The Real Story Behind Fuller House’s Filming Spots
If you’re like most fans, you probably assumed that Fuller House was filmed entirely in San Francisco. The vibe, the landmarks, and the Golden Gate Bridge in the intro make it feel that way. But the real story? That’s just Hollywood magic. The majority of the show was actually filmed in Southern California, with just a few iconic shots captured in San Francisco and beyond.
Let’s break down every location where Fuller House came to life.
The Famous Tanner House: 1709 Broderick Street, San Francisco
Let’s start with the most iconic shot — the exterior of the Tanner family home.
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The Real House: It’s located at 1709 Broderick Street in San Francisco’s Lower Pacific Heights.
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It’s Not the Painted Ladies: Many confuse it with the row of houses in Alamo Square known as the Painted Ladies. While those appear in the opening sequence, the Tanner house is about a mile away.
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It’s a Private Home: Fans still visit for photos, but it’s not open to the public. The interior has never been used for filming.
Warner Bros. Studios: Stage 24, Burbank, California
Now here’s where the real action happened — inside a soundstage in Burbank.
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All Interior Scenes: Every single indoor shot, from the kitchen to the living room, was filmed on Stage 24 at Warner Bros. Studios.
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Recreated in Detail: The set was a nearly exact replica of the original Full House interiors, just with modern updates.
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Live Audience Feel: Many episodes were taped in front of a live studio audience, just like the old-school sitcom days.
The Warner Bros. Backlot
Besides the soundstage, the production also used the Warner Bros. backlot for some outdoor scenes.
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Replica Streets: Some episodes required neighborhood scenes or walk-and-talk moments, which were filmed on the studio’s outdoor sets.
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Flexible Settings: These backlots were dressed up to look like various parts of San Francisco, even though they were right in Burbank.
San Francisco Establishing Shots
To keep the illusion alive, producers used a handful of real San Francisco landmarks as establishing shots.
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Golden Gate Bridge: Featured in the title sequence and various transitions.
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Alamo Square: The famous Painted Ladies make their usual appearance, just like they did in the original series.
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Downtown Views: Sweeping shots of the San Francisco skyline help maintain the Bay Area atmosphere.
On-Location Filming: San Francisco & Beyond
Though rare, the show did include a few real scenes filmed on location.
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AT&T Park (Now Oracle Park): In Season 1, the characters visit the stadium for a baseball-themed episode. These scenes were filmed on-site.
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San Francisco Streets: Some minor scenes were filmed outside for authenticity, including neighborhood walks and landmarks.
International Scenes: Tokyo, Japan
In one of the show’s biggest adventures, the cast travels to Tokyo.
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Sanrio Puroland: The colorful, Hello Kitty-themed park was used for fun and playful scenes.
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Shibuya Crossing: One of the world’s busiest intersections appears briefly during the Tokyo trip.
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Actual Location Shooting: Yes, parts of this storyline were filmed in Japan, not recreated in LA.
Did They Use CGI for San Francisco Shots?
Surprisingly, not much CGI was used for the establishing shots. Most cityscapes were captured through real footage, either newly filmed or reused from Full House.
However, certain crowd scenes or transitions may have used digital effects to blend location shots with soundstage scenes.
What About the Interior Design?
The show’s interior — the iconic Tanner home — was faithfully recreated on the Warner Bros. soundstage.
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Familiar Layout: From the stairs to the kitchen island, everything was styled to match the original.
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Updated Touches: The decor was modernized to reflect D.J., Stephanie, and Kimmy’s grown-up lifestyles.
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New Rooms: Some parts of the house were expanded for the storyline, like the addition of kids’ bedrooms and a shared office space.
Why Not Film Entirely in San Francisco?
There’s a good reason the show didn’t film in the city:
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Cost: San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities to shoot in.
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Permits: Getting filming permission for long-term use is tough in busy areas.
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Logistics: Moving cast, crew, and equipment for a full production would be extremely difficult.
By filming in Burbank, the production team saved money, had more control, and recreated the magic in a controlled environment.
How the Audience Reacted to the Locations
Longtime fans appreciated the familiar sights — even if they were mostly fake.
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The nostalgia factor was real.
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Seeing San Francisco landmarks made it feel authentic.
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Knowing it was filmed in Burbank didn’t ruin the magic — it just proved how good the production team was.
Set Tours: Can You Visit the Fuller House Set?
Unfortunately, the Fuller House set was torn down after the show wrapped. However:
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Warner Bros. Studio Tour: You can visit the lot in Burbank and possibly see Stage 24, depending on current productions.
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Broderick Street House: Still standing in San Francisco — perfect for a selfie outside.
Filming Timeline: When Was It All Shot?
Fuller House filmed between 2015 and 2020, mostly during off-seasons for other sitcoms. Because it aired on Netflix, the show was filmed in full-season batches rather than weekly.
This allowed for more flexibility with schedules and post-production editing — especially important when filming scenes abroad like in Tokyo.
How It All Comes Together
In short, the show used a combination of:
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A real San Francisco house for exteriors
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A fully built set in Burbank for interiors
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Clever location footage to bring the city vibe to life
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Occasional international shoots for storyline depth
This hybrid method gave Fuller House the nostalgic charm of Full House with a polished, modern twist.
Conclusion: TV Magic at Its Best
Fuller House might’ve tricked you into believing it was all filmed in the heart of San Francisco — and that’s part of its brilliance. Through clever production, iconic backdrops, and smart editing, the show captured the spirit of the Bay Area while staying rooted in the soundstages of Southern California.
For fans, the heart of the show wasn’t where it was filmed — it was always about family, laughter, and home. And in that sense, Fuller House delivered.
FAQs
1. Is the house from Fuller House real?
Yes, the exterior is a real home in San Francisco, but all indoor scenes were filmed on a soundstage.
2. Where were the indoor scenes filmed?
Inside Stage 24 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.
3. Can fans visit the Tanner house?
You can visit the exterior at 1709 Broderick Street, but it’s a private residence — no tours allowed inside.
4. Were any episodes filmed in other countries?
Yes, scenes in Tokyo, Japan, were actually filmed on location.
5. What made the locations feel so real?
A mix of real city footage, detailed sets, and a bit of editing magic helped recreate the authentic San Francisco vibe.
