Budgets less than $3,000,000 must film 55% of principal photography in San Francisco; budgets of $3,000,000 or more must film 65% of principal photography in San Francisco; production office must be located in the City and County of San Francisco. City refunds include: fees paid to City departments for use of rental of City property, equipment or employees (includes police services for up to 4 Police Offers per day for a total of 12 hours maximum per day per officer); all daily use fees paid to the San Francisco Film Commission; all payroll taxes paid to the City and County of San Francisco.

Submit a San Francisco Film and Television Rebate Program application (Form A) to the San Francisco Film Commission Office at least 45 days prior to production; include the project budget, script, and Sunshine Letter (optional);  call the San Francisco Film Office to schedule an appointment to discuss the application; upon initial application approval, the production must supply the Preliminary Calculation of Estimated Rebate (Form B) and other required documents.

Production days qualify on sound stages or other qualifying interiors and within the 49 square miles of the City and County of San Francisco. Proof of payment of city tax is required.Production company must apply for a Business License with the Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector. Qualified productions must enter into a first source hiring agreement with the city that demonstrates good faith efforts to hire economically disadvantaged qualified individuals. Location Manager must be a member of the local union affiliate. Production office must be located in the City & County of San Francisco.