it.
Checked against SFPD, sf.gov, Public Works, the Treasurer, CDTFA and SF Environment on 27 October 2026.
Cars and Belongings
SFPD’s advice is blunt: park smart, keep the trunk empty and take your valuables with you. It lists cell phones, sunglasses, luggage and passports as things not to leave in a car, and says visitors should check luggage at the hotel instead of keeping it in the car. If you must move items, do it before you reach your destination, out of sight. If a break-in is happening, call 911 with your location and a description. To report one afterwards, SFPD points to the non-emergency line or 311.
Alerts and Emergencies
The city’s official emergency text alert system is AlertSF. Text your ZIP code to 888-777 or sign up at AlertSF.org. Wireless Emergency Alerts also reach phones in an affected area without signing up. The city’s ReadySF page describes earthquakes as a significant risk for San Francisco. Its guidance, quoted from sf.gov: drop, cover and hold on; indoors, take cover under a sturdy table and stay until the shaking stops.
On the coast, the city lists three natural tsunami warnings: strong shaking lasting 20 seconds or more, a loud roar from the ocean, or the sea pulling far back from shore. If you see one, move inland and to higher ground right away without waiting for an alert. The city publishes a Tsunami Hazard Zone Map so you can check your hotel or route. Our emergency page for residents has the longer list.
Money: Taxes and Bags
| Item | What the agency says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax | 8.625% combined rate for San Francisco, effective October 1, 2026; the page warns rates may be outdated | California CDTFA |
| Hotel tax | 14% transient occupancy tax on stays of less than 30 days | SF Treasurer and Tax Collector |
| Checkout bags | Stores must charge at least 25 cents per checkout bag; single-use plastic checkout bags are prohibited | SF Environment |
Restrooms
San Francisco Public Works runs the Pit Stop program, which it says provides clean and safe public toilets, sinks, needle receptacles and dog waste stations in the city’s most impacted neighborhoods. Its page also lists 25 self-cleaning, accessible public toilets under a separate program. The page does not give locations or hours, so check Public Works before you rely on one.
Visitor Help
The Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center is open daily 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., per goldengate.org. SF Travel mentions welcome ambassadors who can help with itineraries and transit, but its pages did not give a visitor center address or hours.
What We Could Not Confirm
- A visitor information center address and hours: SF Travel’s pages did not state them.
- Pit Stop toilet locations and hours.
- sf.gov’s own 911 and 311 explainer page could not be read; the numbers above come from SFPD.
- The hotel tax comes from the Treasurer’s office site, not an sf.gov page.
Questions People Ask
Which number do I call?
911 for emergencies and crimes in progress. For a break-in report afterwards or city services, use 415-553-0123 or 311, as SFPD directs.
Is there an emergency alert I can sign up for as a visitor?
AlertSF takes a ZIP code by text to 888-777, so you can register the ZIP code of your hotel.
Sources
- SFPD, Park Smart: https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/stay-safe/crime-prevention/park-smart (read 27 October 2026)
- SFPD, Prevent auto break-ins: https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/prevent-auto-break-ins-know-how-respond (read 27 October 2026)
- City of San Francisco, ReadySF: https://www.sf.gov/readysf (read 27 October 2026)
- City of San Francisco, Earthquakes: https://www.sf.gov/earthquake (read 27 October 2026)
- City of San Francisco, Tsunamis: https://www.sf.gov/tsunamis (read 27 October 2026)
- SF Public Works, Public toilets: https://sfpublicworks.org/services/public-toilets (read 27 October 2026)
- California CDTFA, Sales tax rates: https://cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/rates.aspx (read 27 October 2026)
- SF Treasurer, Transient occupancy tax: https://sftreasurer.org/business/taxes-fees/transient-occupancy-tax-tot (read 27 October 2026)
- SF Environment, Checkout bag ordinance: https://www.sfenvironment.org/checkout-bag-ordinance (read 27 October 2026)
- Golden Gate Bridge, Visiting the bridge: https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/visiting-the-bridge/ (read 27 October 2026)