SEC. 153. RULES FOR CALCULATION OF PARKING SPACES.
San Francisco County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Francisco County
(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
(a) In the calculation of off-street parking, freight loading spaces, and bicycle parking spaces permitted or required under Sections 151.1, 152, 152.1, 155.2, 155.3, and 155.4 of this Code, or pursuant to any Special Use District, the following rules shall apply:
(1) In the case of mixed uses in the same structure, on the same lot, or in the same development, or more than one type of activity involved in the same use, the total permitted off-street parking and requirements for loading spaces shall be the sum of the requirements for the various uses or activities computed separately, including fractional values.
(2) Where an initial quantity of floor area, rooms, seats, or other form of measurement is exempted from loading requirements, such exemption shall apply only once to the aggregate of that form of measurement. If the initial exempted quantity is exceeded, for either a structure or a lot or a development, the requirement shall apply to the entire such structure, lot, or development, unless the contrary is specifically stated in this Code. In combining the requirements for use
categories in mixed use buildings, all exemptions for initial quantities of square footage for the uses in question shall be disregarded, excepting the exemption for the initial quantity which is the least among all the uses in question.
(3) Where a structure or use is divided by a zoning district boundary line, the requirements as to quantity of loading spaces and permitted off-street parking shall be calculated in proportion to the amount of such structure or use located in each zoning district.
(4) Where seats are used as the form of measurement, each 22 inches of space on benches, pews and similar seating facilities shall be considered one seat.
(5) When the calculation of the number of required freight loading or permitted off-street parking spaces results in a fractional number, a fraction of one-half or more shall be adjusted to the next higher whole number of spaces, and a fraction of less than one-half shall be disregarded, except where the number of permitted spaces is less than one, in which case one parking space shall be permitted.
(6) In C-3, MUG, MUR, MUO, CMUO, and UMU Districts, substitution of two service vehicle spaces for each required off-street freight loading space may be made, provided that a minimum of 50% of the required number of spaces are provided for freight loading. Where the 50% allowable substitution results in a fraction, the fraction shall be disregarded.
(b) The requirements for off-street loading and permitted off-street parking for any use not specifically mentioned in Sections 151.1 and 152 shall be the same as for a use specified which is similar, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(c) For all uses and all districts covered by Section 151.1, the rules of calculation established by subsection (a) of this Section 153 shall apply to the determination of maximum permitted spaces allowed by Section 151.1. (Amended by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 217-05, File No. 050865, App. 8/19/2005; Ord. 72-08, File No. 071157, App. 4/3/2008; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 183-13 , File No. 130528, App. 8/7/2013, Eff. 9/6/2013; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Division (a) amended; Ord. 183-13 , Eff. 9/6/2013. Division (a)(6) amended; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019. Section header and divisions (a)- (a)(3) and (a)(5)-(c) amended; Ord. 245-25, Eff. 1/12/2026.
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- SEC. 101. PURPOSES.
- SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
- SEC. 103. HOUSING BALANCE MONITORING AND REPORTING.
- SEC. 105. ZONING MAP.
- SEC. 106. ZONING MAP INCORPORATED HEREIN.
- SEC. 108. NEW NAMES.
- SEC. 109. SEVERABILITY.
- SEC. 121. MINIMUM LOT WIDTH AND AREA.
- SEC. 122. HEIGHT AND BULK LIMITATIONS.
- SEC. 123. MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO.
- SEC. 124. BASIC FLOOR AREA RATIO.
- SEC. 125. FLOOR AREA PREMIUMS, DISTRICTS OTHER THAN NC, C-3 AN…
- SEC. 127. TRANSFER OF PERMITTED BASIC GROSS FLOOR AREA.
- SEC. 128. TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS IN C-3 DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 130. YARD AND SETBACK REQUIREMENTS, GENERAL.
- SEC. 131. LEGISLATED SETBACK LINES.
- SEC. 132. FRONT SETBACK AREAS IN RTO, RH, AND RM DISTRICTS AND…
- SEC. 133. SIDE YARDS, RH-1(D) DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 134. REAR YARDS IN R, RC, RTO, NC, M, CMUO, MUG, MUO, MUR…
- SEC. 135. USABLE OPEN SPACE FOR DWELLING UNITS AND GROUP HOUSI…
- SEC. 136. OBSTRUCTIONS OVER STREETS AND ALLEYS AND IN REQUIRED…
- SEC. 137. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN PLAZAS, ARCADES, AND SIDEWAL…
- SEC. 138. PRIVATELY-OWNED PUBLIC OPEN SPACE (POPOS) REQUIREMEN…
- SEC. 139. STANDARDS FOR BIRD-SAFE BUILDINGS.
- SEC. 140. ALL DWELLING UNITS IN ALL USE DISTRICTS TO FACE ON A…
- SEC. 141. SCREENING OF ROOFTOP FEATURES IN R, NC, C, M, WMUG, …
- SEC. 142. SCREENING AND GREENING OF PARKING AND VEHICULAR USE …
- SEC. 143. RESERVED.
- SEC. 144. STREET FRONTAGES IN RH, RTO, AND RM DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 145. FRONTAGES, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AREAS, WALKUP FACILITIES…
- SEC. 146. SUNLIGHT ACCESS TO PUBLIC SIDEWALKS IN C-3 DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 147. REDUCTION OF SHADOWS ON CERTAIN PUBLIC OR PUBLICLY A…
- SEC. 148. REDUCTION OF GROUND-LEVEL WIND CURRENTS FOR BUILDING…
- SEC. 149. [REDESIGNATED.]
- SEC. 149. BETTER ROOFS; LIVING ROOF ALTERNATIVE.
- SEC. 150. OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS.
- SEC. 151. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 152. SCHEDULE OF REQUIRED OFF-STREET FREIGHT LOADING SPAC…
- SEC. 153. RULES FOR CALCULATION OF PARKING SPACES.
- SEC. 154. DIMENSIONS FOR OFF- STREET PARKING, FREIGHT LOADING,…
- SEC. 155. GENERAL STANDARDS AS TO LOCATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF …
- SEC. 156. PARKING LOTS.
- SEC. 157.1. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 158. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 159. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 161. EXEMPTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS FROM OFF-STREET PARKING, F…
- SEC. 162. TOUR BUS LOADING SPACES IN C-3 DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 163. TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND TRANSPORTATIO…
- SEC. 164. SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENT PLACEMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM.
- SEC. 165. CHILD-CARE PLANS AND CHILD-CARE BROKERAGE SERVICES I…
- SEC. 166. CAR SHARING.
- SEC. 167. PARKING COSTS SEPARATED FROM HOUSING COSTS IN NEW RE…
- SEC. 169. TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
- SEC. 170. APPLICABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS.
- SEC. 171. COMPLIANCE OF USES REQUIRED.
- SEC. 172. COMPLIANCE OF STRUCTURES, OPEN SPACES, AND OFF-STREE…
- SEC. 173. COMPLIANCE OF LOTS REQUIRED.
- SEC. 174. COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS, STIPULATIONS AND SPECIAL…
- SEC. 175. APPROVAL OF PERMITS OR DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS.
- SEC. 176. ENFORCEMENT AGAINST VIOLATIONS.
- SEC. 177. LEGITIMIZATION OF CERTAIN MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS.
- SEC. 178. CONDITIONAL USES.
- SEC. 179. USES LOCATED IN NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 180. NONCONFORMING USES, NONCOMPLYING STRUCTURES AND SUBS…
- SEC. 181. NONCONFORMING USES: ENLARGEMENTS, ALTERATIONS AND RE…
- SEC. 182. NONCONFORMING USES: CHANGES OF USE.
- SEC. 183. NONCONFORMING USES: DISCONTINUANCE AND ABANDONMENT.
- SEC. 184. SHORT-TERM CONTINUANCE OF CERTAIN NONCONFORMING USES.
- SEC. 185. CONTINUANCE OF OTHER NONCONFORMING USES.
- SEC. 186. EXEMPTION OF LIMITED COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL NONCO…
- SEC. 187. AUDIT PROPERTIES; AMNESTY PROGRAM.
- SEC. 188. NONCOMPLYING STRUCTURES: ENLARGEMENTS, ALTERATIONS, …
- SEC. 189. SUBSTANDARD LOTS OF RECORD: CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER A…
- SEC. 190. CONVERSION OF MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARIES TO CANNA…
- SEC. 191. AUTHORIZATION OF TEMPORARY CANNABIS RETAIL USES.
- SEC. 192. LEGITIMIZATION OF CERTAIN LAND USES AT 3150 18TH STR…
- SEC. 193. CONTINUATION OF LONGSTANDING PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT.
- SEC. 201. CLASSES OF USE DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 202. PERMITTED BY THIS CODE.
- SEC. 203. EFFECT ON CERTAIN PUBLIC SERVICES.
- SEC. 204. ACCESSORY USES, GENERAL.
- SEC. 205. TEMPORARY USES, GENERAL.
- SEC. 206. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND EDUCATOR HOUSING PROGRAMS.
- SEC. 207. DWELLING UNIT DENSITY LIMITS.
- SEC. 208. DENSITY LIMITATIONS FOR GROUP HOUSING OR HOMELESS SH…
- SEC. 209. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE OF RESIDENTIAL AND RESIDENTI…
- SEC. 210. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE OF COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, A…
- SEC. 211. P (PUBLIC) DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 212. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 213. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 215. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 216. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 217. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 218. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 219. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 220. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 221. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 222. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 223. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 224. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 225. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 226. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 227. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 228. [REDESIGNATED.]
- SEC. 229. [REDESIGNATED.]
- SEC. 230. [REDESIGNATED.]
- SEC. 231. LIMITED CORNER COMMERCIAL USES IN RH, RTO-1, RTO-M, …
- SEC. 233. [REDESIGNATED.]
- SEC. 234. [REDESIGNATED.]
- SEC. 235. SPECIAL USE DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 236. [REPEALED.]
- SEC. 237. AUTOMOTIVE SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 238. NOB HILL SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 239. WASHINGTON-BROADWAY SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 240. WATERFRONT SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 241. DOLORES HEIGHTS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 242. BERNAL HEIGHTS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 243. VAN NESS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 244. RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER DISTRICTS.
- SEC. 247. DOWNTOWN SUPPORT OPEN SPACE DEMONSTRATION SPECIAL US…
- SEC. 249.1. FOLSOM AND MAIN RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL SPECIAL USE…
- SEC. 249.2. THE VILLAGE SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 249.3. OCEANVIEW LARGE RESIDENCE SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 249.4. ALEXANDRIA THEATER SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- SEC. 249.5. NORTH OF MARKET RESIDENTIAL SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
- Article 6
- Part I
- Part II
- Part III
- Part IV
- Part V
- Part VI
- Part VII
- Part VIII
- Part IX
- Part X
- Part XI
- Part XII
- Part XIII
- Part XIV
- Part XV
- Part XVI