Article 7 — NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
San Francisco Planning Code § 761 Hayes-Gough Neighborhood Commercial Transit District
San Francisco Planning Code · 2026-08 edition · updated 2026-09-23 · San Francisco
Cite as: San Francisco Planning Code § 761 · Text as of 2026-09-23
The Hayes-Gough Neighborhood Commercial Transit District is located within walking distance of the Civic Center, lying west of Franklin Street and east of Laguna Street, with its southern edge generally at Lily Street, with an extension south along both sides of Octavia Boulevard to Market Street. This mixed-use commercial district contains a limited range
of retail commercial activity, which primarily caters to the immediate need of the neighborhood. The few comparison goods that it does provide attract clientele from a wider area outside its neighborhood, mostly the Performing Arts and Civic Center workers and visitors. There are a number of restaurants and art galleries, but other types of retail activity are limited.
The Hayes-Gough District controls are designed to allow for growth and expansion that is compatible with the existing building and use scales. Building standards protect the moderate building and Use Size and require rear yards at residential levels. To maintain the mixed-use character of the district, most commercial uses are permitted at the first and second stories and housing is strongly encouraged. Retail sales activity, especially neighborhood-serving businesses, is further promoted by restricting new ground-story medical, business and professional offices. To protect continuous frontage, drive-up and most automobile uses are prohibited, above-ground parking is required to be setback or below ground, and active, pedestrian-oriented ground floor uses are required on Hayes Street and portions of Octavia Boulevard. Housing development in new buildings is encouraged, and is controlled not by lot area but by physical envelope controls. Given the area’s central location and accessibility to the downtown and to the City’s transit network, accessory parking for Residential Uses is not required. The code controls for this district are supported and augmented by design guidelines and policies in the Market and Octavia Area Plan of the General Plan. Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted.
Table 761. HAYES-GOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL TRANSIT DISTRICT
ZONING CONTROL TABLE
| Hayes-Gough NCT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Zoning Category | § References | Controls |
| BUILDING STANDARDS | Hayes-Gough NCT | |
| Zoning Category | § References | Controls |
| BUILDING STANDARDS | ||
| Massing and Setbacks | ||
| Height and Bulk Limits. | §§ 102, 105, 106, 250– 252, 260, 261.1 , 263.19, 270, 270.3 , 271. See also Height and Bulk District Maps |
Varies. See Height and Bulk Map Sheets HT02 and HT07 for more information. Height sculpting required on Alleys per § 261.1. |
| 5 Foot Height Bonus for Active Ground Floor Uses |
§ 263.20 | P |
| Rear Yard | §§ 130, 134, 134(a)(e), 136 | Required at the lowest Story containing a Dwelling Unit, and at each succeeding level or Story of the Building: 25% of lot depth, but in no case less than 15 feet |
| Front Setback and Side Yard | §§ 130, 131, 132, 133 | Generally not required; however, if the existing sidewalk does not meet the recommended width required by the Better Streets Plan, a front setback shall be provided so that, when combined with the existing sidewalk, the total distance from the curb to the building frontage meets or exceeds the required recommended width under the Better Streets Plan. This setback is required only up to 15 feet above street grade. See § 132(e). |
| Street Frontage and Public Realm | ||
|---|---|---|
| Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements | § 138.1 | Required |
| Street Frontage Requirements | § 145.1 | Required; controls apply to above-grade parking setbacks, parking and loading entrances, active uses, ground floor ceiling height, street-facing ground-level spaces, transparency and fenestration, and gates, railings, and grillwork. Exceptions permitted for historic buildings. |
| Ground Floor Commercial | § 145.4 | Required on Hayes Street; portions of Octavia Street |
| Vehicular Access Restrictions | § 155(r) | Prohibited on Hayes Street between Franklin and Laguna Streets, and on Octavia Street between Hayes and Fell Streets. CU required on Haight between Market and Webster Streets and on Octavia between Fell and Market Streets. |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Lot Size (Per Development) | §§ 102, 121.1 | P up to 9,999 square feet; C 10,000 square feet and above |
| Planned Unit Development | § 304 | C |
| Awning, Canopy or Marquee | § 136.1 | P |
| Signs | §§ 262, 602- 604, 607, 607.1, 608, 609 |
As permitted by § 607.1 |
| General Advertising Signs | §§ 262, 602, 604, 608, 609, 610, 611 |
NP |
| Design Guidelines and Standards | General Plan Commerce and Industry Element |
Subject to the Urban Design Guidelines, Citywide Design Standards, and any other applicable design guidelines that have been approved by the Planning Commission. |
| Housing Choice-SF | § 206.10 | Form-based density, additional height, and other zoning modifications for eligible projects in the R-4 Height and Bulk District. |
| Zoning Category | § References | Controls |
| RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES | ||
| Zoning Category | § References | Controls |
| RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES | ||
| Development Standards | ||
| Usable Open Space [Per Dwelling Unit] | §§ 135, 136 | 60 square feet if private, or 80 square feet if common, or the amount of open space required in the nearest Residential District, whichever is less. |
| Off-Street Parking Requirements | §§ 145.1, 150, 151.1, 153 - 156, 166, 204.5 |
Car parking not required. P up to 0.5 spaces per Dwelling Unit; C up to 0.75 spaces per Dwelling Unit. NP above 0.75 spaces per Dwelling Unit. Bike parking required per § 155.2. If car parking is provided, car share spaces are required when a project has 50 units or more per § 166. |
| Dwelling Unit Mix | § 207.6 | Generally required for creation of five or more Dwelling Units. 40% of Dwelling Units shall contain at least two |
| bedrooms; or no less than 30% of the total number of proposed Dwelling Units shall contain at least three |
||
|---|---|---|
| bedrooms. | ||
| Use Characteristics | ||
| Intermediate Length Occupancy | §§ 102; 202.10 | P(6) |
| Single Room Occupancy | § 102 | P |
| Student Housing | § 102 | P |
| Residential Uses | Controls By Story | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd+ |
||
| Residential Uses | § 102 | P(1) P P |
| Accessory Dwelling Units | §§ 102, 207.1, 207.2 | P per Planning Code Sections 207.1 and 207.2. |
| Dwelling Units, Senior Housing, and Group Housing, Generally |
§§ 102, 202.2(f), 207, 208 | Form-Based Density |
| Minimum Dwelling Unit Densities, if Applicable |
§ 207.9 | Varies depending on project location, but generally ranges between 50 and 100 dwelling units per acre. |
| Maximum Dwelling Unit Size | §§ 207.10, 317 | P up to 4,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area or an equivalent Floor Area Ratio for any individual Dwelling Unit of 1.2:1. C for Dwelling Units that exceed the greater of those thresholds. |
| Homeless Shelters | §§ 102, 208 | P density limits regulated by the Administrative Code |
| Loss of Dwelling Units: Conversion, Demolition, or Merger of Dwelling Units, including Residential Flats |
§ 317 | C |
| Division of Dwelling Units | § 207.8 | Division of existing Dwelling Units P per § 207.8 |
| Zoning Category | § References | Controls |
| NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND US | ES | |
| Zoning Category | § References | Controls |
| NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND US | ES | |
| Development Standards | ||
| Floor Area Ratio | §§ 102, 123, 124 , 207.9 | 3.0 to 1 2 For Office Uses minimum intensities may apply pursuant to § 207.9. |
| Use Size | § 102, 121.2 | P up to 3,000 square feet; C 3,001 square feet and above |
| Off-Street Parking Requirements | §§ 145.1, 150, 151.1, 153 - 156, 166, 204.5 |
Car parking not required. Limits set forth in Section 151.1. Bike parking required per Section 155.2. Car share spaces required when a project has 25 or more parking spaces per § 166. |
| Off-Street Freight Loading | §§ 150, 152, 153 - 155, 161, 204.5 |
None required if gross floor area is less than 10,000 square feet. Exceptions permitted per §§ 155 and 161. |
| Commercial Use Characteristics | ||
| Drive-up Facility | § 102 | NP |
| Formula Retail | §§ 102, 303.1 | NP |
| Hours of Operation § 102 |
P 6 a.m. - 2 a. | m.; C 2 a.m.- 6 a.m. |
| Hayes-Gough NCT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Maritime Use § 102 |
NP | |
| Open Air Sales § 102, 703(b) |
See Section 70 | 3(b) |
| Outdoor Activity Area §§ 102, 145.2, 202.2 |
P if located in (7); C if locate |
front or it complies with Section 202.2(a) d elsewhere. |
| Walk-up Facility § 102 |
P | |
| Controls by Story | ||
| 1st | 2nd 3rd+ |
|
| Uses in Historic Buildings | ||
| Historic Buildings § 202.11 |
In Historic Bui Uses listed bel Hotel, and cert 202.11. |
ldings, Uses listed below as NP are C and ow as C are P, except Cannabis Retail, ain Industrial Uses, as specified in § |
| Agricultural Use Category | ||
| Agriculture, Industrial §§ 102, 202.2(c) |
NP | NP NP |
| Agriculture, Large Scale Urban §§ 102, 202.2(c) |
C | C C |
| Agriculture, Neighborhood §§ 102, 202.2(c) |
P | P P |
| Automotive Use Category | ||
| Automotive Uses* §§ 102, 187.1, 202.2(b) |
NP | NP NP |
| Electric Vehicle Charging Location §§ 102 , 202.2(b), 202.13 |
C(8)1 | C(8) C(8) |
| Fleet Charging § 102 |
C | C C |
| Parking Garage, Private § 102 |
C | C C |
| Parking Garage, Public § 102 |
C | C C |
| Parking Lot, Private §§ 102, 142, 156 |
C | C C |
| Parking Lot, Public §§ 102, 142, 156 |
C | C C |
| Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Use Category | ||
| Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Uses* § 102 |
NP | NP NP |
| Arts Activities § 102 |
P | P P |
| Entertainment, General § 102 |
P | P NP |
| Entertainment, Nighttime § 102 |
C | NP NP |
| Movie Theater §§ 102, 202.4 |
P | P P |
| Open Recreation Area § 102 |
C | C C |
| Passive Outdoor Recreation § 102 |
C | C C |
| Industrial Use Category | ||
| Industrial Uses §§ 102, 202.2(d) |
NP | NP NP |
| Institutional Use Category | ||
| Institutional Uses* § 102 |
P | C C |
| Child Care Facility § 102 |
P | P P |
| Community Facility § 102 |
P | P P |
| Hospital § 102 |
NP | NP NP |
| Medical Cannabis Dispensary §§ 102, 202.2(e) |
DR | DR NP |
| Public Facilities | § 102 | P | P | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Care Facility | § 102 | P | P | P |
| Social Service or Philanthropic Facility | § 102 | P | P | P |
| Sales and Service Use Category | ||||
| Retail Sales and Service Uses* | §§ 102, 202.2(a), 202.3 | P | P | NP |
| Adult Business | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
| Adult Sex Venue | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
| Animal Hospital | § 102 | P | P | NP |
| Bar | §§ 102, 202.2(a) | P | NP | NP |
| Cannabis Retail | §§ 102, 202.2(a) | C | C | NP |
| Flexible Retail | §§ 102, 202.9 | P | NP | NP |
| Gym | § 102 | P | P | C |
| Hotel | § 102 | C | C | C |
| Kennel | § 102 | C | NP | NP |
| Liquor Store | § 102 | C | NP | NP |
| Massage Establishment | §§ 102, 204, 303(n), 703 | C(7) | C(7) | NP(7) |
| Massage, Foot/ |
§ 102 | P | NP | NP |
| Mortuary | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
| Motel | §§ 102, 202.2(a) | NP | NP | NP |
| Reproductive Health Clinic | §§ 102, 202.5 | P | P | P |
| Restaurant | §§ 102, 202.2(a) | P | P | NP |
| Restaurant, Limited | §§ 102, 202.2(a) | P | P | NP |
| Services, Financial | § 102 | P | C | NP |
| Services, Fringe Financial | § 102 | P(4) | NP | NP |
| Services, Health | § 102 | C | P | C |
| Services, Limited Financial | § 102 | P | NP | NP |
| Services, Personal | § 102 | P | P | C |
| Services, Retail Professional | § 102 | P | P | P |
| Storage, Self | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
| Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishment | § 102 | C | NP | NP |
| Trade Shop | § 102 | P | C | NP |
| Non-Retail Sales and Service* | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
| Design Professional | § 102 | C | P | C |
| Service, Non-Retail Professional | § 102 | C | P | NP |
| Trade Office | § 102 | C | P | C |
| Utility and Infrastructure Use Category | ||||
| Utility and Infrastructure* | § 102 | C(5) | C(5) | C(5) |
| Power Plant | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
| Public Utilities Yard | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
- Not listed below
(1) C required for ground floor residential use when street frontage is listed in 145.4(b)
(2) [Note deleted.]
(3) [Note deleted.]
(4) Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 249.35, including, but not limited to, the proximity restrictions set forth in subsection 249.35(c)(3).
(5) C if a Macro WTS Facility; P if a Micro WTS Facility.
(6) C for buildings with 10 or more Dwelling Units.
(7) P if accessory to a Hotel, Personal Service or Health Service.
(8)1 P where existing use is any Automotive Use.
(Added by Ord. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; amended by 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. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 277-18, File No. 180914, App. 11/20/2018, Eff. 12/21/2018; Ord. 285-18, File No. 180806, App. 12/7/2018, Eff. 1/7/2019; Ord. 303-18, File No. 180915, App. 12/21/2018, Eff. 1/21/2019; Ord. 116-19, File No. 181156, App. 6/28/2019, Eff. 7/29/2019; Ord. 182-19, File No. 190248, App. 8/9/2019, Eff. 9/9/2019; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 78-20, File No. 191075, App. 5/22/2020, Eff. 6/22/2020; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020; 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. 264-22, File No. 220811, App. 12/22/2022, Eff. 1/22/2023; 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. 62-24, File No. 230310, App. 3/28/2024, Eff. 4/28/2024; 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. 37-26, File No. 250886, App. 3/11/2026, Eff. 4/11/2026) AMENDMENT HISTORY
Zoning Control Table amended; Note (2) deleted; Ord. 189-17, Eff. 10/15/2017. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 229-17, Eff. 1/5/2018. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 277-18, Eff. 12/21/2018. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 285-18, Eff. 1/7/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (3) deleted; Ord. 303-18, Eff. 1/21/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 116-19, Eff. 7/29/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 182-19 , Eff. 9/9/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (6) added; Ord. 78-20, Eff. 6/22/2020. Introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 111-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (7) added; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Zoning Control Table and Note (7) amended; Ord. 37-22, Eff. 4/14/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (8)1 added; Ord. 190-22 , Eff. 10/17/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 264-22 , Eff. 1/22/2023. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 249-23 , Eff. 1/14/2024. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 33-24 , Eff. 3/23/2024. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 62-24 , Eff. 4/28/2024. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 173-25; Eff. 10/6/2025. Undesignated introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 245-25 , Eff. 1/12/2026. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 1-26 , Eff. 2/8/2026. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 37-26 , Eff. 4/11/2026.
CODIFICATION NOTES
Note “(8)” is referenced as “(7)” in Ord. 190-22. The note was redesignated by the codifier because a note designated as “(7)” previously had been added to this section by Ord. 233-21.
So in Ord. 245-25.
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