Tennis and Pickleball Court Reservations

Tennis ball on a racket

What Courts Can Be Reserved?

Want to know where you can play? Check out the resources below:

How Can Reservations Be Made?

Make a reservation at rec.us/sfrecpark. New to the system? See the Reservations How-To Guide (PDF).

Reservation Fees

Starting October 20, 2025, a $5 per hour, per court reservation fee is in effect.

Please cancel if you will not be able to use your reservation. You will receive a $3/hour credit if you cancel:

  • 48 hours in advance (March–November)
  • 24 hours in advance (December–February, to account for weather)

Cancel through the online system. Credits apply to your account for future bookings. No refunds are issued.

Unplayable Courts: We cannot offer credits for day-to-day court conditions as we have over 100 courts throughout the system. However, if we have city-wide rain, full credits will be issued as of when the rain starts.

Note: If you cannot pay by credit card, email REC-Courts@sfgov.org for information about making a deposit.

When and How Often Can Courts be Reserved? 

Reservations for most courts open on a first-come, first-served basis at 8:00 a.m. seven calendar days prior to the date you want to book. Certain courts open 2 days in advance at 12:00 p.m. (noon). See details on the Reservable Tennis Courts and Reservable Pickleball Courts pages.

Any individual may reserve a court, but you may not book more than one court per day or more than three courts in a calendar week.

How Can Reservations Be Used?

Reservation requests are for individual play only—no lessons, team practices, clinics, or league matches. See details on the Reservation Terms and Conditions page.

No Show Policy

Courts left vacant 15 minutes after the reservation time are available for walk-up play. Repeated no-shows may result in account suspension.

Interested in a Tennis or Pickleball Lesson?

City residents can book one-on-one or small-group lessons with licensed instructors at 20 neighborhood parks. Learn more about the program: Coaching Program Overview, and find Affordable Group Lessons & Lesson Packs. Looking for a coach? Find a coach to book lessons at your preferred court; or complete the 90-second matching form.

Interested in Becoming a Licensed Tennis or Pickleball Instructor?

To teach on SF Rec & Park courts, you must be a licensed instructor. Licensed instructors have access to dedicated instructional hours on select courts. Learn how to become licensed and book instructional hours on our Contracting Opportunities page.


For all walk-up courts, tennis court rules are as follows:

Court Etiquette

  • Players must wear tennis shoes at all times.
  • Playground tennis courts are for tennis players only, unless designated as a multipurpose area.
  • No more than two balls are to be used on any court at one time.
  • Players must adhere to a first come first serve rule.
  • There is to be no rallying behind courts when play is in progress.

Waiting at Courtside

  • Players must wait their turn at only one court and must be physically present while doing so.
  • A verbal request that a person is waiting for a particular court shall be made to those who are playing and/or waiting on desired court.

Allotted Time for Play

  • A maximum of five minutes shall be allowed for warmup.
  • Doubles play or singles play is limited to one set only.
  • Rallying in lieu of a set is limited to thirty minutes.

Relinquishing the Court

  • When people arrive at courtside and are waiting to play, those players, doubles or singles, presently playing must relinquish the court at the completion of the set in progress.
  • Doubles must be played: When two or more people are waiting. When four people enter the court at the same time.

Classes and/or Tournaments

  • All tennis classes and/or tournaments must be authorized by the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department.
  • Classes and/or tournaments take precedence on the courts at all times.
  • Excluding the recreation director of the playground, any person in charge of a class and/or tournament must show written authorization before taking control of any court.

Backboard Play

  • Backboard play is limited to twenty minutes when others are waiting.
  • Backboards shall not be used for strike out play.

Law and Rule Infractions

  • No dogs, skateboards, roller skating or bicycles allowed.
  • Park code: article 3, section 3.08 prohibits tennis instruction on a public tennis court without first obtaining a permit.
  • Any dispute in the interpretation of these rules shall be settled by the recreation director of the playground.
  • Infractions of the rules can and may cause dismissal from the court or courts.

A single player may not use or hold a court when two or more players are waiting to play.

A single player may wait for a court, however, when a court becomes available and if the player’s partner(s) is not present, that court shall go to the next single or doubles players immediately & without delay

Pilot Neighborhood Tennis Courts Online Reservation System