San Francisco Public Health 2026: Services, Phone & Records
If you are searching for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, SFDPH, San Francisco Public Health phone number, birth certificate, death certificate, public records, immunization clinic, food safety complaint, mental health access, medical records, San Francisco Health Network, or Environmental Health, this page helps you choose the right official route before calling, visiting, paying, or sending private documents.
San Francisco public health is different from many county health departments because it includes population health programs, environmental health, behavioral health, the San Francisco Health Network, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, vital records, food safety, disease control, and citywide service routing through 311. Use the correct door first.
Quick answer: what San Francisco Public Health helps with in 2026
The San Francisco Department of Public Health helps protect and promote health across San Francisco. Common user tasks include birth and death certificates, public records, disease reporting, TB reporting, immunizations and travel vaccines, food poisoning reports, restaurant health inspection results, health nuisance complaints, mental health and substance use access, San Francisco Health Network enrollment, clinic appointments, and medical records routes for DPH care sites.
| What you need | Best route | Prepare before calling | Simple local tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Department of Public Health phone number | DPH main line or 311 routing | Topic, address if relevant, callback number, and whether it is urgent | Use 311 for many city service complaints; use 911 for emergencies. |
| San Francisco birth certificate | Office of Vital Records or County Clerk depending on age of record | Name, date of birth, place of birth, ID, proof of eligibility, copy type | Under 3 years and over 3 years use different service pages. |
| San Francisco death certificate | Office of Vital Records or County Clerk depending on how long ago death occurred | Decedent name, date of death, applicant ID, copy type, relationship or authority | Ask the bank, insurer, or attorney which certified copy is accepted. |
| Medical records from SF General or DPH clinics | Medical records / release of information route for the care site | Patient name, date of birth, dates of service, facility, signed authorization | Medical records are not the same as public records. |
| Clinic appointment or health coverage enrollment | San Francisco Health Network | Insurance card, Medi-Cal details, ID, address, income or coverage questions | Enrollment Office phone is 628-206-7800; clinic appointment call center is 415-682-1740. |
| Mental health or substance use help | Behavioral Health Access Line or crisis line | Age, language need, insurance if any, current risk level, service needed | For crisis, call 628-217-7000; for access line, call 888-246-3333. |
| Food poisoning or restaurant complaint | 311, Disease Control or Food Safety depending on issue | Restaurant name, address, date, time, food item, symptoms, receipt/photos | If 4 or more people are sick, Disease Control is listed at 415-554-2830. |
| Health nuisance, odors, housing health, smoke or hazards | 311 and Environmental Health | Property address, type of property, concern details, photos if safe | Address-based complaints need a complete location. |
For San Francisco Public Health tasks, the fastest answer is usually not “search more.” The fastest answer is choosing the correct lane: Office of Vital Records for recent San Francisco birth/death records, County Clerk for older certificates, SF Health Network for care access, Behavioral Health for mental health or substance use, Environmental Health/311 for address-based complaints, and DPH Public Records for agency records.
San Francisco Public Health route finder: choose the right service before calling or paying
Use this task router first. It is designed for real search intent such as “San Francisco Department of Public Health phone number,” “SFDPH records,” “San Francisco public health birth certificate,” “SF Health Network appointment,” “San Francisco food poisoning report,” and “San Francisco behavioral health access.”
SFDPH task router
Select your need. The recommended official route appears below.
San Francisco Department of Public Health phone number, address, hours and call script
For general San Francisco Department of Public Health contact, use 415-554-2500 or the SF.gov DPH contact page. Many city service complaints and reporting tasks route through 311. For medical emergencies, call 911.
415-554-2500
Use for general San Francisco Department of Public Health routing when you do not know the program.
1145 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103. Office contact pages list Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
311
Use 311 for many city service reports, food-related concerns, health nuisance, housing health and environmental complaints.
911
Use 911 for medical emergencies, life-threatening symptoms, overdose, violence, fire or immediate danger.
| Need | Phone or route | Use this wording |
|---|---|---|
| General DPH contact | 415-554-2500 | “Which DPH program handles this, and what official page should I use?” |
| SF Health Network appointment | 415-682-1740 | “I need to make or change a clinic appointment.” |
| SF Health Network enrollment | 628-206-7800 | “I need help enrolling or understanding coverage options.” |
| Zuckerberg San Francisco General | 628-206-8000 | “I need general hospital information or the correct department.” |
| Behavioral Health Access Line | 888-246-3333 | “I need help finding mental health or substance use services.” |
| Mental health or substance use crisis | 628-217-7000 | “This is a crisis and I need immediate behavioral health support.” |
| Vital Records | 415-554-2700 | “I need a San Francisco birth or death certificate and need the correct page.” |
| Food safety program | 415-252-3800 | “I need food permit, food inspection, or restaurant health inspection information.” |
| Compliance and privacy hotline | 855-729-6040 | “I need to report a privacy or compliance concern.” |
Use a short senior-friendly call script
Say: “I am calling about [birth certificate, death certificate, clinic appointment, Medi-Cal enrollment, food poisoning, restaurant inspection, nuisance complaint, medical records, public records, mental health, or immunization]. Which office handles this, what should I bring, and what official page should I read first?”
San Francisco Public Health map and before-you-visit checklist
Do not drive to a DPH address before checking the correct service location. SFDPH uses multiple locations, including 1145 Market Street for the department page, City Hall Room 160 for Vital Records, 101 Grove Street for some public health services, 25 Van Ness for disease prevention units, and hospital/clinic locations for patient care.
| Before you visit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Confirm the location | Vital Records, clinics, hospitals, Environmental Health, and DPH administration may be at different addresses. |
| Confirm appointment rules | Some services are appointment-only, including many clinic, immunization, travel health, and record services. |
| Bring government-issued photo ID | Birth and death certificates, medical records, and some clinical services require identification. |
| Bring proof documents | Certified records may require proof of eligibility, sworn statement, court order, or legal authority. |
| Ask about fees and payment method | Fees and acceptable payment methods vary by certificate, clinic, permit, and program. |
If your task is a certificate, medical record, food complaint, public records request, or mental health access, the “closest DPH office” may not be the correct place. Use the official service page and call first.
San Francisco Public Health records: birth, death, medical records and public records
“San Francisco Public Health records” can mean several different things. Birth and death certificates, medical records, and public records are not the same process. Use the correct route so you do not submit private documents to the wrong office.
Birth and death certificates
Use Office of Vital Records for recent San Francisco births and deaths; use County Clerk for older records.
Open vital recordsPatient health records
Use the care site’s medical records or release of information route for hospital or clinic records.
Medical records guideAgency records
Use the public records request route for DPH agency records, not personal medical records or certificates.
Request recordsCertified copies cannot usually be released by regular email, fax, or phone. For official certificates and medical records, use the secure official process and expect ID or authorization requirements.
San Francisco birth certificate: under 3 years, over 3 years, ID and copy type
San Francisco birth certificate routing depends on how old the birth record is. Birth records for someone under 3 years old route through the Office of Vital Records. Birth records for someone over 3 years old route through the Office of the County Clerk.
| Birth record type | Official route | Prepare first |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate for someone under 3 | Office of Vital Records, City Hall, Room 160 | Unexpired government-issued photo ID, child’s name, date of birth, parent details, proof documents if required |
| Birth certificate for someone over 3 | Office of the County Clerk, City Hall, Room 160 | Record details, ID, sworn statement if required, authorized or informational copy choice, payment method |
| Out-of-hospital birth registration | Office of Vital Records | Birth facts, parent details, proof documents and deadline guidance; San Francisco requires timely registration for out-of-hospital births |
| Adoption or amended record | State or special records route may apply | Ask before ordering because local office may not hold the amended or sealed record |
Decide whether the birth record is under or over 3 years old
If the person was born in San Francisco less than 3 years ago, start with the Office of Vital Records. If the person was born in San Francisco more than 3 years ago, use the County Clerk route.
Choose authorized or informational copy correctly
An authorized certified copy may be needed for passport, ID, school, legal or benefits use. An informational copy may not work for identity or legal use. Ask the receiving agency before paying.
If you are helping a parent, adult child, spouse, grandchild, foster youth, or client, call first and ask exactly what proof of relationship, legal authority, sworn statement, or court document is required.
San Francisco death certificate: last 3 years, older records, estate and funeral home documents
San Francisco death certificate routing depends on when the death occurred. If the person died in San Francisco within the last 3 years, use the Office of Vital Records. If the death occurred more than 3 years ago, use the County Clerk route.
Office of Vital Records
Use this for deaths in San Francisco within the last 3 years, including in-person or mail instructions.
Recent death recordCounty Clerk
Use this for San Francisco death certificates more than 3 years old and after 1906, through the County Clerk.
Older death recordAsk which copy the receiving agency needs
Banks, insurance companies, attorneys, courts, property offices, pension offices, and benefit agencies may require a specific certified copy. Confirm before ordering multiple copies.
Funeral homes and mortuaries have a separate document route
Funeral homes may need death certificates, burial permits, non-contagious disease letters, or related documents through the funeral home service route.
San Francisco Public Health medical records: SF General, clinics, subpoenas and privacy rights
Medical records from a DPH care site are different from public records and different from a birth or death certificate. If you received care at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, a San Francisco Health Network clinic, AITC, behavioral health, jail health, or another DPH service, ask the care site for the correct release-of-information process.
| Record need | Best route | Prepare first |
|---|---|---|
| ZSFG medical records | Zuckerberg San Francisco General Medical Records / Health Information Services | Patient name, date of birth, medical record number if known, dates of service, signed authorization |
| Clinic records | The clinic or SF Health Network medical records route | Clinic name, dates of care, provider name if known, authorization and ID |
| Subpoenas for medical records | SFDPH subpoena instructions | Subpoena type, facility, legal request details, service method and required fees if applicable |
| HIPAA/privacy concern | DPH Office of Compliance and Privacy Affairs | Concern summary, care site, date, people involved, your contact method |
Do not send medical records, ID photos, Social Security numbers, insurance cards, or full patient details to a general email unless an official secure process tells you to. Ask for the release-of-information route first.
San Francisco Health Network: clinics, appointments, Medi-Cal, uninsured care and enrollment
The San Francisco Health Network is the direct care side of SFDPH. It helps connect San Francisco residents to primary care, dental care, urgent care, specialty care, behavioral health and other services, especially for Medi-Cal, uninsured, underinsured, and safety-net patients.
SFHN Call Center
Call 415-682-1740 for clinic appointment routing. You may be redirected to your clinic.
Patient Access
Call 628-206-7800 for San Francisco Health Network enrollment and insurance help.
ZSFG
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital general information: 628-206-8000.
Patient portal
Use MyChart when enrolled and when your clinic uses online appointment and message tools.
Enroll before trying to schedule ongoing care
If you are new, uninsured, have Medi-Cal questions, or need help choosing a care route, start with the enrollment office instead of calling every clinic one by one.
Use the appointment page when you already have a clinic
If you already receive care through the San Francisco Health Network, use the appointment page or call the clinic appointment number for routing.
For emergency care, use emergency services. For routine primary care, enrollment, dental, specialty or clinic follow-up, use SF Health Network routing and bring your ID, insurance card, Medi-Cal details, medication list and prior medical information if available.
San Francisco behavioral health: mental health, substance use, crisis and access line
SFDPH Behavioral Health helps people connect to mental health and substance use services. For non-emergency service access, use the Behavioral Health Access Line. For a mental health or substance use crisis, use the crisis number or emergency services when life-threatening.
888-246-3333
24 hours a day, 7 days a week for mental health and substance use service access routing.
628-217-7000
Use for mental health or substance use crisis support. For life-threatening emergency, call 911.
1380 Howard Street
Behavioral Health Access Center is a drop-in central access point for mental health and substance use connections.
If someone may hurt themselves or others, has overdosed, is unconscious, has severe withdrawal, trouble breathing, chest pain, severe confusion, or another life-threatening condition, call 911 immediately.
San Francisco immunization, travel vaccine, TB testing and AITC appointment help
For travel vaccines, immunizations, TB testing and related blood tests, San Francisco lists the AITC Immunization & Travel Clinic as appointment-only. The appointment page lists online booking or phone appointments at 628-754-5500.
| Need | What to prepare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Travel vaccines | Destination, departure date, itinerary, vaccine history, medications, allergies | Travel vaccine timing can depend on where and when you travel. |
| Routine vaccines | Photo ID, insurance if applicable, prior shot record | Prior vaccine history helps avoid duplicate or missed vaccines. |
| TB test | Reason for test, school/work form, past positive history, return visit schedule | Some TB tests require follow-up timing or specific documentation. |
| COVID, flu or RSV vaccine | Age, eligibility, insurance, prior vaccine date, health risk factors | Seasonal guidance changes, so check current SF.gov vaccine page. |
San Francisco disease reporting, TB reporting, communicable disease and public health lab
Disease reporting is for providers, labs, facilities and public health situations where a reportable condition, outbreak, TB case, foodborne illness, or urgent communicable disease issue may need SFDPH review.
628-217-6100
The Communicable Disease Program is listed at 25 Van Ness Ave and can route reportable disease questions.
628-206-3398
Initial TB report phone is listed for Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; urgent after-hours reporting uses 415-918-5735.
628-206-7100
The San Francisco Public Health Laboratory is listed at 101 Grove Street, Room 419.
If you are a provider reporting a disease, prepare the patient details required by law, diagnosis date, lab result, facility contact, urgency level and callback number before calling or faxing.
San Francisco Environmental Health: food safety, restaurant inspections, nuisance, housing, smoke, pools, wells and permits
Environmental Health handles many San Francisco public health issues connected to businesses, apartments, restaurants, housing, food permits, health nuisances, smoke, odors, pools, wells, and other address-based conditions. Many reports start with 311.
Restaurant inspections
Use Food Safety to view inspection results, permits, food safety training and related food facility work.
Food safetyFood poisoning
Use 311 or the foodborne illness route. If 4 or more people are sick, Disease Control is listed at 415-554-2830.
Report food illnessHealth hazards
Report health issues connected to businesses, apartments, living spaces or working spaces through 311.
Report nuisanceHealth scores
Use the restaurant inspection results page to check San Francisco food facility health inspection information.
Inspection results| Complaint type | Prepare this | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Food poisoning | Restaurant name, full address, date/time, food item, symptoms, receipt, photos | Helps identify whether cases are linked to a location or source. |
| Health nuisance | Property address, type of property, details, dates, photos if safe | 311 and Environmental Health need location-specific facts. |
| Fumes, odors or secondhand smoke | Business/hotel/residence address, timing, pattern, affected area | Recurring issues are easier to investigate with dates and location details. |
| Food permit or inspection | Business name, permit number if known, facility address, owner contact | Helps Food Safety staff locate the correct permit or inspection file. |
For San Francisco address-based complaints, a full address is more useful than a neighborhood name. Include cross streets, unit number if relevant, business name, dates, photos if safe, and your preferred contact method.
San Francisco DPH public records request: agency records versus medical records
A San Francisco Public Health public records request is for agency records. It is not the same as ordering a birth certificate, death certificate, or your personal medical record from a hospital or clinic.
Use the DPH public records page for agency records
Make the request specific. Include the program name, record type, date range, address, facility name, subject, or related public health issue. Narrow requests are easier to understand and process.
Use medical records routes for patient charts
If you need your own medical chart, lab result, hospital record, clinic record, behavioral health record, or discharge record, ask the care site for its release-of-information process instead of filing a broad public records request.
A good public records request says: “I request [record type] from [program/office] for [date range] about [specific topic/location/facility].” Avoid “send me everything about public health.”
What San Francisco Public Health usually does not handle directly
Use this checklist before spending time on the wrong page or mailing documents to the wrong office.
Doctor or nurse license lookup
California professional licenses usually route through state boards, not SFDPH.
Marriage license or certificate
San Francisco marriage services usually route through the County Clerk, not DPH Vital Records.
Divorce decree
Divorce judgments and court orders are not DPH records; use court or state vital records guidance.
Immediate medical emergency
Call 911 or go to emergency care. Do not wait for a DPH form or public records response.
Official San Francisco Public Health links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final details, payment, forms, appointments, records, eligibility, hours and submission. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide and does not process records, schedule appointments, provide medical care, or collect private documents.
People also search for San Francisco Department of Public Health
These Google and Bing style search terms are included because they match common user intent for SFDPH services, phone numbers, records, certificates, clinics, public records, food safety and behavioral health.
San Francisco Public Health phone number
Use 415-554-2500 for general DPH routing or 311 for many city service reports.
Phone detailsSan Francisco Department of Public Health birth certificate
Use Office of Vital Records for under 3 years and County Clerk for over 3 years.
Birth routeSan Francisco death certificate
Use recent or older death certificate route depending on whether death was within the last 3 years.
Death routeSFDPH records request
Use DPH public records for agency records and medical records routes for patient charts.
Records guideSan Francisco Health Network appointment
Use SFHN appointment and enrollment routes for Medi-Cal, uninsured and clinic care access.
Clinic guideSan Francisco behavioral health access line
Call 888-246-3333 for behavioral health access or 628-217-7000 for crisis support.
Behavioral healthSan Francisco food poisoning report
Use 311 and the foodborne illness route. Prepare restaurant name, address, date, time and symptoms.
Food complaintSan Francisco immunization clinic
Use AITC for travel vaccines, immunizations, TB testing and appointment-only clinic guidance.
ImmunizationSafety, privacy and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It is not the official San Francisco Department of Public Health website, not SF.gov, not SFDPH, not the Office of Vital Records, not the San Francisco Health Network, and not a city agency.
Do not send Social Security numbers, medical records, birth certificates, death certificates, passports, driver license photos, payment cards, insurance cards, MyChart screenshots, mental health details, HIV/STD details, TB records, complaint evidence or legal documents to an independent guide page. Use only official secure routes.
Phone numbers, hours, fees, forms, eligibility, appointment rules, certificate routing, medical record processes and public records instructions can change. Confirm final details on the official SF.gov, SFDPH, San Francisco Health Network, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, or City Hall page before taking action.
San Francisco Public Health FAQs
What is the San Francisco Department of Public Health phone number?
For general San Francisco Department of Public Health routing, use 415-554-2500. For many city service reports and health complaints, use 311. For medical emergencies, call 911.
Where is the San Francisco Department of Public Health located?
The SF.gov Department of Public Health page lists 1145 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. However, specific services may be at City Hall, 101 Grove Street, 25 Van Ness, ZSFG, clinics, or other locations, so confirm before visiting.
How do I get a San Francisco birth certificate?
For someone under 3 years old, use the Office of Vital Records route. For someone over 3 years old, use the County Clerk route. Both service pages list City Hall, Room 160 as the service location. Bring unexpired government-issued photo ID and proof documents if required.
How do I get a San Francisco death certificate?
If the death occurred in San Francisco within the last 3 years, use the Office of Vital Records route. If the death occurred more than 3 years ago, use the County Clerk route. Ask the receiving agency which certified copy it accepts before ordering.
What is the phone number for San Francisco Vital Records?
The Office of Vital Records general line is listed as 415-554-2700. The office is listed at City Hall, Room 160, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102.
How do I make an appointment with the San Francisco Health Network?
Use the SF Health Network appointment page or call the SF Health Network Call Center at 415-682-1740. For enrollment and insurance help, call the Patient Access Enrollment Office at 628-206-7800.
How do I report food poisoning in San Francisco?
Use the official San Francisco food poisoning or food-related illness route. If you are unsure how many people are sick, call 311. If 4 or more people are sick, Disease Control is listed at 415-554-2830.
How do I report a health nuisance or environmental health problem?
Use 311 to report health issues connected to businesses, apartments, living spaces or working spaces. Prepare the property address, type of property, details about the concern, photos if safe, and your contact information.
How do I request medical records from SF General or a DPH clinic?
Use the medical records or release-of-information route for the facility where care was provided. For Zuckerberg San Francisco General, use the ZSFG medical records page. Medical records are not the same as DPH public records requests.
How do I request public records from San Francisco Public Health?
Use the official “Get public records from SF Public Health” page. Make the request specific by naming the program, record type, date range, location, facility, or subject.
How do I get mental health or substance use help in San Francisco?
Call the Behavioral Health Access Line at 888-246-3333 for service access. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call 628-217-7000. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official San Francisco Department of Public Health website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. The official city pages are on SF.gov and related San Francisco Department of Public Health sites. Final forms, fees, records, appointments and submissions should be completed through official routes.