SEC. 238. NOB HILL SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.

In order to provide for an established area with a unique combination of uses and a special identity, there shall be a Nob Hill Special Use District as designated on Sectional Map No. SU01 of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco. The following provisions shall apply within such special use district:

(a) A Hotel, as defined in Section 102 of this Code, may be permitted by the Planning Commission as a Conditional Use under Section 303 of this Code.

(b) In connection with any permitted Principal Use or Conditional Use located in such Special Use District, incidental Commercial Uses Commercial Uses may be permitted by the Planning Commission as a Conditional Use under Section 303033 of this Code, if designed primarily for occupants of and visitors to the use to which they are incidental, accessible to the general public only from within the building, and not identified outside the building by means of any sign or signs. (c) A Private Community Facility as defined in Section 102 of this Code, and that is not operated as a gainful (forprofit) business may be permitted by the Planning Commission as a Conditional Use under Section 303 of this Code.

(d) Eating and Drinking uses as defined in Section 102 of this Code may be permitted by the Planning Commission as a Conditional Use under Section 303 of this Code, except that Limited Restaurant uses as defined in Section 102 of this Code shall be permitted as Principal Uses and any Eating and Drinking uses that are also defined as Formula Retail are not permitted. The limitations on design, accessibility, and identification set forth in subsection (b) above shall not apply to such uses hereby permitted.

(e) Arts Activities uses as defined in Section 102 of this Code shall be principally permitted on the first floor and as a Conditional Use under Section 303 of this Code on the second floor and above.

(f) Signage for Principal Uses or for Eating and Drinking uses within the Nob Hill Special Use District shall be limited as per Section 606 of this Code, with the exception that projecting Signs in the form of sign copy on Canopies and Awnings shall be permitted for Eating and Drinking uses in lieu of Wall Signs unless otherwise limited as a condition of approval of a Conditional Use authorization.

(g) An existing Retail Professional Service, as defined in Section 102 of this Code, that has operated without the benefit of a permit prior to June 17, 2025, may be principally permitted and allowed to expand into another commercial space within the same structure. Such use shall not be required to be incidental to a Principal or Conditionally Permitted use on the site. Additionally, such use shall be exempt from the signage and public access restrictions of this SUD.

this Code, that has operated without the benefit of a permit prior to June 17, 2025, may be principally permitted and allowed to expand into another commercial space within the same structure. Such use shall not be required to be incidental to a Principal or Conditionally Permitted use on the site. Additionally, such use shall be exempt from the signage and public access restrictions of this SUD.

(h) The various uses provided for in Subsections 238(a) through 238(f) above are not permitted in any portion of a building that is devoted to a Dwelling Unit or to Group Housing as defined in Section 102 of this Code. (Amended by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; Ord. 329-91, App. 9/11/91; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 217-25, File No. 250682, App. 11/14/2025, Eff. 12/15/2025)

AMENDMENT HISTORY

Divisions (a), (c), (d), and (f) amended; former division (g) deleted; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Divisions (a)-(d) amended; former divisions (e)-(f) redesignated as (f) and (h) and amended; new divisions (e) and (g) added; Ord. 217-25, Eff. 12/15/2025.