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Part XVISEC. 1111. APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS TO ALTER, PERMITS TO DEMOLISH, AND PERMITS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

SEC. 1111.1. DETERMINATION OF MINOR AND MAJOR ALTERATIONS.

San Francisco County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Francisco County

(a) The HPC shall determine if a proposed alteration is a Major Alteration or a Minor Alteration and may delegate review of proposed Minor Alterations to Department staff, whose decisions may be appealed to the HPC pursuant to subsection 1111.1(b). All work not determined to be a Minor Alteration shall be a Major Alteration and subject to HPC approval. If so delegated to Department staff, the categories of Minor Alteration shall include but are not limited to the following:

(1) Alterations whose sole purpose and effect is to comply with the UMB Seismic Retrofit Ordinances and that comply with the UMB Retrofit Architectural Design Guidelines, which guidelines shall be adopted by the HPC; and (2) Any other work so delegated to the Department by the HPC.

(b) Upon receipt of a building permit application and delegation of its review to Department staff, the Department will review and render a decision on a Permit for Minor Alterations without a hearing before the HPC. The Department shall mail its written decision approving a Permit for Minor Alteration to the applicant and any individuals or organizations who have so requested in writing to the Department. The Department's decision may be appealed to the HPC within 15 days of

the date of the written decision. The HPC may also review the decisions of the Department by its own motion if such motion is made within 20 days of the date of the written decision.

(c) All applications for a Permit to Alter that are not Minor Alterations delegated to Department staff shall be scheduled for a hearing by the HPC pursuant to the procedures in Sections 1111.4 and 1111.5 below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the following cases the Department shall process the permit application without further reference to the Permit to Alter procedures outlined herein:

(1) When the application is for a permit to make improvements to provide an accessible entrance to a Significant or Contributory building or any building within a Conservation District provided that the improvements conform to the requirements outlined in Section 1111.6 of this Code;

(2) When the application is for a permit to install business signs to a Significant or Contributory building or any building within a Conservation District provided that signage and transparency conform to the requirements outlined in Section 1111.6 of this Code;

(3) When the application is for a permit to install rooftop appurtenances that are not visible from a public right-ofway or public park, to a Significant or Contributory building or any building within a Conservation District provided that the improvements conform to the requirements outlined in Section 1111.6 of this Code; or; or1

(4) When the application is for a permit to install an awning to a Significant or Contributory building or any building within a Conservation District provided that the awning conforms to the requirements outlined in Section 1111.6 of this Code.

(4)1 When the application is for a permit to install business signs or awnings as defined in Section 602 of this Code to a Significant or Contributory building or any building within a Conservation District, provided that signage, awnings, and transparency conform to the requirements set forth in Section 1111.6; or

(5) When the application is for a permit to install low-profile skylights that are not visible from a public right-of-way or public park, provided that the improvements conform to the requirements set forth in Section 1111.6. (Added by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; amended by Ord. 227-92, App. 7/14/92; Ord. 95-12, File No. 120301, App.

5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012; Ord. 166-16 , File No. 160477, App. 8/11/2016, Eff. 9/10/2016; Ord. 179-18, File No. 180423, App. 7/27/2018, Eff. 8/27/2018; Ord. 122-23, File No. 230371, App. 7/5/2023, Eff. 8/5/2023; Ord. 159-23, File No. 230732, App. 7/28/2023, Eff. 8/28/2023; Ord. 33-24, File No. 231144, App. 2/21/2024, Eff. 3/23/2024) AMENDMENT HISTORY

Section header amended; section amended substantially in its entirety; Ord. 95-12, Eff. 6/20/2012. Divisions (a), (a)(1), (b), and (c) amended; Ord. 166-16 , Eff. 9/10/2016. Division (c) amended; divisions (c)(1)-(3) added; Ord. 179-18, Eff. 8/27/2018. Nonsubstantive amendments to divisions (c), (c)(2) and (3); divisions (c)(4) and (5) added; Ord. 122-23, Eff. 8/5/2023. Nonsubstantive amendments to divisions (c), (c)(2)-(3); division (c)(4) restated; division (c)(5) deleted; Ord.

159-23, Eff. 8/28/2023. Division (c)(3) amended; new divisions (c)(4)-(5)[1] added; Ord. 33-24 , Eff. 3/23/2024. CODIFICATION NOTE

  1. So in Ord. 33-24.

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Contents — San Francisco County Zoning Code
San Francisco County Zoning Code
  1. SEC. 101. PURPOSES.
  2. SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
  3. SEC. 103. HOUSING BALANCE MONITORING AND REPORTING.
  4. SEC. 105. ZONING MAP.
  5. SEC. 106. ZONING MAP INCORPORATED HEREIN.
  6. SEC. 108. NEW NAMES.
  7. SEC. 109. SEVERABILITY.
  8. SEC. 121. MINIMUM LOT WIDTH AND AREA.
  9. SEC. 122. HEIGHT AND BULK LIMITATIONS.
  10. SEC. 123. MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO.
  11. SEC. 124. BASIC FLOOR AREA RATIO.
  12. SEC. 125. FLOOR AREA PREMIUMS, DISTRICTS OTHER THAN NC, C-3 AN…
  13. SEC. 127. TRANSFER OF PERMITTED BASIC GROSS FLOOR AREA.
  14. SEC. 128. TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS IN C-3 DISTRICTS.
  15. SEC. 130. YARD AND SETBACK REQUIREMENTS, GENERAL.
  16. SEC. 131. LEGISLATED SETBACK LINES.
  17. SEC. 132. FRONT SETBACK AREAS IN RTO, RH, AND RM DISTRICTS AND…
  18. SEC. 133. SIDE YARDS, RH-1(D) DISTRICTS.
  19. SEC. 134. REAR YARDS IN R, RC, RTO, NC, M, CMUO, MUG, MUO, MUR…
  20. SEC. 135. USABLE OPEN SPACE FOR DWELLING UNITS AND GROUP HOUSI…
  21. SEC. 136. OBSTRUCTIONS OVER STREETS AND ALLEYS AND IN REQUIRED…
  22. SEC. 137. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN PLAZAS, ARCADES, AND SIDEWAL…
  23. SEC. 138. PRIVATELY-OWNED PUBLIC OPEN SPACE (POPOS) REQUIREMEN…
  24. SEC. 139. STANDARDS FOR BIRD-SAFE BUILDINGS.
  25. SEC. 140. ALL DWELLING UNITS IN ALL USE DISTRICTS TO FACE ON A…
  26. SEC. 141. SCREENING OF ROOFTOP FEATURES IN R, NC, C, M, WMUG, …
  27. SEC. 142. SCREENING AND GREENING OF PARKING AND VEHICULAR USE …
  28. SEC. 143. RESERVED.
  29. SEC. 144. STREET FRONTAGES IN RH, RTO, AND RM DISTRICTS.
  30. SEC. 145. FRONTAGES, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AREAS, WALKUP FACILITIES…
  31. SEC. 146. SUNLIGHT ACCESS TO PUBLIC SIDEWALKS IN C-3 DISTRICTS.
  32. SEC. 147. REDUCTION OF SHADOWS ON CERTAIN PUBLIC OR PUBLICLY A…
  33. SEC. 148. REDUCTION OF GROUND-LEVEL WIND CURRENTS FOR BUILDING…
  34. SEC. 149. [REDESIGNATED.]
  35. SEC. 149. BETTER ROOFS; LIVING ROOF ALTERNATIVE.
  36. SEC. 150. OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS.
  37. SEC. 151. [REPEALED.]
  38. SEC. 152. SCHEDULE OF REQUIRED OFF-STREET FREIGHT LOADING SPAC…
  39. SEC. 153. RULES FOR CALCULATION OF PARKING SPACES.
  40. SEC. 154. DIMENSIONS FOR OFF- STREET PARKING, FREIGHT LOADING,…
  41. SEC. 155. GENERAL STANDARDS AS TO LOCATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF …
  42. SEC. 156. PARKING LOTS.
  43. SEC. 157.1. [REPEALED.]
  44. SEC. 158. [REPEALED.]
  45. SEC. 159. [REPEALED.]
  46. SEC. 161. EXEMPTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS FROM OFF-STREET PARKING, F…
  47. SEC. 162. TOUR BUS LOADING SPACES IN C-3 DISTRICTS.
  48. SEC. 163. TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND TRANSPORTATIO…
  49. SEC. 164. SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENT PLACEMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM.
  50. SEC. 165. CHILD-CARE PLANS AND CHILD-CARE BROKERAGE SERVICES I…
  51. SEC. 166. CAR SHARING.
  52. SEC. 167. PARKING COSTS SEPARATED FROM HOUSING COSTS IN NEW RE…
  53. SEC. 169. TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
  54. SEC. 170. APPLICABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS.
  55. SEC. 171. COMPLIANCE OF USES REQUIRED.
  56. SEC. 172. COMPLIANCE OF STRUCTURES, OPEN SPACES, AND OFF-STREE…
  57. SEC. 173. COMPLIANCE OF LOTS REQUIRED.
  58. SEC. 174. COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS, STIPULATIONS AND SPECIAL…
  59. SEC. 175. APPROVAL OF PERMITS OR DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS.
  60. SEC. 176. ENFORCEMENT AGAINST VIOLATIONS.
  61. SEC. 177. LEGITIMIZATION OF CERTAIN MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS.
  62. SEC. 178. CONDITIONAL USES.
  63. SEC. 179. USES LOCATED IN NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
  64. SEC. 180. NONCONFORMING USES, NONCOMPLYING STRUCTURES AND SUBS…
  65. SEC. 181. NONCONFORMING USES: ENLARGEMENTS, ALTERATIONS AND RE…
  66. SEC. 182. NONCONFORMING USES: CHANGES OF USE.
  67. SEC. 183. NONCONFORMING USES: DISCONTINUANCE AND ABANDONMENT.
  68. SEC. 184. SHORT-TERM CONTINUANCE OF CERTAIN NONCONFORMING USES.
  69. SEC. 185. CONTINUANCE OF OTHER NONCONFORMING USES.
  70. SEC. 186. EXEMPTION OF LIMITED COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL NONCO…
  71. SEC. 187. AUDIT PROPERTIES; AMNESTY PROGRAM.
  72. SEC. 188. NONCOMPLYING STRUCTURES: ENLARGEMENTS, ALTERATIONS, …
  73. SEC. 189. SUBSTANDARD LOTS OF RECORD: CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER A…
  74. SEC. 190. CONVERSION OF MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARIES TO CANNA…
  75. SEC. 191. AUTHORIZATION OF TEMPORARY CANNABIS RETAIL USES.
  76. SEC. 192. LEGITIMIZATION OF CERTAIN LAND USES AT 3150 18TH STR…
  77. SEC. 193. CONTINUATION OF LONGSTANDING PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT.
  78. SEC. 201. CLASSES OF USE DISTRICTS.
  79. SEC. 202. PERMITTED BY THIS CODE.
  80. SEC. 203. EFFECT ON CERTAIN PUBLIC SERVICES.
  81. SEC. 204. ACCESSORY USES, GENERAL.
  82. SEC. 205. TEMPORARY USES, GENERAL.
  83. SEC. 206. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EDUCATOR HOUSING PROGRAMS.
  84. SEC. 207. DWELLING UNIT DENSITY LIMITS.
  85. SEC. 208. DENSITY LIMITATIONS FOR GROUP HOUSING OR HOMELESS SH…
  86. SEC. 209. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE OF RESIDENTIAL AND RESIDENTI…
  87. SEC. 210. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE OF COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, A…
  88. SEC. 211. P (PUBLIC) DISTRICTS.
  89. SEC. 212. [REPEALED.]
  90. SEC. 213. [REPEALED.]
  91. SEC. 215. [REPEALED.]
  92. SEC. 216. [REPEALED.]
  93. SEC. 217. [REPEALED.]
  94. SEC. 218. [REPEALED.]
  95. SEC. 219. [REPEALED.]
  96. SEC. 220. [REPEALED.]
  97. SEC. 221. [REPEALED.]
  98. SEC. 222. [REPEALED.]
  99. SEC. 223. [REPEALED.]
  100. SEC. 224. [REPEALED.]
  101. SEC. 225. [REPEALED.]
  102. SEC. 226. [REPEALED.]
  103. SEC. 227. [REPEALED.]
  104. SEC. 228. [REDESIGNATED.]
  105. SEC. 229. [REDESIGNATED.]
  106. SEC. 230. [REDESIGNATED.]
  107. SEC. 231. LIMITED CORNER COMMERCIAL USES IN RH, RTO-1, RTO-M, …
  108. SEC. 233. [REDESIGNATED.]
  109. SEC. 234. [REDESIGNATED.]
  110. SEC. 235. SPECIAL USE DISTRICTS.
  111. SEC. 236. [REPEALED.]
  112. SEC. 237. AUTOMOTIVE SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  113. SEC. 238. NOB HILL SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  114. SEC. 239. WASHINGTON-BROADWAY SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  115. SEC. 240. WATERFRONT SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  116. SEC. 241. DOLORES HEIGHTS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  117. SEC. 242. BERNAL HEIGHTS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  118. SEC. 243. VAN NESS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  119. SEC. 244. RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER DISTRICTS.
  120. SEC. 247. DOWNTOWN SUPPORT OPEN SPACE DEMONSTRATION SPECIAL US…
  121. SEC. 249.1. FOLSOM AND MAIN RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL SPECIAL USE…
  122. SEC. 249.2. THE VILLAGE SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  123. SEC. 249.3. OCEANVIEW LARGE RESIDENCE SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  124. SEC. 249.4. ALEXANDRIA THEATER SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  125. SEC. 249.5. NORTH OF MARKET RESIDENTIAL SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
  126. Article 6
  127. Part I
  128. Part II
  129. Part III
  130. Part IV
  131. Part V
  132. Part VI
  133. Part VII
  134. Part VIII
  135. Part IX
  136. Part X
  137. Part XI
  138. Part XII
  139. Part XIII
  140. Part XIV
  141. Part XV
  142. Part XVI

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