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SEC. 155. GENERAL STANDARDS AS TO LOCATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF OFF-STREET PARKING,…

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

(See Interpretations related to this Section.)

Required off-street parking and freight loading facilities shall meet the following standards as to location and arrangement. Facilities which are not required but are actually provided shall also meet the following standards unless such standards are stated to be applicable solely to required facilities. In application of the standards of this Code for offstreet parking and loading, reference may be made to provisions of other portions of the Municipal Code concerning offstreet parking and loading facilities, and to standards of the Better Streets Plan and the Bureau of Engineering of the Department of Public Works. Final authority for the application of such standards under this Code, and for adoption of regulations and interpretations in furtherance of the stated provisions of this Code shall, however, rest with the Planning Department.

(a) Required Parking and Loading on the Same Lot as the Use Served. Every required off-street parking or loading space shall be located on the same lot as the use served by it, except as provided in Section 161 of this Code.

(b) Off-Street Parking and Loading on Private Property. Every off-street parking or loading space shall be located in its entirety within the lot lines of private property. Shared driveways are encouraged.

(c) Adequate Means of Ingress and Egress. Every off-street parking or loading space shall have adequate means of ingress from and egress to a Street or Alley. Access to off-street loading spaces shall be from Alleys in preference to Streets, except where otherwise specified in this Code.

Adequate reservoir space shall be provided on private property for entrance of vehicles to off-street parking and loading spaces, except with respect to spaces independently accessible directly from the Street.

For Residential Uses, independently accessible off-street parking spaces shall include spaces accessed by automated garages, or car elevators, lifts or other space-efficient parking as defined in Section 154(a)(4) and Section 154(a)(5) provided that no more than one car needs to be moved under its own power to access any one space.

(d) Enclosure of Off-Street Loading and Service Vehicle Spaces Required. All off-street freight loading and service vehicle spaces in the C-3, DTR, MUO, CMUO, WMUO, MUG, WMUG, and MUR shall be completely enclosed, and access from a public Street or Alley shall be provided by means of a private service driveway that is totally contained within the structure. Such a private service driveway shall include adequate space to maneuver trucks and service vehicles into and out of all provided spaces, and shall be designed so as to facilitate access to the subject property while minimizing interference with street and sidewalk circulation. Any such private service driveway shall be of adequate width to accommodate drive-in movement from the adjacent curb or inside traffic lane but shall in no case exceed 30 feet. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an adjacent Street or Alley is determined by the Zoning Administrator to be primarily used for building service, up to four off-street freight or loading spaces may be allowed to be individually accessible directly from such a Street or Alley, pursuant to the provisions of Section 309 in a C-3 District, the provisions of Section 309.1 in a DTR District, the provisions of Section 329 for projects subject to Section 329 in a MUO, CMUO, WMUO, MUG, WMUG, or MUR District, or by administrative decision of the Zoning Administrator for projects that are not subject to Section 329 in a MUO, CMUO, WMUO, MUG, WMUG, or MUR District.

(e) Alternate Location of Service Vehicle Spaces. Where site constraints would make a consolidated freight loading and service vehicle facility impractical, service vehicle spaces required by Sections 153(a)(6) and 154(b)(3) of this Code may be located in a parking garage for the structure or other location separate from freight loading spaces.

(f) Freight Elevator Access to Off-Street Freight Loading. Whenever off-street freight loading spaces are provided, freight elevators immediately accessible from the loading dock shall be provided to all floors which contain uses that are included in the calculation of required number of freight loading spaces. If freight loading facilities are subterranean, the location and operation of freight elevators shall be designed, where feasible, to discourage use of freight elevators for deliveries from the ground floor. Directories of building tenants shall be provided at all freight elevators. A raised loading dock or receiving area shall be provided with sufficient dimensions to provide for short-term storage of goods. All required freight loading and service vehicle spaces shall be made available only to those vehicles at all times, and provision shall be made to minimize interference between freight loading and service operations, and garbage dumpster operations and storage.

vators. A raised loading dock or receiving area shall be provided with sufficient dimensions to provide for short-term storage of goods. All required freight loading and service vehicle spaces shall be made available only to those vehicles at all times, and provision shall be made to minimize interference between freight loading and service operations, and garbage dumpster operations and storage.

(g) Parking Pricing Requirements. In order to discourage long-term commuter parking, any off-street parking spaces provided for a structure or use other than Residential or Hotel in a C-3, DTR, SPD, MUG, WMUG, MUR, CMUO, WMUO, or MUO District, whether classified as an accessory or Conditional Use, that are otherwise available for use for long-term parking by downtown workers shall maintain a rate or fee structure for their use such that the rate charge for four hours of parking duration is no more than four times the rate charge for the first hour, and the rate charge for eight or more hours of parking duration is no less than 10 times the rate charge for the first hour. Additionally, no discounted parking rate shall be permitted for weekly, monthly or similar time-specific periods.

(h) Layout and Markings. The internal layout of off-street parking and loading spaces, driveways, aisles and maneuvering areas shall be according to acceptable standards, and all spaces shall be clearly marked.

(i) Parking Spaces for Persons with Disabilities. For each 25 off-street parking spaces provided, one such space shall be designed and designated for persons with disabilities.

(j) Bicycle Parking. Bicycle parking shall be provided, as required by Section 155.2.

(k) Encroachments. Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be arranged, designed and operated so as to prevent encroachments upon sidewalk areas, bicycle lanes, transit-only lanes and adjacent properties, in the maneuvering, standing, queuing and storage of vehicles, by means of the layout and operation of facilities and by use of bumper or wheel guards or such other devices as are necessary.

(l) Driveways. Driveways crossing sidewalks shall be no wider than necessary for ingress and egress, and shall be arranged, to the extent practical, so as to minimize the width and frequency of curb cuts, to maximize the number and size of on-street parking spaces available to the public, and to minimize conflicts with pedestrian and transit movements.

(m) Surfacing and Grading. Every off-street parking or loading facility shall be suitably graded, surfaced, drained and maintained.

(n) Parking or Loading in Required Open Spaces. Off-street parking and loading spaces shall not occupy any required open space, except as specified in Section 136 of this Code.

(o) Accounting of Parking and Loading Spaces. No area credited as all or part of a required off-street parking space shall also be credited as all or part of a required off-street loading space, or used as all or part of an unrequired off-street loading space. No area credited as all or part of a required off-street loading space shall also be credited as all or part of a required off-street parking space, or used as all or part of an unrequired off-street parking space.

(p) Freight Loading Adjacent to R Districts. Any off-street freight loading area located within 50 feet of any R District shall be completely enclosed within a building if such freight loading area is used in regular night operation.

(q) Rooftop Parking. Rooftop parking, where allowed, shall be screened as provided in Section 141(d) of this Code.

(r) Protected Pedestrian-, Cycling-, and Transit-Oriented Street Frontages. In order to protect and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and transit service, vehicular access to off-street parking or loading via curb cuts shall be regulated as set forth in this subsection (r). However, these limitations shall not apply to the creation of new publiclyaccessible Streets and Alleys. Any lot where the only vehicular access is via a protected street frontage described in this subsection (r) shall be exempt from any off-street loading requirement found elsewhere in this Code, unless a curb cut is otherwise authorized.

(1) Curb Cuts Not Permitted. No new or expanded curb cuts shall be permitted on the frontages listed in Table 155(r)(1) below:

TABLE 155(r)(1). PROHIBITED STREET FRONTAGES TABLE 155(r)(1). PROHIBITED STREET FRONTAGES 2nd Street from Market to Townsend Streets 3rd Street in the UMU District for 100 feet north and south of Mariposa Street and 100 feet north and south of 20th Street 3rd Street from Folsom Street to Townsend Street 4th Street from Folsom Street to Townsend Street 6th Street from Folsom Street to Brannan Street 6th Street for its entirety within the SoMa NCT District 9th Avenue from Lincoln Way to Judah Street in the Inner Sunset NC District 16th Street between Kansas and Mississippi Streets in the UMU and PDR-1-D Districts 16th Street between Guerrero and Capp Streets within the Valencia Street NCT and Mission Street NCT Districts 17th Street in the Castro Street NC District 18th Street in the Castro Street NC District 22nd Street between 3rd Street and Minnesota Streets within the NCT-2 District 24th Street in the 24th Street - Noe Valley NC District east of Castro Street 24th Street for the entirety of the 24th Street-Mission NCT District All Alleys within the North Beach NCD and the Telegraph Hill-North Beach Residential SUD

Street in the Castro Street NC District 18th Street in the Castro Street NC District 22nd Street between 3rd Street and Minnesota Streets within the NCT-2 District 24th Street in the 24th Street - Noe Valley NC District east of Castro Street 24th Street for the entirety of the 24th Street-Mission NCT District All Alleys within the North Beach NCD and the Telegraph Hill-North Beach Residential SUD

All Alleys in the Chinatown Mixed Use Districts Balboa Street from 35th Avenue to 38th Avenue Brannan Street from 2nd Street to 6th Street Broadway between Van Ness Avenue and Larkin Street Broadway from the Embarcadero on the east to Polk Street on the west Buchanan Street from Post Street to Sutter Street Bush Street between Van Ness Avenue and Larkin Street California Street between Van Ness Avenue and Hyde Street Carl Street in the Cole Valley NC District Castro Street in the Castro Street NC District Chenery Street within the Glen Park NCT District Chestnut Street from Divisadero Street to Fillmore Street Church Street in the Upper Market Street NCT and NCT-3 Districts Clement Street from Arguello Boulevard to Park Presidio Boulevard Cole Street in the Cole Valley NC District Columbus Avenue between Washington and North Point Streets Destination Alleyways, as designated in the Downtown Streetscape Plan Diamond Street within the Glen Park NCT District Divisadero from Page to Oak Streets, from Fell to Grove Streets, and from Geary to Pine Streets Ecker Alley in its entirety Fillmore Street in the Upper Fillmore NC District Folsom Street from 2nd Street to 13th Street Folsom Street, from Second Street to The Embarcadero, except as permitted pursuant to Section 827 Geneva Avenue from I-280 to San Jose Avenue within the NCT-2 District Grant Avenue between Columbus Avenue and Filbert Street Green Street between Grant Avenue and Columbus/Stockton Haight Street in the Lower Haight NC District and Haight Street NC District Hayes Street from Franklin Street to Laguna Street Howard Street from 5th Street to 13th Street Hyde Street between California Street and Pine Street Irving Street from 19th Avenue to 25th Avenue Irving Street from 6th Avenue to 10th Avenue in the Inner Sunset NC District Market Street for its entirety from The Embarcadero to Castro Street Mission Street for the entirety of the Mission Street NCT District Mission Street from The Embarcadero to Annie Street and from 10th Street to Division Street Natoma Street from 300 feet westerly of 1st Street to 2nd Street Ocean Avenue from Junipero Serra Boulevard to Lagunitas Drive in the Lakeside Village NC District Ocean Avenue within the Ocean Avenue NCT District Octavia Street from Hayes Street to Fell Street Parnassus Avenue in the Cole Valley NC District Pine Street between Van Ness Avenue and Larkin Street

from 10th Street to Division Street Natoma Street from 300 feet westerly of 1st Street to 2nd Street Ocean Avenue from Junipero Serra Boulevard to Lagunitas Drive in the Lakeside Village NC District Ocean Avenue within the Ocean Avenue NCT District Octavia Street from Hayes Street to Fell Street Parnassus Avenue in the Cole Valley NC District Pine Street between Van Ness Avenue and Larkin Street

Polk Street between Filbert Street and Golden Gate Avenue Post Street, on the north side from Webster Street to Laguna Street and on the south side from Fillmore Street to Webster Street Shaw Alley in its entirety Taraval Street from 19th Avenue to 22nd Avenue The Embarcadero (the western/inland side) between King and Jefferson Streets The Embarcadero in the DTR Districts Townsend Street from 2nd Street to 6th Street, except as permitted pursuant to Section 329(e)(3)(B) Union Street from Fillmore Street to Octavia Street Valencia Street between 15th and 23rd Streets in the Valencia Street NCT District Van Ness Avenue from Hayes Street to Mission Street

(2) Protected Street Features. No new or expanded curb cuts shall be permitted within the following street features:

(A) An adjacent on-street curbside striped bus stop (e.g., curbside bus stop zones with striping or red curb) that has been approved by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors;

(B) A transit bulb-out, as defined in the Better Streets Plan; or

(C) A transit boarding island, as defined in the Better Streets Plan, if vehicles accessing the curb cut would be required to cross over the boarding island.

(3) Corner Lots in the SALI District. For corner lots in the SALI District, no new curb cut shall be permitted, nor any existing curb cut expanded, on any Street or Alley identified as an Alley in the Western SoMa Area Plan of the General Plan if any property on the same block with frontage along that Street or Alley is designated as a RED or REDMX District.

(4) Curb Cuts Requiring Planning Commission Approval. In all zoning districts except RH, M, NC-S, P, PDR, and SALI, no new or expanded curb cuts shall be permitted on the frontages listed in Table 155(r)(4), unless approved by the Planning Commission through a Conditional Use Authorization pursuant to Planning Code Section 303. However, if the new or expanded curb cut is part of a project that requires Planning Commission approval under a separate section, such as Section 309 or 329, then the Planning Commission shall consider the curb cut as part of that approval. Regardless of the type of approval, in order to approve such a curb cut, the Planning Commission must make the findings required by Section 303(y). For projects within the C-3-0(SD) and the Central SoMa Special Use District, in no case shall such curb cut approval be granted where the proposed accessory parking would be greater than the amount principally permitted.

(A) Protected Streets. Planning Commission approval is required for any new or expanded curb cut that directly fronts any of the streets listed in Table 155(r)(4) below.

Table 155(r)(4). PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL OF CURB CUTS Table 155(r)(4). PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL OF CURB CUTS 1st Street from Market to Folsom Street 5th Street from Howard Street to Townsend Street 16th Street in the RTO Districts Beale Street from Market Street to Folsom Street Bryant Street from 2nd Street to 6th Street California Street in its entirety Church Street in the RTO Districts Dolores Street from Market Street to 16th Street Duboce Street from Noe Street to Market Street

Fillmore Street from Hermann Street to Duboce Avenue Folsom Street in the C-3 Districts Fremont Street from Market Street to Folsom Street Geary Street in the C-3 Districts Grant Avenue from Market Street to Sacramento Street Harrison Street from 2nd Street to 6th Street Mission Street in the C-3 Districts Montgomery Street from Market Street to Columbus Avenue Noe Street from Duboce Avenue to Market Street Octavia Street from Fell Street to Market Street Powell Street in the C-3 Districts Stockton Street in the C-3 Districts The Embarcadero (eastern/water side) between Townsend and Taylor Streets West Portal Avenue in the West Portal NC District

(B) Protected Street Types with Alternative Frontage. Planning Commission approval is required for any new or expanded curb cut that directly fronts any of the following when an alternative street frontage is available:

  • (i) Transit Preferential Streets designated in the Transportation Element;

  • (ii) Neighborhood Commercial Streets or Commercial Throughways defined by the Better Streets Plan; or

(iii) Bicycle routes or lanes as adopted by SFMTA Board of Directors. On such bicycle routes or lanes where the bicycle facility is only on one side of the street, the curb cut restriction shall apply to the side of the street with the bicycle facility, and shall not apply to the opposite side of the street.

(C) Protected Street Types with No Alternative Frontage. A new or expanded curb cut on street types listed in subsection (r)(4)(B) where no alternative frontage exists shall still require Planning Commission approval. However, in such cases the Planning Commission shall not make the findings of Section 303(y) and instead must find that the final design minimizes negative impacts to transit movement and to the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists to the fullest extent feasible.

t on street types listed in subsection (r)(4)(B) where no alternative frontage exists shall still require Planning Commission approval. However, in such cases the Planning Commission shall not make the findings of Section 303(y) and instead must find that the final design minimizes negative impacts to transit movement and to the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists to the fullest extent feasible.

(5) Existing Curb Cuts. Existing curb cuts on frontages listed in subsections (r)(1)-(r)(4) shall not be retained as part of a project that involves new construction, a building alteration that increases the Gross Floor Area of a structure by 20% or more, or a change of use affecting more than 50% of the structure’s Gross Floor Area. However, the Planning Commission may allow retention or relocation of up to one existing curb cut along any of the site’s frontages, through Conditional Use authorization or other applicable discretionary Planning Commission approval, provided that no existing curb cut shall be maintained if it is located in or affects a protected transit stop feature pursuant to subsection (r)(2), and no existing curb cut may be relocated to newly affect such features. In granting such approval, the Planning Commission must make the additional findings required under Planning Code Section 303(y) and must also find that (1) the project represents an increase in residential density and/or non-residential intensity that is appropriate to the site, such as its proximity to transit or its location within a mixed-use area; and (2) the proposed curb cut is necessary to support the project’s scale and function, while being sited and designed to minimize to the fullest extent feasible negative impacts on pedestrian activity, street-level commercial activity, the movement of transit vehicles and passengers, and bicycle facilities.

(6) Sites owned by the City and County of San Francisco under the jurisdiction of the SFMTA are not subject to the provisions of this Section 155(r).

(7) Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse projects pursuant to Section 210.5. Pre-existing garage entries, driveways, or other vehicular access to off-street parking and loading via curb cuts for Commercial to Residential

Adaptive Reuse projects are not subject to Section 155(r). Creation of new or expanded garage entries, driveways, or other vehicular access to off-street parking and loading via curb cuts shall be subject to Section 155(r).

(s) Off-Street Parking and Loading in C-3 Districts. In C-3 Districts, restrictions on the design and location of offstreet parking and loading and access to off-street parking and loading are necessary to reduce their negative impacts on neighborhood quality and the pedestrian environment.

(1) Ground Floor or Below-Grade Parking and Street Frontages with Active Uses.

(A) All off-street parking in C-3 Districts (both as Accessory and Principal Uses) shall be built no higher than the ground-level (up to a maximum ceiling height of 20 feet from grade) unless an exception to this requirement is granted in accordance with Section 309 and Subsection 155(s)(2) below.

(B) Parking located at or above ground level shall conform to the street frontage requirements of Section 145.1(c), and shall be lined with active uses, as defined by Section 145.4(d), to a depth of at least 25 feet along all ground-level street frontages, except for space allowed for parking and loading access, building egress, and access to mechanical systems.

(2) Residential Accessory Parking. For residential accessory off-street parking in C-3 Districts, two additional floors of above-grade parking beyond the at-grade parking allowed by Section 155(s)(1), to a maximum ceiling height of 35 feet from grade, may be permitted subject to the provisions of Section 309 of this Code provided it can be clearly demonstrated that transportation easements or contaminated soil conditions make it practically infeasible to build parking below-ground. The determination of practical infeasibility shall be made based on an independent, third-party geotechnical assessment conducted by a licensed professional and funded by the project sponsor. The Planning Director shall make a determination as to the objectivity of the study prior to the Planning Commission’s consideration of the exception application under Section 309.

(3) Temporary Parking Lots. Parking lots permitted in C-3 Districts as temporary uses according to Section 156(f) are not subject to the requirements of subsection (1)(B) above.

(4) Parking and Loading Access.

(A) Width of Openings. Any single development is limited to a total of two Façade openings for parking and loading ingress or egress; these Façade openings shall conform to the requirements of Sec. 145.1(c)(2).

(B) Porte Cocheres. Porte cocheres to accommodate passenger loading and unloading are not permitted except as part of a Hotel, inn, or hostel use. For the purpose of this Section, a “porte cochere” is defined as an off-street driveway, either covered or uncovered, for the purpose of passenger loading or unloading, situated between the ground floor façade of the building and the sidewalk.

(t) Garage Additions in the North Beach Neighborhood Commercial District, North Beach-Telegraph Hill Residential Special Use District, and Chinatown Mixed Use Districts. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, a mandatory discretionary review hearing by the Planning Commission is required in order to install a garage in an existing or proposed structure of two units or more in the North Beach NCD, the North Beach-Telegraph Hill Residential SUD, and the Chinatown Mixed Use Districts.

cial Use District, and Chinatown Mixed Use Districts.** Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, a mandatory discretionary review hearing by the Planning Commission is required in order to install a garage in an existing or proposed structure of two units or more in the North Beach NCD, the North Beach-Telegraph Hill Residential SUD, and the Chinatown Mixed Use Districts.

In order to approve the installation of any garage in these districts, the City shall find that: (1) the proposed garage opening/addition of off-street parking will not cause the elimination or reduction of ground-story retail or commercial space; (2) the proposed garage opening/addition of off-street parking will not eliminate or decrease the square footage of any welling nit1 Dwelling Unit, (3) the building has not had two or more evictions with each eviction associated with a separate nit1 Dwelling Unit(s) within the past 10 years, and (4) the garage would not front on an Alley pursuant to Section 155(r)(1) of this Code or on a public right-of-way narrower than 41 feet, and (5) the proposed garage/addition of off-street parking is consistent with the Priority Policies of Section 101.1 of this Code. Prior to the issuance of notification under Section 311 or 312 of this Code, the Department shall require a signed affidavit by the project sponsor attesting to (1), (2), and (3) above, which the Department shall independently verify, and the Department shall determine whether the project complies with subsection (4) above. If the project sponsor does not provide such signed affidavit, or the garage would

front on an Alley or on a public right-of-way narrower than 41 feet, the Department shall disapprove the application and no Planning Commission hearing shall be required.

(u) Driveway and Loading Operations Plan (DLOP).

(1) Purpose. The purpose of a Driveway and Loading Operations Plan (DLOP) is to reduce potential conflicts between driveway and loading

operations, including passenger and freight loading activities, and pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles, to maximize reliance of on-site loading spaces to accommodate new loading demand, and to ensure that off-site loading activity is considered in the design of new buildings.

(2) Applicability. Development projects of more than 100,000 net new Gross Floor Area.

(3) Requirement. Applicable projects shall prepare a DLOP for review and approval by the Planning Department, in consultation with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. The DLOP shall be written in accordance with any guidelines issued by the Planning Department.

(Amended by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 32-91, App. 1/25/91; Ord. 314-95, App. 10/6/95; Ord. 31-96, App. 1/11/96; Ord. 343-98, App. 11/19/98; Ord. 199-00, File No. 001102, App. 8/18/2000; Ord. 193-01, File No. 010488, App. 9/7/2001; Ord. 217-05, File No. 050865, App. 8/19/2005; Ord. 129-06, File No, 060372, App. 6/22/2006; Ord. 72-08, File No. 071157, App. 4/3/2008; Ord. 112-08, File No. 080095, App. 6/30/2008; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 61-09, File No. 090181, App. 4/17/2009; Ord. 187-09, File No. 090867, App. 8/12/2009; Ord. 77-10, File No. 091165, App. 4/16/2010; Ord. 25-11, File No. 101464, App. 2/24/2011; Ord. 63-11, File No. 101053, App. 4/7/2011, Eff. 5/7/2011; Ord. 109-11, File No. 101350, App. 6/29/2011, Eff. 7/29/2011; Ord. 35-12 , File No. 111305, App. 2/21/2012, Eff. 3/22/2012; Ord. 182-12 , File No. 120665, App. 8/8/2012, Eff. 9/7/2012; Ord. 42-13 , File No. 130002, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 56-13 , File No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 232-14 , File No. 120881, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 229-15 , File No. 151126, App. 12/22/2015, Eff. 1/21/2016; Ord. 99-17, File No. 170206, App.

5/19/2017, Eff. 6/18/2017; Ord. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; Ord. 196-17, File No. 170419, App. 10/5/2017, Eff. 11/4/2017; Ord. 205-17, File No. 170418, App. 11/3/2017, Eff. 12/3/2017; Ord. 277-18, File No. 180914, App. 11/20/2018, Eff. 12/21/2018; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 311-18, File No. 181028, App. 12/21/2018, Eff. 1/21/2019; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 126-20, File No. 200559, App. 7/31/2020, Eff. 8/31/2020; Ord. 47-21, File No. 201175, App. 4/16/2021, Eff. 5/17/2021; Ord. 136-21, File No. 210674, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; 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; Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026)

AMENDMENT HISTORY

Divisions (d), (s)(1)(B), and (s)(3)(B) amended; Ord. 63-11, Eff. 5/7/2011. Divisions (g), (i), and (r) amended; Ord. 10911, Eff. 7/29/2011. Divisions (r)(2)(T) and (r)(2)(U) added; Ord. 35-12 , Eff. 3/22/2012. Division (r)(2)(D) amended; divisions (r)(2)(V)-(Y) added; division (r)(3) amended; division (r)(3)(I) added; Ord. 182-12 , Eff. 9/7/2012. Divisions (d) and (g) amended; new division (r)(5) added and former division (r)(5) redesignated as (r)(6); Ord. 42-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Designation of subdivisions of division (r)(2) corrected; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Divisions (d) and (e) amended; new divisions (r)(2)(Z) and (r)(2)(AA) added; former division (r)(3)(A) amended and divided into current divisions (r)(3)(A) and (B); former divisions (r)(3)(B)-(E) redesignated as (r)(3)(C)-(F); former division (r)(3)(F) deleted; division (r)(3)(J) added; division (s)(1)(A) amended; former division (s)(1)(B)(i) deleted; former divisions (s)(2) and (s)(2)(A) amended and merged to form current division (s)(2); former division (s)(2)(B) deleted; division (s)(3) amended; former divisions (s) (3)(A) and (B) deleted; division (s)(4) amended; division (t) added; Ord. 232-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Divisions (d), (s)(1) (B), and (s)(4)(B) amended; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Divisions (r)(2)(BB) and (CC) added; Ord. 229-15 , Eff. 1/21/2016. Introductory paragraph and divisions (a)-(r) amended; former division (c)(1) redesignated as unnumbered; division (s)(1)(A) amended; divisions (s)(1)(C) and (s)(3) deleted; former divisions (s)(4) and (s)(5) redesignated (s)(3) and (s)(4) and current divisions (s)(3) and (s)(4)(B) amended; Ord. 99-17, Eff. 6/18/2017. Divisions (r) and (r)(2)(CC)

amended; divisions (r)(2)(DD)-(FF) added; Ord. 129-17, Eff. 7/30/2017. Division (t) amended; Ord. 196-17, Eff. 11/4/2017. Division (r) amended; divisions (r)(2)(GG)-(LL) added; division (s)(4) designation corrected; Ord. 205-17, Eff. 12/3/2017. Divisions (r), (r)(1), and (r)(3)-(6) amended; divisions (r)(2)(MM), (r)(3)(A), and (r)(3)(K)-(M) added; former divisions (r)(3)(A)-(D) redesignated as (r)(3)(B)-(E); former division (r)(3)(E) deleted; Ord. 277-18 , Eff. 12/21/2018. Section header amended; divisions (d), (g), (r)(2)(N), (r)(2)(Y), and (r)(3) amended; divisions (r)(2)(GG)-(MM) [second group], (r)(3)(K)-(M) [second group], and (u)-(u)(3) added; Ord. 296-18 , Eff. 1/12/2019. Introductory paragraph and divisions (a), (s)(1)(A), and (s)(3) amended; Ord. 311-18 , Eff. 1/21/2019. Divisions (r), (r)(3)(A), and (r)(4) amended; division (r)(2)(MM) deleted; divisions (r)(2)(GG)-(MM) [second group] redesignated as (r)(2)(MM)-(RR) and (r)(2) (MMMM); division (r)(2)(TT) added; divisions (r)(3)(K)-(M) [second group] redesignated as (r)(3)(N)-(P); Ord. 63-20 , Eff. 5/25/2020. Divisions (u) and (u)(2) amended; Ord. 126-20 , Eff. 8/31/2020. Division (r)(2)(MMMM) redesignated as (r)(2)(SS); Ord. 47-21, Eff. 5/17/2021 and Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Division (r)(7) added; Ord. 159-23, Eff. 8/28/2023. Divisions (r)(4) and (s)(4)(A) amended; Ord. 33-24, Eff. 3/23/2024. Divisions (r)(1)-(6) replaced; Tables 155(r)(1), 155(r)

ted as (r)(3)(N)-(P); Ord. 63-20 , Eff. 5/25/2020. Divisions (u) and (u)(2) amended; Ord. 126-20 , Eff. 8/31/2020. Division (r)(2)(MMMM) redesignated as (r)(2)(SS); Ord. 47-21, Eff. 5/17/2021 and Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Division (r)(7) added; Ord. 159-23, Eff. 8/28/2023. Divisions (r)(4) and (s)(4)(A) amended; Ord. 33-24, Eff. 3/23/2024. Divisions (r)(1)-(6) replaced; Tables 155(r)(1), 155(r)

(4) added; divisions (r), (t), (u), and (u)(2) amended; Ord. 245-25, Eff. 1/12/2026. CODIFICATION NOTE

  1. So in Ord. 245-25.

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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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