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Article 8 — MIXED USE DISTRICTS

San Francisco Planning Code § 830 Cmuo – Central Soma Mixed Use-Office District

San Francisco Planning Code · 2026-08 edition · updated 2026-09-23 · San Francisco

Cite as: San Francisco Planning Code § 830 · Text as of 2026-09-23

The Central SoMa Mixed Use-Office (CMUO) extends predominantly between 2nd Street and 6th Street in the South of Market area. The CMUO is designed to encourage a mix of residential and non-residential uses, including office, retail, light manufacturing, arts activities, nighttime entertainment, and tourist hotels.

Table 830

CMUO – CENTRAL SOMA MIXED USE-OFFICE DISTRICT ZONING CONTROL TABLE

Central SoMa Mixed Use-Office District Controls
Zoning Category
BUILDING STANDARDS
§ References Controls

Table 830

CMUO – CENTRAL SOMA MIXED USE-OFFICE DISTRICT ZONING CONTROL TABLE

Central SoMa Mixed Use-Office District Controls

Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
BUILDING STANDARDS
Massing and Setbacks

Height and Bulk Limits
§§ 102, 105, 106,
249.78, 250–252,
260, 261.1, 263.21,
263.30, 270, 270.1,
Varies. See Height and Bulk Map Sheets HT01 and
HT07. In the Central SoMa SUD, Prevailing Height and
Density limits are determined by Section 249.78. Height
sculpting required and additional bulk limits pursuant to
270.2, 271. See also
Height and Bulk
District Maps
§270; Non-habitable vertical projections permitted
pursuant to §263.21; additional height permissible
pursuant to §263.30; horizontal mass reduction required
pursuant to §270.1; and Mid-block alleys required
pursuant to §270.2.
5 Foot Height Bonus for Ground Floor Commercial § 263.20 NP
Setbacks §§ 132.4, 134, 136,
144, 145.1
Generally required. Along 4th Street south of Bryant
Street, required by a minimum depth of five feet, from
sidewalk grade up to a minimum height of 25 feet.
Street Frontage and Public Realm
Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements § 138.1 Required
Street Frontage Requirements § 145.1 Required
Street Frontage, Ground Floor Commercial § 145.4 2nd Street, on the west side, between Dow Place and
Townsend Street; 3rd Street, between Folsom Street and
Townsend Street; 4th Street, between Folsom and
Townsend Streets; Folsom Street, between 4th and 6th
Streets; Brannan Street, between 3rd Street and 4th
Street; Townsend Street, on the north side, between 2nd
Street and 4th Street.
Vehicular Access Restrictions § 155(r) 3rd Street between Folsom and Townsend Streets; 4th
Street between Folsom and Townsend Streets; Folsom
Street from 4th Street to 5th Street; Brannan Street from
2nd Street to 6th Street; and Townsend Street from 2nd
Street to 6th Street.
Driveway Loading and Operations Plan § 155(u) Required for projects of 100,000 sq. ft. or more.
Miscellaneous
Lot Size (Per Development) § 102, 303 N/A
Planned Unit Development § 304 NP
Large Project Authorization § 329 Required for new construction greater than 85 feet in
height; additions to an existing building with a height of
85 feet or less resulting in a total building height greater
than 85 feet; or the net addition or new construction of
more than 50,000 gross square feet.
Awning and Canopy § 136.1 P
Marquee § 136.1 NP
Signs §§ 262, 602-604,
607, 607.2, 608, 609
As permitted by § 607.2.
General Advertising Signs §§ 262, 602.7, 604,
608, 609, 610, 611
NP
Design Guidelines and Standards General Plan
Commerce and
Industry Element;
Central SoMa Plan
Subject to the Citywide Urban Design Guidelines,
Citywide Design Standards, and any other applicable
design guidelines that have been approved by the
Planning Commission..1
Zoning Category § References Controls
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS & USES
Zoning Category § References Controls
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS & USES
Development Standards
Usable Open Space
[Per Dwelling Unit and Group Housing]
§§ 135, 136, 427 80 sq. ft. per unit; 54 sq. ft. per unit if publicly
accessible; buildings taller than 160 feet may also pay
in-lieu fee.
Off-Street Parking §§ 150, 151.1, 153,
156, 166, 167
Car parking not required. Limits set forth in §151.1.
Bicycle Parking required pursuant to §155.2. If car
parking is provided, car share spaces are required when
a project has 50 units or more pursuant to §166.
Dwelling Unit Mix § 207.6 At least 40% of all dwelling units shall contain two or
more bedrooms, 30% of all dwelling units shall contain
three or more bedrooms, or 35% of all dwelling units
shall contain two or more bedrooms with at least 10%
containing three or more bedrooms.
Lot coverage § 249.78 Limited to 80 percent at all levels containing residential
uses, except that on levels that include only lobbies and
circulating areas and on levels in which all residential
uses, including circulation areas, are within 40
horizontal feet from a property line fronting a street or
alley, up to 100% lot coverage may occur. The unbuilt
portion of the lot shall be open to the sky except for
those obstructions permitted in yards pursuant to Section
136(c) of this Code. Where there is a pattern of mid-
block open space for adjacent buildings, the unbuilt area
of the new project shall be designed to adjoin that mid-
block open space.
Use Characteristics
Intermediate Length Occupancy §§ 102, 202.10 NP
Single Room Occupancy § 102 P
Student Housing § 102 P
Residential Uses
Residential Uses § 102 P
Dwelling Units, Senior Housing, and Group Housing
Density, General
§ 207 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.
Group Housing §§ 102, 249.78(c)(8) NP, except Group Housing uses that are also defined as
Student Housing or Senior Housing, are designated for
persons with disabilities, are designated for Transition
Age Youth, or are contained in buildings that consist of
100% affordable units.
SRO Units §§ 249.78(c)(7) NP, except in buildings that consist of 100% affordable
units.
Accessory Dwelling Units §§ 102, 207.1 P within the existing building envelope. 1 ADU allowed
in buildings with 4 or fewer Dwelling units. No limit in
buildings with 5 or more Dwelling Units. ADUs may not
eliminate or reduce ground-story retail or commercial
spaces.
Homeless Shelters §§ 102, 208 Density limits regulated by the Administrative Code,
Chapter 20, Article XIII.
Loss of Dwelling Units
Residential Conversion, Demolition, or Merger § 317 C
Zoning Category § References Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS & USES
Zoning Category § References Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS & USES
Development Standards
270.2, 271. See also
Height and Bulk
District Maps
§270; Non-habitable vertical projections permitted
pursuant to §263.21; additional height permissible
pursuant to §263.30; horizontal mass reduction required
pursuant to §270.1; and Mid-block alleys required
pursuant to §270.2.
Floor Area Ratio §§ 102, 123, 124,
128.1 , 207.9, 249.78
In the Central SoMa SUD, prevailing Height and
Density limits are determined by Section 249.78, subject
to the requirements of Section 128. For Office Uses
minimum intensities may apply pursuant to § 207.9.
Use Size § 102 Restrictions on some Retail Sales and Service Uses. (1)
Off-Street Parking §§ 145.1, 150, 151.1,
153-156, 166, 204.5
Car parking not required. Limits set forth in § 151.1.
Bicycle parking required pursuant to § 155.2. Car share
spaces required when a project has 25 or more parking
spaces pursuant to § 166.
Off-Street Freight Loading §§ 150, 152.1, 153 -
155, 161, 204.5
Pursuant to § 152.1.
Useable Open Space §§ 135.3, 426 Required; amount varies based on use; may pay in-lieu
fee.
Privately-Owned Public Open Space (POPOS) §§ 138, 426 Required with the construction of a new building or an
addition of 50,000 gross square feet or more of Non-
Residential use. Retail, institutional, and PDR uses are
exempt. Ratio of square feet of open space to gross floor
area is 1:50 feet; may also pay in-lieu fee
Commercial Use Characteristics
Drive-up Facility § 102 NP
Formula Retail §§ 102, 303, 303.1 NP for Restaurants, Limited Restaurants, and Bars. C for
all other Formula Retail Uses.
Hours of Operation § 102 No Restrictions
Maritime Use § 102 NP
Open Air Sales § 102 P
Outdoor Activity Area § 102 P
Walk-up Facility § 102 P
Non-Residential Uses
Uses in Historic Buildings
Historic Buildings § 202.11 In Historic Buildings, all Uses are P, except Cannabis
Retail, Hotel Uses, and certain Industrial Uses, as
specified in § 202.11.
Agricultural Use Category
Agricultural Uses §§ 102, 202.2(c) P
Automotive Use Category
Automotive Uses* § 102 P
Electric Vehicle Charging Location §§ 102, 202.2(b),
202.13
P
Fleet Charging § 102 C and must be within an enclosed building
Parking Garage, Private § 102 C
Parking Garage, Public § 102 C
Parking Lot, Private §§ 102, 142, 156 NP
Parking Lot, Public §§ 102, 142, 156 NP
Service, Motor Vehicle Tow § 102 C
Service, Parcel Delivery §§ 102, 303(cc) C
Services, Ambulance § 102 C
Vehicle Storage Garage § 102 C
Vehicle Storage Lot § 102 NP
Entertainment and Recreation Use Category
Entertainment and Recreation Uses* § 102 P
Entertainment, Nighttime § 102 P(4)
Entertainment, Outdoor § 102 NP
Open Recreation Area § 102 NP
Sports Stadium § 102 NP
Industrial Use Category
Industrial Uses* §§ 102, 202.2(d) NP
Food, Fiber and Beverage Processing 1 §§ 102, 202.2(d) P
Manufacturing, Light §§ 102, 202.2(d) P
Institutional Use Category
Institutional Uses* § 102 P
Hospital § 102 C
Medical Cannabis Dispensary §§ 102, 202.2(e) C
Sales and Service Use Category
Retail Sales and Service Uses* § 102 P(1)
Adult Business § 102 NP
Adult Sex Venue § 102 C
Animal Hospital § 102 P
Bar §§ 102, 202.2(a) P(1)(3)
Cannabis Retail §§ 102, 202.2(a) C
Hotel § 102 C(2)
Kennel § 102 P
Massage Establishment §§ 102, 204, 303(n),
803
P on 1st floor, C on 2nd floor, and NP on 3rd floor and
above, except P on all floors if accessory to a Hotel,
Personal Service or Health Service.
Mortuary § 102 NP
Motel §§ 102, 202.2(a) NP
Reproductive Health Clinic §§ 102, 202.5 P
Restaurant §§ 102, 202.2(a) P(1)(3)
Restaurant, Limited §§ 102, 202.2(a) P(1)(3)
Storage, Self § 102 NP
Trade Shop § 102 P
Non-Retail Sales and Service § 102 P
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category

Utility and Infrastructure* § 102 P
Internet Service Exchange § 102 C
Power Plant § 102 NP
Public Utilities Yard § 102 NP
Wireless Telecommunications Services Facility § 102 C(5)
  • Not Listed Below

(1) P up to 25,000 gross sq. ft. per lot; above 25,000 gross sq. ft. per lot permitted only if the ratio of other permitted uses to retail is at least 3:1.

(2) Not subject to ratio requirements of (1) above, pursuant to § 803.9(d).

(3) Formula Retail NP.

(4) P in the area bounded by 4th Street, 6th Street, Bryant Street, and Townsend Street; C elsewhere.

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

(Added as Sec. 848 by Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019; amended by Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 47-21, File No. 201175, App. 4/16/2021, Eff. 5/17/2021; 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; redesignated and amended by Ord. 70-23, File No. 220340, App. 5/3/2023, Eff. 6/3/2023; 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. 62- 24, File No. 230310, App. 3/28/2024, Eff. 4/28/2024; Ord. 113-24, File No. 240193, App. 6/13/2024, Eff. 7/14/2024, Retro. 3/30/2024; Ord. 297-24, File No. 241055, App. 12/19/2024, Eff. 1/19/2025; 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

Introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 47-21, Eff. 5/17/2021. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 37-22, Eff. 4/14/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 190-22, Eff. 10/17/2022. Section redesignated as Sec. 830; Zoning Control Table 848 amended and redesignated as

Table 830; Ord. 70-23, Eff. 6/3/2023. Table 830 amended; Ord. 47-24, Eff. 4/15/2024; and Ord. 54-24, Retro. 3/30/2024. Table 830 amended; Ord. 62-24, Eff. 4/28/2024. Table 830 amended; Ord. 113-24, Eff. 7/14/2024, Retro. 3/30/2024. Table 830 amended; Ord. 297-24, Eff. 1/19/2025. Table 830 amended; Ord. 245-25, Eff. 1/12/2026. Table 830 amended; Ord. 1- 26, Eff. 2/8/2026. Table 830 and Note (2) amended; Ord. 37-26. Eff. 4/11/2026. CODIFICATION NOTE

  1. So in Ord. 63-20 and Ord. 245-25.

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