SEC. 607.2. MIXED USE DISTRICTS.

(See Interpretations related to this Section.)

Signs located in Mixed Use Districts shall be regulated as provided herein, except for Signs in Residential Enclave Districts, which are regulated by Section 606, and those Signs which are exempted by Section 603. Signs not specifically regulated in this Section 607.2 shall be prohibited. In the event of conflict between the provisions of Section 607.2 and other provisions of Article 6, the provisions of Section 607.2 shall prevail in Mixed Use Districts.

(a) Purposes and Findings. In addition to the purposes stated in Sections 101 and 601 of this Code, the following purposes apply to Mixed Use Districts. These purposes constitute findings that form a basis for regulations and provide guidance for their application.

(1) As Mixed Use Districts change, they need to maintain their attractiveness to customers and potential new businesses alike. Physical amenities and a pleasant appearance will profit both existing and new enterprises.

(2) The character of signs and other features projecting from buildings is an important part of the visual appeal of a street and the general quality and economic stability of the area. Opportunities exist to relate these signs and projections more effectively to street design and building design. These regulations establish a framework that will contribute toward a coherent appearance of Mixed Use Districts.

(3) Mixed Use Districts are typically mixed use areas with commercial units on the ground or lower stories and residential uses on upper stories or have housing and commercial and industrial activities interspersed. Although signs and other advertising devices are essential to a vital commercial district, they should not be allowed to interfere with or diminish the livability of residential units within a Mixed Use District or in adjacent residential districts.

(4) The scale of most Mixed Use Districts as characterized by building height, bulk, and appearance, and the width of streets and sidewalks differs from that of other commercial and industrial districts. Sign sizes should relate and be compatible with the surrounding district scale.

(b) Signs or Sign Features Not Permitted in Mixed Use Districts. General Advertising Signs are not permitted in Mixed Use districts. Roof Signs as defined in Section 602, Wind Signs as defined in Section 602, and Signs on Canopies, as defined in Section 136.1(b) of this Code, are not permitted in Mixed Use Districts. No Sign shall have or consist of any moving, rotating, or otherwise physically animated part, or lights that give the appearance of animation by flashing, blinking, or fluctuating. In addition, all Signs or sign features not otherwise specifically regulated in this Section 607.2 shall be prohibited.

(c) Identifying Signs. Identifying Signs, as defined in Section 602, shall be permitted in all Mixed Use Districts subject to the limits set forth below.

(1) One Sign per lot shall be permitted and such Sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in area. The Sign may be a Freestanding Sign, if the building is recessed from the Street Property Line, or may be a Wall Sign or a projecting Sign. The existence of a Freestanding Identifying Sign shall preclude the erection of a Freestanding Business Sign on the same lot. A Wall Sign or projecting Sign shall be mounted on the first-story level; a Freestanding Sign shall not exceed 15 feet in height. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated.

(2) One Sign identifying a shopping center or shopping mall shall be permitted subject to the conditions in subsection (c)(1), but shall not exceed 30 square feet in area. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated during the hours of operation of the businesses in the shopping center or shopping mall.

(d) Nameplate. One nonilluminated or directly illuminated Nameplate, as defined in Section 602 of this Code, not exceeding an area of two square feet, shall be permitted for each noncommercial use in Mixed Use Districts.

(e) General Advertising Signs. General Advertising Signs, as defined in Section 602, are not permitted in Mixed Use Districts.

(f) Business Signs. Business Signs, as defined in Section 602, shall be permitted in all Mixed Use Districts subject to the limits set forth below.

(1) Chinatown Residential Neighborhood Commercial District.

(A) Window Signs. The total Area of all Window Signs shall not exceed one-third the total area of the business’s ground floor windows and clear doors. Window Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated.

(B) Wall Signs. The Area of all Wall Signs shall not exceed one square foot per foot of street frontage occupied by the business measured along the wall to which the Signs are attached, or 50 square feet for each street frontage, whichever is less; provided, however, that in no case shall the Wall Sign or combination of Wall Signs cover more than 75% of the surface of any wall, excluding openings. The Height of any Wall Sign shall not exceed 15 feet or the height of the wall to which it is attached. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly Illuminated; or during business hours, may be Directly Illuminated.

(C) Projecting Signs. The number of projecting Signs shall not exceed one per business. The Area of such Sign shall not exceed 24 square feet. The Height of such Sign shall not exceed 15 feet or the height of the wall to which it is attached. No part of the Sign shall project more than 75% of the horizontal distance from the Street Property Line to the curbline, or six feet six inches, whichever is less. The Sign may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly Illuminated, or during business hours, may be Directly Illuminated.

(D) Signs on Awnings. Sign copy may be located on permitted Awnings in addition to Wall Signs and projecting Signs. The area of such sign copy shall not exceed 20 square feet. Such sign copy may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated.

(2) Chinatown Visitor Retail District.

(A) Window Signs. The total Area of all Window Signs shall not exceed one-third the total area of the business’s ground floor windows and clear doors. Window Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated.

(B) Wall Signs. The Area of all Wall Signs shall not exceed two square feet per foot of street frontage occupied by the use measured along the wall to which the Signs are attached, or 100 square feet for each street frontage, whichever is less. The Height of any Wall Sign shall not exceed 24 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest of any residential windowsill on the wall to which the Sign is attached, whichever is lower. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated.

(C) Projecting Signs. The number of projecting Signs shall not exceed one per business. The Area of such Sign shall not exceed 24 square feet. The Height of such Sign shall not exceed 24 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest of any residential windowsill on the wall to which the Sign is attached, whichever is lower. No part of the Sign shall project more than 75% of the horizontal distance from the Street Property Line to the curbline, or six feet six inches, whichever is less. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly Illuminated; or during business hours, may be Directly Illuminated.

(D) Signs on Awnings and Marquees. Sign copy may be located on permitted Awnings or Marquees in addition to projecting Signs. The area of such sign copy shall not exceed 30 square feet. Such sign copy may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated, except that sign copy on Marquees for Movie Theaters or places of Entertainment may be directly illuminated during business hours.

(E) Freestanding Signs and Sign Towers. One Freestanding Sign or Sign Tower per lot shall be permitted in lieu of a projecting Sign, if the building or buildings are recessed from the Street Property Line. The existence of a Freestanding Business Sign shall preclude the erection of a Freestanding Identifying Sign on the same lot. The area of such Freestanding Sign or Sign Tower shall not exceed 20 square feet nor shall the Height of the Sign exceed 24 feet. No part of the Sign shall project more than 75% of the horizontal distance from the Street Property Line to the curbline, or six feet, whichever is less. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly Illuminated; or during business hours, may be Directly Illuminated.

(3) Chinatown Community Business District, Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use Districts, and Downtown Residential Districts.

(A) Window Signs. The total Area of all Window Signs shall not exceed one-third the total area of the business’s ground floor windows and clear doors. Window Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated.

(B) Wall Signs.

(i) In districts other than the Urban Mixed Use District. The Area of all Wall Signs shall not exceed three square feet per foot of street frontage occupied by the use measured along the wall to which the Signs are attached, or 150 square feet for each street frontage, whichever is less; provided, however, that in no case shall the Wall Sign or combination of Wall Signs cover more than 75% of the surface of any wall, excluding openings. The Height of any Wall Sign shall not exceed 24 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest of any residential windowsill on the wall to which the Sign is attached, whichever is lower. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated.

(ii) In the Urban Mixed Use District. The Area of all Wall Signs shall not exceed three square feet per foot of street frontage occupied by the use measured along the wall to which the Signs are attached for up to 50 feet of street frontage, and an additional one square foot per foot of street frontage thereafter; provided, however, that in no case shall the Wall Sign or combination of Wall Signs cover more than 75% of the surface of any wall, excluding openings. The Height of any Wall Sign shall not exceed 60 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest of any residential windowsill on the wall to which the Sign is attached, whichever is lower. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated.

(C) Projecting Signs. The number of projecting Signs shall not exceed one per business. The Area of such sign or Signs combined when there are multiple Signs shall not exceed 32 square feet. The Height of the Sign shall not exceed 24 feet, or the height of the wall to which it is attached, or the height of the lowest of any residential windowsill on the wall to which the Sign is attached, whichever is lower. No part of the Sign shall project more than 75% of the horizontal distance from the Street Property Line to the curbline, or six feet six inches, whichever is less. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated.

(D) Sign Copy on Awnings and Marquees. Sign copy may be located on permitted Awnings or Marquees in lieu of projecting Signs, except that in the Chinatown Community Business District, sign copy may be located on permitted Awnings or Marquees in addition to projecting Signs. The area of such sign copy shall not exceed 40 square feet. Such sign copy may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated; except that sign copy on Marquees for Movie Theaters or places of Entertainment may be directly illuminated during business hours.

pt that in the Chinatown Community Business District, sign copy may be located on permitted Awnings or Marquees in addition to projecting Signs. The area of such sign copy shall not exceed 40 square feet. Such sign copy may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated; except that sign copy on Marquees for Movie Theaters or places of Entertainment may be directly illuminated during business hours.

(E) Freestanding Signs and Sign Towers. One Freestanding Sign or Sign Tower per lot shall be permitted in lieu of a projecting sign if the building or buildings are recessed from the Street Property Line. The existence of a Freestanding Business Sign shall preclude the erection of a Freestanding Identifying Sign on the same lot. The Area of such Freestanding Sign or Sign Tower shall not exceed 30 square feet nor shall the Height of the Sign exceed 24 feet. No part of the Sign shall project more than 75% of the horizontal distance from the Street Property Line to the curbline, or six feet, whichever is less. Such Signs may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly Illuminated, or during business hours, may be Directly Illuminated.

(g) Special Sign Districts. Additional controls apply within certain Mixed Use Districts that are designated as Special Sign Districts. The designations, locations, and boundaries of these Special Sign Districts are provided on Sectional Map SSD of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco, and are described within Sections 608.1 through 608.16 of this Code.

(h) Other Sign Requirements. Within Mixed Use Districts, the following additional requirements shall apply:

(1) Temporary Signs. The provisions of Section 607.1(g) of this Code shall apply.

(2) Special Standards for Automotive Gas and Service Stations. The provisions of Section 607.1(f)(4) of this Code shall apply.

(Added by Ord. 131-87, App. 4/24/87; amended by Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 219-94, App. 6/3/94; Ord. 74-01, File No. 002218, App. 5/18/2001; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 196-11 , File No. 110786, App.

10/4/2011, Eff. 11/3/2011; Ord. 20-15, File No. 110548, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 188-15 , File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 223-21, File No. 210810, App. 12/17/2021, Eff. 1/17/2022; Ord. 240-24, File No. 240438, App. 10/18/2024, Eff. 11/18/2024; Ord. 124-25, File No. 250542, App. 8/1/2025, Eff. 9/1/2025; Ord. 1326, File No. 251099, App. 2/13/2026, Eff. 3/16/2026)

AMENDMENT HISTORY

Divisions (e) and (f)(3) amended; former division (f)(3)(B) redesignated as (f)(3)(B)(i) and header added; division (f)(3) (B)(ii) added; Ord. 196-11 , Eff. 11/3/2011. Introductory material amended; former divisions (h), (i)(1), and (i)(2) deleted and former divisions (i), (i)(3), and (i)(4) redesignated as (h), (h)(1), and (h)(2) respectively; Ord. 20-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Divisions (d) and (f)(1)(C) amended; Ord. 188-15 , Eff. 12/4/2015. Divisions (d) and (f)(1)(C) amended; Ord. 188-15, Eff. 12/4/2015. Divisions (b), (c)–(c)(2), (d), (e), and (f)–(f)(3)(E) amended; former divisions (e)(1)–(e)(3) deleted; Ord. 21716, Eff. 12/10/2016. Divisions (f)(2)(B), (f)(2)(C), (f)(2)(E), and (f)(3)(E) amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Divisions (f), (f)(1)(D), (f)(2)(D), and (f)(3)(D) amended; Ord. 223-21, Eff. 1/17/2022. Division (g) amended; Ord. 240-24, Eff. 11/18/2024. Introductory material and divisions (f)(1)(A), (f)(2)(A), (f)(3), and (f)(3)(A) amended; Ord. 124-25, Eff. 9/1/2025. Division (f)(3) amended; Ord. 13-26, Eff. 3/16/2026.