San Francisco Planning Code § 210.3 Pdr Districts

These Districts provide space for a wide variety of PDR (production, distribution and repair) and other non-residential activities in districts where these uses are free from inherent economic and operational competition and conflicts with housing, large office developments, and large-scale retail, which are not permitted in these Districts. Other uses that share operational characteristics with PDR uses are permitted in these Districts, as they require large flexible spaces and prefer separation from intensive housing districts. PDR-zoned land is also an important reservoir of space in San Francisco for new and evolving industry and activity types that cannot be foreseen today and cannot practically function or compete for space in a typical downtown office or neighborhood commercial environment. Business and activities allowed in PDR Districts generally share a need for flexible operating space that features large open interior spaces, high ceilings, freight loading docks and elevators, floors capable of bearing heavy loads, and large (often uncovered exterior) storage areas.

These uses are often not ideally compatible with housing for operational reasons, including the need for significant trucking and delivery activities, 24-hour operation, and emission of noise, odors and vibrations. Importantly, PDR uses are limited in the amount of rent they can afford relative to office, retail, and residential uses, yet are important sectors of the City's economy.

PDR-1-B District: Light Industrial Buffer. The intent of this District is to create a buffer area between residential neighborhoods and light industrial areas, primarily in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood. Thus, this District prohibits residential uses and limits Office, Retail, and Institutional uses. Generally, all other uses are permitted. This zone allows for less intensive production, distribution, and repair activities that will not compromise the quality of life of nearby residents. These uses generate less external noise, odors, and vibrations and engage in fewer trucking activities than those permitted in PDR-2 Districts. Uses in this District are generally conducted completely within enclosed structures. Small-scale Retail and Office uses are permitted, as are other activities that may serve well to buffer existing residential neighborhoods from areas of concentrated industrial operations. In considering any new land use not contemplated in this District, the Zoning Administrator shall take into account the intent of this District as expressed in this Section and in the General Plan.

PDR-1-D District: Design. The intention of this District is to retain and encourage less-intensive production, distribution, and repair businesses, especially the existing clusters of design-related businesses. Thus, this District prohibits Residential and Office uses, and limits Retail and Institutional uses. Additionally, this District prohibits heavy industrial uses, which generate external noise, odors, and vibrations and engage in frequent trucking activities. Generally, all other uses are permitted. In considering any new land use not contemplated in this District, the Zoning Administrator shall take into account the intent of this District as expressed in this Section and in the General Plan.

PDR-1-G District: General. The intention of this District is to retain and encourage existing production, distribution, and repair activities and promote new business formation. Thus, this District prohibits Residential and Office uses, and limits Retail and Institutional uses. Additionally, this District allows for more intensive production, distribution, and repair activities than PDR-1-B and PDR-1-D but less intensive than PDR-2. Generally, all other uses are permitted. In considering any new land use not contemplated in this District, the Zoning Administrator shall take into account the intent of this District as expressed in this Section and in the General Plan.

PDR-2 District: Core Production, Distribution, and Repair. The intent of this District is to encourage the introduction, intensification, and protection of a wide range of light and contemporary industrial activities. Thus, this District prohibits new housing, large office developments, large-scale retail, and the heaviest of industrial uses, such as incinerators. Generally, all other uses are permitted. The conservation of existing flexible industrial buildings is also encouraged. This District permits certain non-industrial, non-residential uses, including small-scale Retail and Office, Entertainment, certain institutions, and similar uses that would not create conflicts with the primary industrial uses or are compatible with the operational characteristics of businesses in the area. Light industrial uses in this District may be conducted entirely within an enclosed structure, partly within enclosed structures, or some functions may occur entirely in open areas. These uses may require trucking activity multiple times per day, including trucks with up to 18 wheels or more, and occurring at any time of the day or night. As part of their daily operations, PDR activities in these areas may emit noises, vibrations, odors, and other emissions, as permitted by law. Within the requirements of local, state, and federal health and safety regulations, and within the stipulation of this Code, which may impose additional use size maximums and minimum distance requirements on certain activities, raw materials used for production, manufacturing, repair, storage, research, and distribution may be stored on site and may include chemical, biological, and other hazardous, explosive, or flammable materials. In considering any new land use not contemplated in this District, the Zoning Administrator shall take into account the intent of this District as expressed in this Section and in the General Plan.

Table 210.3

ZONING CONTROL TABLE FOR PDR DISTRICTS

• Not listed below.

• (1) See Table 210.3A.

• (2) See Table 210.3A.

• (3) NP above 7,500 Gross Square Feet.

• (4) Required to be in an enclosed building, NP if operated on open lot.

• (5) NP above 5,000 Gross Square Feet.

• (6) More than 3 screens NP.

(7) NP above 20,000 Gross Square Feet, except School uses at Assessor’s Parcel Block No. 3912, Lot 002 shall not be subject to a use size limitation. Housing is not permitted.

• (8) C if above 5,000 Gross Square Feet.

(9) In this District, all uses with this reference number are limited to a cumulative total of 2,500 Gross Square Feet per lot.

(10) In this District, except for Personal Service uses at Assessor’s Parcel Block No. 3912, Lot 002, all uses with this reference number are limited to a cumulative total of 5,000 Gross Square Feet per lot. No use size limits shall apply to Personal Service uses at Assessor’s Parcel Block No. 3912, Lot 002.

• (11) Printing shop and newspaper publication limited to 5,000 Gross Square Feet.

• (12) C required if larger than 2,500 Gross Square Feet per lot.

• (13) C required if larger than 5,000 Gross Square Feet per lot.

• (14) C if in a designated landmark per Section 210.3B.

(15) C required when any portion of such facility exceeds a height of 25 feet above the roof line of the building on the premises, or above the ground if there is no building, or 25 feet above the height limit applicable to the subject site under Article 2.5 of this Code, whichever is the lesser height. C also required if within 1,000 feet of an R District and includes a parabolic antenna with a diameter in excess of three meters or a composite diameter of antennae in excess of six meters. See definition in § 102 for more information.

• (16) NP above 2,500 Gross Square Feet.

(17) C required for properties within the Third Street Formula Retail Restricted Use District (§ 786), which includes properties fronting Third Street between Williams Avenue and Paul Street.

• (18) C if a Macro WTS Facility; P if a Micro WTS Facility.

(19) The controls for Historic Buildings modified by Section 202.11 do not apply in the portion of the PDR-1-G District that is located in the area bounded by Valencia, 13th, Harrison, and Cesar Chavez Streets, for the following Uses: Adult Business, Adult Sex Venue, Bar, Chair and Foot Massage, Cannabis Retail, Electric Vehicle Charging Location, Fleet Charging, Fringe Financial Service, Gym, Hotel, Laboratory, Life Science, Liquor Store, Massage Establishment, Nighttime Entertainment, Office, Private Community Facility, Restaurant, and Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishment, and all Uses within the Industrial Use category other than Agricultural and Beverage Processing 1 and Light Manufacturing.

(20) NP except as provided in Section 210.3C.

(21) Cannabis Retail is only permitted where (a) the Cannabis Retail establishment holds a valid Cannabis Microbusiness permit from the City’s Office of Cannabis, and (b) the Cannabis Retail Use occupies no more than 1/3 of the total floor area occupied by the PDR and Cannabis Retail Uses on the premises.

(22) NP except that any Self Storage use that submitted a development application on or before December 31, 2021 shall be Principally Permitted, and is exempt from the retail limits of Section 210.3A, provided that no less than 50% of the parcel area consists of ground floor Institutional Community use, Arts Activities, or any other uses allowed in PDR-2 zoning districts, excluding Parcel Delivery Service and Fleet Charging. This note shall expire by operation of law on December 31, 2036, unless the City enacts an ordinance with an effective date on or before that date that extends or reenacts this note, provided that any authorization granted hereunder shall be valid for such period of time as the conditions of approval of such authorization provides, notwithstanding the expiration of this note. Following the expiration of this note, the City Attorney shall cause this note to be removed from the Municipal Code.

(23) C on the 2nd floor and NP on the 3rd floor and above, except that a Massage Establishment accessory to a Hotel, Personal Service or Health Service is P.

(24) P where existing use is a Private Parking Lot or Vehicle Storage Lot, and where a Development Application to convert the Private Parking Lot or Vehicle Storage Lot to Fleet Charging use was submitted prior to January 11, 2024. (25) Also considered a Production, Distribution, and Repair (PDR) use as defined in Sec. 102. (Added by Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; amended by Ord. 188-15 , File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 33-16 , File No. 160115, App. 3/11/2016, Eff. 4/10/2016; Ord. 166-16 , File No. 160477, App. 8/11/2016, Eff. 9/10/2016; Ord. 213-16, File No. 160960, App. 11/4/2016, Eff. 12/4/2016; Ord. 105-17, File No. 170156, App. 5/26/2017, Eff. 6/25/2017; Ord. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; Ord. 189-17, File No. 170693, App. 9/15/2017, Eff. 10/15/2017; Ord. 229-17, File No. 171041, App. 12/6/2017, Eff. 1/5/2018; Ord. 61- 19, File No. 190047, App. 4/4/2019, Eff. 5/5/2019; Ord. 78-20, File No. 191075, App. 5/22/2020, Eff. 6/22/2020; Ord. 164-20, File No. 200852, App. 9/24/2020, Eff. 10/25/2020, Oper. 10/25/2020; Ord. 111-21, File No. 210285, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 136-21, File No. 210674, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 233-21, File No. 210381, App. 12/22/2021, Eff. 1/22/2022; Ord. 37-22, File No. 211263, App. 3/14/2022, Eff. 4/14/2022; Ord. 75-22, File No. 220264, App. 5/13/2022, Eff. 6/13/2022; Ord. 190-22, File No. 220036, App. 9/16/2022, Eff. 10/17/2022; Ord. 215-22, File No. 220041, App. 10/28/2022, Eff. 11/28/2022; Ord. 264-22, File No. 220811, App. 12/22/2022, Eff. 1/22/2023; Ord. 248-23, File No. 230446, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; Ord. 249-23, File No. 230701, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; Ord. 33-24, File No. 231144, App. 2/21/2024, Eff. 3/23/2024; Ord. 47-24, File No. 231223, App. 3/15/2024, Eff. 4/15/2024; Ord. 50-24, File No. 231080, 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; Ord. 1225, File No. 240929, App. 2/14/2025, Eff. 3/17/2025; Ord. 55-25, File No. 241196, App. 5/2/2025, Eff. 6/2/2025; Ord. 173-25, File No. 250634, App. 9/5/2025, Eff. 10/6/2025; Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026; Ord. 1-26, File No. 250385, App. 1/8/2026, Eff. 2/8/2026; Ord. 13-26, File No. 251099, App. 2/13/2026, Eff. 3/16/2026; Ord. 37-26, File No. 250886, App. 3/11/2026, Eff. 4/11/2026)

(Former Sec. 210.3 amended by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; Ord. 63-11, File No. 101053, App. 4/7/2011, Eff. 5/7/2011; Ord. 182-12 , File No. 120665, App. 8/8/2012, Eff. 9/7/2012; redesignated as Sec. 210.2 and amended by Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015)

AMENDMENT HISTORY

Former Secs. 210.7, 210.8, 210.9, 210.10, and 210.11 consolidated and redesignated as Sec. 210.3 [see those sections for prior legislative history]; Table 210.3 added; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 188-15 , Eff. 12/4/2015.Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 33-16 , Eff. 4/10/2016. Table 210.3 amended; Note (18) added; Ord. 166-16 , Eff. 9/10/2016. Table 210.3 amended; second Note (18) added; Ord. 213-16, Eff. 12/4/2016. Table 210.3 amended; Notes (1), (2), (12), (13), and (16) amended; second Note (18) renumbered as (19); Note (20) added; Ord. 105-17, Eff. 6/25/2016. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 129-17, Eff. 7/30/2017. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 189-17, Eff. 10/15/2017. Table 210.3

amended; Note (21) added; Ord. 229-17, Eff. 1/5/2018. Note (19) amended; Ord. 61-19, Eff. 5/5/2019. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 78-20, Eff. 6/22/2020. Table 210.3 amended; Note (22) added; Ord. 164-20, Oper. 10/25/2020. Table 210.3 and Notes (11) and (20) amended; Ord. 111-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Table 210.3 amended; Note (23) added; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Table 210.3 and Note (23) amended; Ord. 37-22, Eff. 4/14/2022. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. Table 210.3 amended; Note (24) added; Ord. 190-22, Eff. 10/17/2022. Table 210.3 and Note (22) amended; Ord. 215-22, Eff. 11/28/2022. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 264-22, Eff. 1/22/2023. Table 210.3 amended; Note (19) deleted; Ord. 248-23, Eff. 1/14/2024. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 249-23, Eff. 1/14/2024. Table 210.3 and Note (15) amended; Note (25) added; Ord. 33-24, Eff. 3/23/2024. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 47-24, Eff. 4/15/2024; and Ord. 54-24, Retro. 3/30/2024. Table 210.3 and Note (24) amended; Ord. 50-24, Eff. 4/15/2024. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 113-24, Eff. 7/14/2024, Retro. 3/30/2024. Table 210.3 and Notes (7) and (10) amended; Ord. 12-25, Eff. 3/17/2025. Note (22) amended; Ord. 55-25, Eff. 6/2/2025. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 173-25, Eff. 10/6/2025. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 245-25, Eff. 1/12/2026. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 1-26, Eff. 2/8/2026. Table 210.3 amended; Ord. 13-26, Eff. 3/16/2026. Table 210.3 amended; Note (19) added; Ord. 37-26, Eff. 4/11/2026. CODIFICATION NOTE

1. So in Ord. 245-25.

Editor's Note:

The following explanatory note is included at the direction of the Office of the City Attorney: "See Ord. 26-15, App. 3/6/15, amending the Planning Code to designate Office Use as a conditional use (C) in designated landmark buildings in PDR-1-D and PDR-1-G Districts, subject to Section 803.9(h)."