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SEC. 202. PERMITTED BY THIS CODE.

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

(See Interpretations related to this Section.)

(a) The use limitations of this Code shall be set forth in Articles 2, 6, 7, 8, and 9 for the use districts of the City, as established by Section 201 of this Code and as shown on the Zoning Map referred to in Section 105 of this Code, subject

to the provisions of Section 105. The uses permitted under this Code shall consist of the following:

  • (1) Principal Uses, as defined in Section 102 of this Code;

  • (2) Conditional Uses, as defined in Section 102 of this Code; and

  • (3) Accessory Uses, as defined in Section 102 of this Code. Any Use not qualified as an Accessory Use shall be classified as a Principal Use or Conditional Use.

(b) Permitted uses shall include in each established district such uses not specifically listed in Articles 2, 7, or 8 of this Code as are from time to time determined by the Zoning Administrator to be permitted uses in accordance with Section 307(a) of this Code.

(c) No use shall be permitted in any R District, C District, PDR-1 Districts, or M-1 District which by reason of its nature or manner of operation creates conditions that are hazardous, noxious or offensive through emission of odor, fumes, smoke, cinders, dust, gas, vibration, glare, refuse, water-carried waste, or excessive noise.

(d) Except as specifically provided herein to the contrary, the provisions of Articles 2, 7, 8, and 9 of this Code shall apply to all uses, properties, and developments, both public and private, including those of the City and County of San Francisco.

(Amended by Ord. 262-80, App. 6/9/80; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 63-91, App. 2/27/91; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 12917, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017)

AMENDMENT HISTORY

Division (a) amended; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Divisions (a)-(a)(3) amended; Ord. 129-17, Eff. 7/30/2017.

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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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