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SEC. 204. ACCESSORY USES, GENERAL.

SEC. 204.3. ACCESSORY USES FOR USES OTHER THAN DWELLINGS IN C, RC, M, AND PDR DISTRICTS.

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

(See Interpretations related to this Section.)

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this Section 204.3 is to regulate Accessory Uses other than Dwellings in C, RC, M, and PDR Districts, so as to permit related Accessory Uses while restricting uses incompatible with the purpose or detrimental to the character of a district.

(b) Controls. An Accessory Use to a lawful Principal or Conditional Use is subject to the following limitations:

(1) Floor Area Limitations. An Accessory Use may not occupy more than one-third of the total Floor Area occupied by such use, any additional accessory uses, and the Principal or Conditional Use to which it is accessory, except in the case of:

  • (A) accessory off-street parking or loading;

  • (B) accessory wholesaling, manufacturing, or processing of foods, goods, or commodities; and

  • (C) except in PDR Districts, Arts Activities.

  • (2) Noise and Vibration Limitations. Any noise, vibration, or unhealthful emissions may not extend beyond the premises of the use.

(3) Limitations on Cannabis Retail Accessory Uses. The sale of cannabis as an Accessory Use is subject to any applicable limitations or regulations imposed by the Office of Cannabis. Cannabis Retail is not permitted as an Accessory Use unless the Cannabis Retail establishment holds a permit from the City’s Office of Cannabis specifically permitting Cannabis Retail accessory to another activity on the same premises.

(4) Accessory Catering Use to Restaurants and Limited Restaurants. Catering Uses that satisfy the limitations set forth in Section 703(d)(3)(B) shall be permitted as an Accessory Use to Restaurants and Limited Restaurants.

(5) Retail Uses Accessory to PDR Uses in PDR Districts. Multiple PDR uses within a single building or development may combine their accessory retail allotment into one or more shared retail spaces, provided that the total allotment of accessory retail space per use does not exceed what otherwise would be permitted by this Section 204.3.

(6) Antennas in C, M, and PDR Districts. An antenna or a microwave or satellite dish shall be permitted in, C, M, and PDR Districts, except PDR-1-B Districts, without regard to the height of such antenna or microwave or satellite dish

and without regard to the proximity of such antenna or microwave or satellite dish to any R District, if the following requirements are met:

(A) the antenna or dish will be used for the reception of indoor wireless, microwave, radio, satellite, or television broadcasts for the exclusive benefit of the residents or occupants in the building on which the facility is placed;;1

(B) the antenna or dish is an accessory use to a lawful principal or conditional use; and; and1

(C) the antenna or dish shall comply with any applicable design review criteria, including but not limited to any applicable design review criteria contained in the Wireless Telecommunications Services Facility Siting Guidelines. This subsection (6) shall not apply to an antenna or a microwave or satellite dish that complies with the Federal Communications Commission’s Over the Air Receiving Device rules.

(d)1 Prohibition of Accessory Adult Sex Venues. Adult Sex Venues as defined in Section 102 of this Code are not permitted as an accessory use.

(e) Accessory Storage in C Districts. Accessory storage on the second floor and above is permitted for stock and trade relating to retail uses with street level storefronts in the same building. There shall be no limitation on the square footage of accessory storage as long as the storage supports a ground floor use in the same building.

(f) Prohibition of Non-Cannabis Parcel Delivery Service as Accessory Use. Parcel Delivery Service, as defined in Section 102 of the Planning Code, for merchandise or products other than cannabis and cannabis products is not allowed as an accessory use to any other principal use.

(Amended by Ord. 111-80, App. 3/28/80; Ord. 99-08, File No. 080339, App. 6/11/2008; Ord. 71-14 , File No. 131205, App. 5/23/2014, Eff. 6/22/2014; 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. 166-16 , File No. 160477, App. 8/11/2016, Eff. 9/10/2016; Ord. 229-17, File No. 171041, App. 12/6/2017, Eff. 1/5/2018; Ord. 196-18, File No. 180320, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 7522, File No. 220264, App. 5/13/2022, Eff. 6/13/2022; Ord. 70-23, File No. 220340, App. 5/3/2023, Eff. 6/3/2023; 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. 47-24, File No. 231223, App. 3/15/2024, Eff. 4/15/2024; Ord. 54-24, File No. 240169, App. 3/22/2024, Eff. 4/22/2024, Retro. 3/30/2024; Ord. 113-24, File No. 240193, App. 6/13/2024, Eff. 7/14/2024, Retro. 3/30/2024) AMENDMENT HISTORY

[Former] division (d) amended; Ord. 71-14 , Eff. 6/22/2014. Section header and division (a) amended; former divisions (a) (1)-(3) and (5) deleted, former division (a)(4) redesignated as (a)(1) and amended, and new division (a)(2) added; former divisions (b) and (c) deleted and former division (d) redesignated as (b) and amended; Ord. 232-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Section header amended; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Division (c) added; Ord. 166-16 , Eff. 9/10/2016. Divisions (a)-(a) (2) amended; division (a)(3) added; divisions (b) and (c)-(c)(2) amended; Ord. 229-17, Eff. 1/5/2018. Division (a)(4) added; Ord. 196-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. Division (d) added; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. New division (a) added; former divisions (a)-(a)(4), (b), and (c)-(c)(3) amended as (b)-(b)(6)(C); Ord. 70-23, Eff. 6/3/2023. Division (e) added; Ord. 12223, Eff. 8/5/2023, and Ord. 159-23, Eff. 8/28/2023. Division (f) added; Ord. 47-24, Eff. 4/15/2024; and Ord. 54-24, Retro. 3/30/2024; and Ord. 113-24, Eff. 7/14/2024, Retro. 3/30/2024.

CODIFICATION NOTE

  1. So in Ord. 70-23.

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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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