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Article 8 — MIXED USE DISTRICTS

San Francisco Planning Code § 836 Sali – Service/Arts/Light Industrial District

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

Cite as: San Francisco Planning Code § 836 · Text as of 2026-09-23

The Service/Arts/Light Industrial (SALI) District is largely comprised of low-scale buildings with production, distribution, and repair uses. The District is designed to protect and facilitate the expansion of existing general commercial, manufacturing, home and business service, and light manufacturing activities, with an emphasis on preserving and expanding arts activities. Nighttime Entertainment is permitted. Residential Uses, Offices, Hotels, and Adult Entertainment uses are not permitted, except that certain Affordable Housing Projects are permitted within the district pursuant to Section 803.8 of this Code, and Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted.

Table 836

SALI – SERVICE/ARTS/LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT ZONING CONTROL TABLE
Zoning Category § References Service/Arts/Light Industrial District Controls
BUILDING STANDARDS

Table 836

SALI – SERVICE/ARTS/LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT ZONING CONTROL TABLE
Zoning Category § References Service/Arts/Light Industrial District Controls
BUILDING STANDARDS
Massing and Setbacks
Height and Bulk Limits §§ 261, 261.1,
263.21, 270,
270.1, 270.2, 271
Varies; see also Height and Bulk District Maps. Height
sculpting required on Alleys as set forth in § 261.1. Except in
the Western SoMa SUD, non-habitable vertical projections
permitted as set forth in § 263.21. Horizontal mass reduction
required as set forth in §270.1. Mid-block alleys required as
set forth in §270.2.
Rear Yards §§ 130, 134, 136 Not required.
Front Setback and Side Yards §§ 130, 132, 133 Front setbacks for residential uses are governed by the
Ground Floor Residential Guidelines. Otherwise not required.
Street Frontage and Public Realm
Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements § 138.1 As required by §138.1.
Street Frontage Requirements § 145.1 As required by §145.1. Exceptions permitted for historic
buildings.
Active street-facing ground-floor uses § 145.4 None required.
Parking and Loading Access Restrictions § 155(r) As required by §155(r). No auto ingress/egress permitted
from corner lot frontage on Alleys, as defined in the Western
SoMa Community Plan, containing RED or RED-MX
Districts.
Usable Open Space for Non-Residential Uses §§ 135.3, 426 As required by §§135.3 and 426; amount varies based on use;
may also pay in-lieu fee.
Artworks and Recognition of Artists and Architects § 429 Required for new buildings and building additions of 25,000
square feet or more.
Miscellaneous
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..2
Large Project Review §§ 329, 249.39 As required by § 329. Certain large projects in the Western
SoMa SUD are subject to additional conditions.
Planned Unit Development § 304 NP
Awning, Canopy §§ 136, 136.1 P
Marquee §§ 136, 136.1 NP
Signs § 607.2 As permitted by Section § 607.2 . 1
General Advertising Signs §§ 262, 602, 604,
608, 609, 610,
611
NP
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES
Zoning Category § References Service/Arts/Light Industrial District Controls
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES
Development Standards
Usable Open Space
[Per Dwelling Unit or Group Housing Room]
§§ 135, 136,
249.39
80 square feet if private, 54 square feet if publicly accessible.
(8)
Off-Street Parking Requirements §§ 150-151.1, 153
- 156, 166, 167,
204.5
No car parking required. Maximum permitted as set forth in §
151.1 . 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.
Off-Street Freight Loading, Residential §§ 150, 152, 153 -
155, 204.5
None required if Occupied Floor Area is less than 100,000
square feet.
Residential Conversion, Demolition, or Merger of
Dwelling Units, including Residential Flats
§ 317 C
Dwelling Unit Mix § 207.6 At least 40% of all Dwelling Units must contain two or more
bedrooms or 30% of all Dwelling Units must contain three or
more bedrooms.
Use Characteristics
Intermediate Length Occupancy §§ 102, 202.10 NP
Single Room Occupancy § 102 NP(3)
Student Housing § 102 NP
Residential Uses
Dwelling Units § 102 NP(3)
Group Housing § 102 NP(3)
Homeless Shelters § 102 C(4)
Dwelling Unit 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.
Homeless Shelter Density §§ 102, 208 Density limits regulated by the Administrative Code.
Zoning Category § References Service/Arts/Light Industrial District Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES
Zoning Category § References Service/Arts/Light Industrial District Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES
Development Standards
Basic Floor Area Ratio §§ 102, 123, 124 Section 124 sets forth the Basic FAR, based on height.
Off-Street Parking Requirements §§ 150-151.1, 153
- 156, 166, 204.5
No car parking required. Maximum permitted as set forth in §
151.1 . Bike parking required per § 155.2. If car parking is
provided, car share spaces are required when a project has 25
units or more per § 166.
Off-Street Freight Loading, Non-Residential §§ 150, 152, 153 -
155, 204.5
None required if Occupied Floor Area is less than 10,000
square feet.
Use Size Limits § 121.6 As indicated by end note (5) in this table, certain uses are
allowed up to a total of 25,000 gsf per lot, and NP above.
Ground Floor Ceiling Height § 145.1(c)(4) N/A
Commercial Use Characteristics
Drive-up Facility § 102 NP
Formula Retail §§ 102, 303.1 C(6)
Hours of Operation § 102 P 6 a.m.-2 a.m.
C 2 a.m.-6 a.m.
Maritime Use § 102 NP
Open Air Sales § 102 P(5)
Outdoor Activity Area § 102, 145.2 P if in front or it complies with Section 202.2(a)(7), C if
elsewhere.
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, 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
Ambulance Service § 102 C(6)
Automobile Sale or Rental § 102 P(5)
Zoning Category § References Service/Arts/Light Industrial District Controls
Electric Vehicle Charging Location† §§ 102, 202.2(b),
202.13
P
Fleet Charging† § 102 C and must be within an enclosed building
Private Parking Garage § 102 C
Private Parking Lot § 102 NP
Public Parking Garage § 102 C
Public Parking Lot § 102 NP
Service, Parcel Delivery §§ 102, 303(cc) C
Vehicle Storage Garage § 102 C
Vehicle Storage Lot § 102 NP
Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Use Category
Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Uses* § 102 P
Movie Theater § 102 P up to three screens.
Outdoor Entertainment § 102 NP
Sports Stadium § 102 NP
Industrial Use Category
Industrial Uses § 102 NP
Light Manufacturing § 102 P
Institutional Use Category
Institutional Uses §§ 102, 202.2(e) P
Hospital § 102 NP
Medical Cannabis Dispensary §§ 102, 202.2(e) P(8)
Post-Secondary Educational Institution § 102 NP
Residential Care § 102 NP
School § 102 NP
Sales and Service Category
Retail Sales and Service Uses* §§ 102, 202.2(a) P(5)(8)
Adult Business § 102 NP
Animal Hospital § 102 P
Cat Boarding § 102 P
Hotel § 102 NP
Kennel § 102 P
Massage Establishment § 102 C
Mortuary § 102 P
Reproductive Health Clinic §§ 102, 202.5 P
Self Storage § 102 NP
Trade Shop § 102 P
Non-Retail Sales and Service* § 102 P
Life Science § 102 NP
Office Uses § 102 NP(9)
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category
Utility and Infrastructure uses* § 102 P
Wireless Telecommunications Services Facility § 102 C(1)
  • Not listed below

(1) P if the facility is a Micro WTS Facility.

(2) [Note Deleted]

(3) NP, Except Affordable Housing Projects meeting the requirements of Section 803.8.

(4) Homeless Shelters permitted in SALI Districts.

(a) Principally-Permitted Homeless Shelters. During a declared shelter crisis, Homeless Shelters that satisfy the provisions of California Government Code Section 8698.4(a) shall be P, principally permitted and may be permanent.

(b) Conditionally-Permitted Homeless Shelters. Homeless Shelter uses are permitted only with Conditional Use authorization and only if each such use (i) would operate for no more than four years, and (ii) would be owned or leased by, operated by, or under the management or day-to-day control of the City and County of San Francisco. If such a use is to be located within a building or structure, the building or structure must be either (i) preexisting, having been completed and previously occupied by a use other than a Homeless Shelter,

or (ii) temporary. Other than qualifying Homeless Shelters constructed during a declared shelter crisis, construction of a permanent structure or building to be used as a Homeless Shelter is not permitted.

(5) P up to a total of 10,000 gsf per lot; C up to a total of 25,000 gsf per lot; NP above.

(6) C up to a total of 25,000 gsf per lot; NP above. (7) C up to 10,000 gsf per lot; NP above.

(8) Within the Central SoMa SUD, see Planning Code Section 249.78 for specific controls.

(9) Office Uses related to the Hall of Justice are P in Special Use District, pursuant to § 803.9(c).

(Added as Sec. 846 by Ord. 42-13, File No. 130002, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; amended by Ord. 62-13, File No. 121162, App. 4/10/2013, Eff. 5/10/2013; Ord. 71-14, File No. 131205, App. 5/23/2014, Eff. 6/22/2014; Ord. 235-14, File No. 140844, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 14-15, File No. 141210, App. 2/13/2015, Eff. 3/15/2015; Ord. 188- 15, File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 162-16, File No. 160657, App. 8/4/2016, Eff. 9/3/2016; 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. 99-17, File No. 170206, App. 5/19/2017, Eff. 6/18/2017; 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. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 224-18, File No. 180364, App. 10/5/2018, Eff. 11/5/2018; Ord. 275-18, File No. 180910, App. 11/20/2018, Eff. 12/21/2018; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 61-19, File No. 190047, App. 4/4/2019, Eff. 5/5/2019; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; 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. 22-23, File No. 221104, App. 2/23/2023, Eff. 3/26/2023; 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. 64-25, File No. 241208, App. 5/9/2025, Eff. 6/9/2025; 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: 846.26 reference corrected; Ord. 62-13, Eff. 5/10/2013. Zoning Control Table: former category 846.88 deleted; Ord. 71-14, Eff. 6/22/2014. Zoning Control Table: 846.46 amended; Ord. 235-14, Eff. 12/26/2014. Zoning Control Table: 844.23b added; Ord. 14-15, Eff. 3/15/2015. Introductory material amended; Ord. 188-15, Eff. 12/4/2015. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 846.24 amended; Specific Provisions: 846.24 added; Ord. 162-16, Eff. 9/3/2016. Zoning Control Table: 846.92 amended; former category 846.93 deleted; 846.99 added; Ord. 166-16, Eff. 9/10/2016. Zoning Control Table, former category 844.23b renumbered as 846.23b and amended; Specific Provisions: 846.23b, 890.88(d) added; Ord. 213-16, Eff. 12/4/2016. Zoning Control Table: 846.10, 846.40, 846.41, and 846.71 amended; Ord. 99-17, Eff. 6/18/2017. Zoning Control Table: 846.35 amended; Ord. 189-17, Eff. 10/15/2017. Zoning Control Table: 846.87 amended; Ord. 229-17, Eff. 1/5/2018. Zoning Control Table: 846.97b and 846.97c amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 846.20, 846.21, and 846.22 amended; former category 846.26 deleted; former categories 846.24 and 846.25 renumbered as 846.25 and 846.26; new category 846.24 added; Specific Provisions: 803.8, 846.24 added; former 846.24 renumbered as 846.25; Ord. 224-18, Eff.

11/5/2018. Amendments made by Ord. 224-18 restated; Specific Provisions: 803.8, 846.24 amended; Ord. 275-18, Eff. 12/21/2018. Zoning Control Table: 846.09, 846.36, 846.65b, 846.96, and 846.98 amended; category 846.52 added; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019. Specific Provisions: 846.23b, 890.88(d) amended; Ord. 61-19, Eff. 5/5/2019. Introductory material amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Zoning Control Table: 846.53 added; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. Zoning Control Table: 846.76 and 846.77 added; Ord. 190-22, Eff. 10/17/2022. Zoning Control Table: 846.56 amended; Note (1) added; Ord. 22-23, Eff. 3/26/2023. Section redesignated as Sec. 836; Zoning Control Table 846 and Specific Provisions

deleted; Table 836 and Notes * and (1)-(10) added; Ord. 70-23, Eff. 6/3/2023. Table 836 amended; Ord. 47-24, Eff. 4/15/2024; and Ord. 54-24, Retro. 3/30/2024. Introductory material amended; Ord. 62-24, Eff. 4/28/2024. Table 836 amended; Ord. 113-24, Eff. 7/14/2024, Retro. 3/30/2024. Table 836 and Note (10) amended; Note (2) deleted; Ord. 29724, Eff. 1/19/2025. Introductory material and Table 836 amended; Note (10) deleted; Ord. 64-25, Eff. 6/9/2025. Introductory material and Table 836 amended; Ord. 245-25, Eff. 1/12/2026. Table 836 amended; Ord. 1-26, Eff. 2/8/2026. Table 836 and Note (9) amended; Ord. 37-26, Eff. 4/11/2026.

CODIFICATION NOTES

  1. So in Ord. 70-23.

  2. So in Ord. 245-25.

† Editor’s Note:

This Use, added to former Table 846 by Ord. 190-22, was inadvertently omitted from Table 836 as restructured and redesignated by Ord. 70-23. It has been restored at the direction of the Office of the City Attorney.

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