San Francisco — Special Use Districts

Overview

Article 2—Use Districts of the San Francisco Planning Code establishes Special Use Districts (SUDs) as geographically defined layers of controls in addition to the City’s ordinary use districts. An underlying district remains controlling unless the applicable SUD section expressly changes it; boundaries must be confirmed from the cited section and the official Zoning Map (§ 235).

Some SUDs cover neighborhoods, while others govern one parcel, a public-agency portfolio, or a development-agreement project. Their exceptions can affect permitted uses, residential density, height and bulk, setbacks and yards, open space, parking, signs, and project review.

The most important rule is that an SUD does not automatically replace base zoning: the underlying use-district provisions prevail except where the applicable SUD expressly provides otherwise (§ 235).

How Special Use District Controls Work

A parcel-level analysis requires three layers:

1. Identify the parcel’s underlying district under § 201.
2. Confirm every applicable SUD boundary on the official Zoning Map and in the district section under § 235.
3. Apply the SUD’s express exceptions while retaining all base controls that the SUD does not supersede.

The zoning-control tables use P for a principally permitted use, C for a use requiring conditional use authorization, DR for mandatory discretionary review, R for required, and NP or a blank for not permitted (§ 202.1). Uses generally fall into principal, conditional, or accessory categories, and unlisted uses may require classification by the Zoning Administrator (§ 202).

An SUD can alter residential density and dwelling-unit rules without changing every other development standard. For example, 901 Bush Street substitutes 1 dwelling unit per 120 sq. ft. of lot area, but its other RC-4 controls remain unless specifically displaced (§ 249.41).

Most Decision-Relevant SUD Standards

District-by-District Reference

The following inventory distinguishes substantive controls established in the source materials from districts for which only the official designation is available. A district name alone does not establish a permitted use, setback, FAR, or development entitlement.

Automotive Special Use District

The district is identified by the Planning Code, but its purpose, permitted-use schedule, dimensional standards, and mapped boundaries are not found in source materials. Verify the current text and Zoning Map with the jurisdiction (§ 237).

Nob Hill Special Use District

The available text establishes that uses regulated by subsections (a)–(f) cannot occupy a portion of a building devoted to a dwelling unit or group housing. The identities of those uses, the district’s purpose, dimensions, and boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 238).

Washington-Broadway Special Use District

An official interpretation states that nonresidential uses generally are not required to provide off-street parking and that qualifying voluntarily provided accessory parking is excluded from gross floor area. Other uses, dimensions, purpose, and boundaries are not found in source materials; verify the operative code text (§ 161(d); § 1208; § 239).

Waterfront Special Use District

The Planning Code identifies an overall Waterfront SUD, but its purpose, uses, dimensions, and boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 240).

Waterfront Special Use District No. 1

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 240.1).

Waterfront Special Use District No. 2

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 240.2).

Waterfront Special Use District No. 3

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 240.3).

Waterfront Special Use District No. 4

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 240.4).

Dolores Heights Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 241).

Bernal Heights Special Use District

The Code confirms that district-specific definitions exist, but their substance, the permitted uses, dimensional standards, and boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 102; § 242).

Van Ness Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 243).

Residential Character Districts

The Planning Code identifies this class of special district, but its purposes, use controls, dimensions, and locations are not found in source materials (§ 244).

Westwood Park Residential Character District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and precise mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 244.1).

Downtown Support Open Space Demonstration SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 247).

Folsom and Main Residential/Commercial SUD

The zoning tables direct readers to this SUD for property-specific use provisions. Its purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 202.1; § 249.1).

The Village Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.2).

Oceanview Large Residence Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.3).

Alexandria Theater Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.4).

North of Market Residential Special Use District

The Code confirms district-specific sign controls, but the use, dimensional, sign, and boundary details are not found in source materials (§ 608; § 249.5).

South of Market Hall of Justice Legal Services SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.6).

San Francisco Gateway Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.7).

Non-Profit Arts Education Special Use District

This designation appears bracketed in the Code index. Its current legal status, purpose, uses, dimensions, and boundaries are not found in source materials; verify with the jurisdiction (§ 249.8).

Stonestown Special Use District

The Code confirms district-specific sign controls, but the district’s use, dimensional, sign, and boundary details are not found in source materials (§ 608; § 249.9).

600 Townsend Street West Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.10).

530 Sansome Mixed-Use Tower and Fire Station SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.11).

1500 Mission Street Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.12).

Geary Boulevard/Divisadero Street SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.13).

Third Street Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.14).

Mission and 9th Street Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.15).

Oakdale Avenue and Quint Street Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.16).

Third Street and Armstrong Avenue Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.17).

Northeast China Basin Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.18).

New Asia Senior Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.19).

Geary-Masonic Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.20).

California Street and Presidio Avenue–Community Center SUD

The Code confirms district-specific sign controls. Its permitted uses, dimensions, sign standards, purpose, and boundaries are otherwise not found in source materials (§ 608; § 249.21).

Non-Contiguous SFMTA Sites Special Use District

This SUD applies to the specific assessor lots listed in § 249.22, rather than one continuous neighborhood. It permits underlying-district uses plus uses principally or conditionally permitted in P Districts, with the more permissive control governing a conflict; residential uses follow form-based density without maximum residential FAR (§ 249.22).

For qualifying HC-SF projects in height districts allowing 400 ft or more:

• No interior-property-line setback is required next to a lot containing a public facility.
• Below 85 ft, no rear-yard or lot-coverage limit applies.
• From 85–120 ft, a lot without a public facility is limited to 60% lot coverage.
• Above 120 ft, up to two towers may be used; separation can be reduced to 50 ft under the stated relative-height condition.
• Average tower floorplate is capped at 14,000 sq. ft.
• One of two towers may not exceed 360 ft, and combined floor area between 120–360 ft is capped at 576,000 sq. ft.
• The upper third of a tower requires a 10% average-floorplate reduction and 5% dimensional reduction.

The SUD also creates a specific exception allowing residential projects to use the HC-SF Program even when associated with a development agreement or similar agreement (§ 249.22).

Fourth and Freelon Streets Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.23).

Haight Street Senior Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.24).

Jackson Square Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.25).

2245 Post Street Special Use District

This parcel-specific SUD covers Assessor’s Block 1078, Lots 20 and 21, at 2245–2255 Post Street, as shown on Map SU02. Its purpose is an institutional project with exhibition, library, conference, lecture, community, administrative-office, and archive space (§ 249.26).

Through a Commission-approved conditional use or planned unit development, the following exceptions may be authorized:

• Maximum 5:1 FAR.
• No nonresidential use-size limit.
• No mapped or § 270 bulk limit.
• Building lobbies may occupy up to 85% of frontage.
• At least 40% of ground-level street frontage must have transparent windows or doors.
• An awning or marquee may be up to 5 ft vertically.
• An additional awning or marquee sign may be up to 60 sq. ft.
• Article 4 impact fees may be deferred until the first certificate of occupancy.

These are authorization options, not automatic entitlements; Commission action is required (§ 249.26).

Alabama and 18th Streets Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.27).

Transbay C-3 Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.28).

Third Street and Oakdale Avenue Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.30).

Japantown Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.31).

Laguna, Haight, Buchanan and Hermann Streets SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.32).

Van Ness & Market Residential Special Use District

This SUD covers mapped C-3-G parcels concentrated around Van Ness and Market, South Van Ness and Mission, and portions of Market and Mission between 9th and Division Streets. It is intended as a transit-oriented, high-density mixed-use area in which new development and major expansion are predominantly residential, with neighborhood-serving retail, arts, and institutional uses (§ 249.33).

Key standards include:

• No residential-density limit based on lot area; development remains constrained by height, bulk, open space, exposure, and applicable design controls.
• Rear-yard requirements do not apply.
• Lot coverage is limited to 80% at levels containing a dwelling unit or group-housing bedroom.
• Up to 40% of required usable open space may be supplied off-site within the SUD or within 900 ft.
• Public open space must meet accessibility, landscaping, seating, wind, lighting, safety, maintenance, and signage standards.
• The required public-information plaque must be at least 24 by 36 in.

The lack of a lot-area density cap is not permission to ignore the remaining envelope and design review requirements (§ 249.33).

Trinity Plaza Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.34).

Fringe Financial Service Restricted Use District

This district is listed among neighborhood-commercial restricted-use districts. Its restricted uses, dimensions, and boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 201; § 249.35).

Fulton Street Grocery Store Special Use District

Purpose, grocery-use controls, dimensional standards, and boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.35A).

Design and Development Special Use District

This SUD applies to mapped portions of the South Basin west of Third Street and parcels near Third Street at Cargo Way, Custer, Davidson, Evans, and Egbert Avenues. It supplements PDR-1 and PDR-2 controls to accommodate design, business-service, telecommunications, data, digital-media, and arts offices while retaining the underlying PDR framework (§ 249.35B).

Key controls are:

• Any office use is permitted up to 0.25 sq. ft. of gross floor area per 1 sq. ft. of lot area, but no less than the applicable PDR-2 allowance and never more than 50,000 sq. ft. per lot.
• Office area above that allowance is limited to specified design, business-service, telecommunications/data, and digital-media or arts activities.
• Each business occupying that additional office area is limited to 5,000 sq. ft.
• A recorded Notice of Special Restriction must limit the additional office space to the qualifying activities.
• Additional qualifying office area requires 1 parking space per 2,500 sq. ft. of occupied floor area.

The SUD does not displace other PDR-1/PDR-2 definitions, controls, or accessory-use rules unless expressly stated (§ 249.35B).

Innovative Industries Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.37).

SoMa Youth and Family Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.38).

Western SoMa Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.39).

Potrero Center Mixed-Use Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.40).

901 Bush Street Special Use District

This single-site SUD covers Assessor’s Block 0282, Lot 001, generally bounded by Bush Street, Taylor Street, and adjoining lots. RC-4 controls apply except for the project-specific departures in the SUD (§ 249.41).

For the existing residential building:

• Density may not exceed 1 dwelling unit per 120 sq. ft. of lot area.
• The rear yard is 9% of total lot depth instead of the ordinary rear-yard rule.
• The dimensional requirements of § 135(g) do not apply to usable open space.
• The project must contain 5 on-site inclusionary affordable units satisfying the remaining inclusionary requirements.

These exceptions apply only to the existing building and successor lots or units created through subdivision. Demolition, new construction, and additions are subject to the Planning Code in effect when that work occurs (§ 249.41).

India Basin Industrial Park Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.42).

Third Street and Le Conte Avenue Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.43).

Hunters View Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.44).

Visitacion Valley/Schlage Lock Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.45).

Veterans Common Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.46).

1500 Page Street Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.47).

Telegraph Hill–North Beach Residential SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.49).

Candlestick Point Activity Node Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.50).

Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 2 Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.51).

Treasure Island/Yerba Buena Island SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.52).

Presidio-Sutter Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.53).

Executive Park Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.54).

Lombard and Scott Street Affordable Group Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.55).

Calle 24 Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.59).

Mission Alcoholic Beverage Special Use District

This district is identified as a neighborhood-commercial SUD or restricted-use district. Its alcohol controls, dimensions, and mapped boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 201; § 249.60).

17th and Rhode Island Street Grocery Store Special Use Subdistrict

This grocery-focused subdistrict is identified in the Code, but its permitted uses, restrictions, dimensions, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 201; § 249.61).

Third Street Alcohol Restricted Use District

This restricted-use district is identified in the Code, but its alcohol controls, dimensions, and mapped boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 201; § 249.62).

Cayuga/Alemany Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.63).

Parkmerced Special Use District

The Parkmerced SUD, mapped on SU13, implements the Parkmerced Development Agreement and uses project-specific San Francisco zoning, design, density, setback, open-space, and parking controls. The Parkmerced Design Standards and Guidelines govern unless the SUD itself supplies the controlling rule (§ 249.64).

Its bulk limits include:

There is no minimum off-street parking requirement. At completion, maximum ratios include 1 space per dwelling, 1/500 sq. ft. of grocery use, 1/1,000 sq. ft. of school or community-facility use, and 1/750 sq. ft. for other nonresidential use, subject to total caps of 8,900 residential and 550 nonresidential spaces (§ 249.64).

Each dwelling requires 36 sq. ft. of private or 48 sq. ft. of common usable open space. Public rights-of-way and the specified public or publicly accessible project spaces cannot be counted toward that dwelling-unit requirement (§ 249.64).

Parkmerced Residential (PM-R)

PM-R principally permits dwelling units, qualifying small-home-business live/work units, community and recreation facilities, art facilities, and child care up to 5,000 occupied sq. ft. It applies only to areas designated PM-R on Zoning Map ZN13; height and setback values must be confirmed from HT13 and the Parkmerced Design Standards (§ 249.64).

Parkmerced Mixed Use–Social Heart (PM-MU1)

PM-MU1 permits PM-R uses, locally serving retail up to 15,000 occupied sq. ft. per establishment, one grocery store up to 50,000 occupied sq. ft., and specified professional services. Ground-floor nonretail professional uses are capped at 10,000 occupied sq. ft. per business; mapped height and setbacks require verification from the incorporated documents (§ 249.64).

Parkmerced Mixed Use–Neighborhood Commons (PM-MU2)

PM-MU2 permits PM-R uses plus locally serving retail and specified professional services up to 5,000 occupied sq. ft. per establishment. A professional-service business may occupy no more than 2,000 occupied sq. ft. on the ground floor; mapped height and setback standards are not reproduced in the source materials (§ 249.64).

Parkmerced School (PM-S)

PM-S principally permits child care, preschools, and one elementary school. PM-R uses become principal only after at least 25,000 sq. ft. of school uses have been constructed or approved; otherwise they require conditional use authorization, and school uses must directly access adjacent dedicated public open space (§ 249.64).

Parkmerced Community/Fitness (PM-CF)

PM-CF principally permits recreation, spa, fitness, health-and-wellness, community, business-center, and art uses. Supporting retail is limited to 1,000 occupied sq. ft. per establishment; mapped height and setbacks require the incorporated Parkmerced materials (§ 249.64).

Parkmerced Open Space (PM-OS)

PM-OS principally permits public open space, parks, plazas, recreation, urban agriculture, farmers’ markets, and specified accessory food or farm uses. Special allowances include a restaurant up to 3,500 occupied sq. ft. on Block 23 and several location-specific kiosks ranging from 200–500 sq. ft., subject to the aggregate limits in the SUD (§ 249.64).

Across Parkmerced, drive-up facilities, adult businesses, and general advertising signs are prohibited. Uses not principally permitted and not prohibited may generally seek conditional use authorization under the SUD’s findings (§ 249.64).

Bayshore Boulevard Home Improvement SUD

This SUD covers mapped properties along portions of Bayshore Boulevard, Loomis, Oakdale, Marengo, Boutwell, and Cortland. Its purpose is to encourage home-improvement, environmentally sensitive retail, and complementary production, distribution, and repair businesses while supporting local employment (§ 249.65).

Specific permitted-use classifications, use-size limits, FAR, height, setbacks, and parking standards are not found in source materials. Verify Maps SU08 and SU10 and the complete operative section (§ 249.65).

Chinatown Transit Station Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.66).

Art & Design Educational Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.67).

Cesar Chavez/Valencia Streets Medical Use SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.68).

Chinese Hospital Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.69).

Yerba Buena Center Mixed-Use Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.71).

Jewish Home of San Francisco Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.73).

Fifth and Mission Special Use District

The Planning Director must evaluate applications for compliance with the SUD, its Design for Development, and applicable conditional use approvals. The City may not approve an application that reduces required open space or bicycle parking, increases maximum floorplate area, or reduces minimum tower separation; discretionary-review requests are not accepted (§ 249.74).

The district’s complete purpose, use schedule, dimensional values, and boundaries are not found in source materials.

Sunnydale HOPE SF Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.75).

Potrero HOPE SF Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.76).

Central SoMa Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.78).

Pier 70 Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.79).

Mission Rock Special Use District

The available controls establish no dwelling-unit density, FAR, lot-coverage, or rear-yard limit. Each dwelling must receive at least 36 sq. ft. of private or 48 sq. ft. of common usable open space on its development block (§ 249.80).

Dwelling exposure may be provided along a street or passage at least 20 ft wide, an exterior courtyard or terrace at least 25 ft wide, or a qualifying interior courtyard. Certain production-related accessory uses are limited to 33% of the principal production use’s total floor area (§ 249.80).

The district’s complete purpose, boundaries, principal-use tables, height, and massing standards are not found in source materials.

1629 Market Street Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.81).

430 29th Avenue Special Use District

This SUD covers Assessor’s Block 1460, Lot 041, as shown on Map SU04. Its purpose is to support social-service and philanthropic facilities in a mixed residential and institutional setting (§ 249.82).

Executive, management, administrative, and clerical support for social-service or philanthropic facilities is principally permitted in addition to underlying permitted uses. Those offices cannot provide direct public services or sales at the site, and the principal use of the street-facing structure must remain residential; qualifying building permits are exempt from § 311 notice (§ 249.82).

No SUD-specific height, FAR, setback, or parking value is established in the source materials, so underlying controls remain applicable under § 235.

India Basin Special Use District

The India Basin SUD lies generally along Innes Avenue between Griffith and Earl Streets on the India Basin shoreline, with exact boundaries on Map SU09. It implements a mixed-use development agreement intended to provide housing, commercial space, public access, infrastructure, affordable housing, and open space (§ 249.84).

Its incorporated Design Standards and Guidelines operate with the SUD, but the SUD controls an unavoidable conflict. Public Trust property is subject to Port jurisdiction and Port permitting, while the Planning Commission handles development on SUD property outside the Public Trust (§ 249.84).

Specific use tables, height, bulk, setbacks, density, parking, and open-space quantities are not found in source materials.

1550 Evans Avenue Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.85).

3333 California Street Special Use District

This SUD occupies the area generally bounded by California Street, Presidio Avenue, Masonic Avenue, Euclid Avenue, and Laurel Street/Mayfair Drive. It implements a mixed-use development agreement for housing, senior affordable housing, child care, nonresidential uses, and publicly accessible open space (§ 249.86).

Use controls include:

• RM-1 uses remain available.
• NC-S nonresidential controls apply on the first and second stories of buildings fronting California Street.
• Flexible retail, social-service or philanthropic facilities, and arts activities are principally permitted on those floors.
• Automotive service, drive-up facilities, and mortuaries are prohibited.
• Liquor stores, chair or foot massage, and neighborhood agriculture require conditional use authorization.
• Commercial operating hours are 6:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m.

Approximately 56,000 sq. ft. of privately owned, publicly accessible parks and plazas may count toward project-wide usable open space if the stated conditions and development agreement are satisfied. Child-care parking may be provided at 1.5 spaces per 9 children, while a wholly affordable residential building is limited to 0.5 space per unit (§ 249.86).

Planning consistency review is required for new buildings and exterior alterations during the development-agreement term. Requests for discretionary review are not accepted (§ 249.86).

Potrero Power Station Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.87).

Bayview Industrial Triangle Cannabis Restricted Use District

Purpose, cannabis restrictions, dimensional standards, and mapped boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.88).

2000 Marin Street Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.89).

Balboa Reservoir Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.90).

2500–2530 18th Street Affordable Housing SUD

Purpose, permitted uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.91).

Central Neighborhoods Large Residence SUD

Purpose, large-residence controls, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.92).

Group Housing Special Use District

Purpose, group-housing use controls, density, dimensions, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.93).

Family and Senior Housing Opportunity SUD

Purpose, qualifying housing uses, affordability controls, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.94).

900 Kearny Street Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.95).

Wawona Street and 45th Avenue Cultural Center SUD

Purpose, cultural-center uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.96).

Priority Equity Geographies Special Use District

This SUD covers areas shown on Maps SU01, SU02, SU07, SU08, SU09, SU10, SU11, SU12, and SU13. It is intended to implement Housing Element policies for neighborhoods with higher concentrations of vulnerable populations and targeted needs for affordable housing, jobs, business ownership, and community stabilization (§ 249.97).

The only controls identified in the source materials are the additional requirements in §§ 311 and 317. No independent permitted-use table, height, FAR, setback, or parking standard is stated in the supplied SUD text (§ 249.97).

Potrero Yard Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and mapped application are not found in source materials (§ 249.98).

30 Van Ness Avenue Special Use District

Purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 249.99).

Lakeshore Plaza Special Use District

This neighborhood-commercial SUD is identified in the Code, but its purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 201; § 780.1).

Bayshore-Hester Special Use District

This neighborhood-commercial SUD is identified in the Code, but its purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 201; § 780.2).

Mission-Harrington Special Use District

This single-lot SUD applies to 4550 Mission Street, Assessor’s Block 3148, Lot 1, at Mission and Harrington Streets in the Excelsior, as shown on Map SU11. It seeks commercial reinvestment and higher-density mixed-use development without disrupting the adjoining residential neighborhood (§ 780.4).

The underlying NC-3 controls apply except that:

• Maximum height is 56 ft in a 56-X height-and-bulk district.
• Residential density is 1 unit per 400 sq. ft. of lot area.
• No off-street parking is required.
• No rear setback is required.

These exceptions do not independently change other NC-3 use or development controls (§ 780.4).

1800 Market Community Center Project SUD

This neighborhood-commercial SUD is identified in the Code, but its purpose, permitted uses, dimensional standards, and parcel boundaries are not found in source materials (§ 201; § 787).

Interaction with the Housing Choice-San Francisco Program

The HC-SF Program ordinarily excludes projects in an SUD that implements a development agreement. It also provides that its modified standards can override provisions of an SUD that does not implement such an agreement (§ 206.10).

The Non-Contiguous SFMTA Sites SUD creates a specific exception: qualifying residential development within that SUD may use HC-SF even when associated with a development agreement, project agreement, or similar arrangement (§ 249.22). Because this is a district-specific exception to a citywide program, eligibility should be checked against both sections rather than inferred from the map alone.

Signs and Special Use Districts

The Code identifies district-specific sign controls for four SUDs:

• Parkmerced SUD
• California Street and Presidio Avenue–Community Center SUD
• North of Market Residential SUD
• Stonestown SUD

Where Article 6 and another sign provision conflict, the more restrictive rule governs unless the Code specifically says otherwise (§ 608). The detailed sign standards for three of these districts are not found in source materials; Parkmerced sign controls are incorporated through its Design Standards and Guidelines (§ 249.64; § 608).

Information Gaps

The source materials provide a complete Article 2 index but substantive operative text for only a subset of the named districts. For the districts expressly marked above, the following could not be confirmed:

• Exact Zoning Map boundaries or assessor parcels.
• Complete principal, conditional, and prohibited-use schedules.
• Height, bulk, FAR, setback, lot-coverage, and open-space controls.
• Parking, loading, sign, fee, affordability, and review requirements.
• Whether the bracketed Non-Profit Arts Education SUD remains operative.
• Controls incorporated through development agreements, designs for development, or district-specific design standards not reproduced here.

For any parcel-specific decision, verify with the jurisdiction using the current Zoning Map, the complete SUD section, the underlying zoning-control table, and incorporated project documents.

Checklist

• Confirm the assessor block and lot for the project site.
• Identify the underlying use district and height-and-bulk district under § 201.
• Check every applicable SUD map layer and boundary under § 235.
• Read the complete operative text for each overlapping SUD.
• Separate base controls from the SUD’s express exceptions.
• Classify each proposed use as principal, conditional, accessory, mandatory-review, or prohibited under §§ 202 and 202.1.
• Confirm density, FAR, height, bulk, setback, lot-coverage, exposure, and open-space controls.
• Check off-street parking maximums, minimums, and district-specific exceptions.
• Determine whether a conditional use, design review, Director determination, or Planning Commission hearing is required.
• Identify any incorporated development agreement, design standards, or Design for Development.
• Check whether HC-SF eligibility is barred, modified, or expressly allowed under § 206.10 and the applicable SUD.
• Confirm sign controls under § 608.
• Verify notice, discretionary-review, recordation, affordable-housing, fee, and public-access obligations.
• Obtain current Planning approval before relying on any SUD exception in a building-permit application.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

A San Francisco SUD is a parcel- or area-specific set of zoning exceptions layered over ordinary zoning. Start with the base district, confirm the SUD map, and change only the rules the SUD expressly overrides; everything else still applies (§ 235).

Source References

• § 102 — Planning Code definitions and district-specific-definition framework.
• §§ 201, 202, and 202.1 — use-district classes, permitted-use categories, and zoning-table symbols.
• § 206.10 — Housing Choice-San Francisco eligibility and modified development standards.
• § 235 — establishment, mapping, and legal effect of Special Use Districts.
• §§ 237–249.99 — Article 2 SUD designations and district-specific controls.
• § 249.22 — Non-Contiguous SFMTA Sites SUD.
• § 249.26 — 2245 Post Street SUD.
• § 249.33 — Van Ness & Market Residential SUD.
• § 249.35B — Design and Development SUD.
• § 249.41 — 901 Bush Street SUD.
• § 249.64 — Parkmerced SUD.
• § 249.65 — Bayshore Boulevard Home Improvement SUD.
• § 249.74 — Fifth and Mission SUD review controls.
• § 249.80 — Mission Rock SUD building standards.
• § 249.82 — 430 29th Avenue SUD.
• § 249.84 — India Basin SUD.
• § 249.86 — 3333 California Street SUD.
• § 249.97 — Priority Equity Geographies SUD.
• § 608 — signs in specified SUDs.
• § 780.4 — Mission-Harrington neighborhood-commercial SUD.
• § 802.2 — application of SUD provisions within Article 8 areas.
• § 1208 — published interpretation concerning Washington-Broadway parking.

Source passages

• San Francisco Zoning Code § 249.41 High relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (§ 780.4) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 249.22 Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 235 Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 206.10 Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (§ 249.64) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 102 Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (§ 249.86) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 249.35B Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (§ 249.65) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 249.33 Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (§ 249.82) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 201 Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 249.26 Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code (§ 249.74) Medium relevance show source text
• San Francisco Zoning Code § 202.1 Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 102** — Planning Code definitions and district-specific-definition framework.
• **§§ 201, 202, and 202.1** — use-district classes, permitted-use categories, and zoning-table symbols.
• **§ 206.10** — Housing Choice-San Francisco eligibility and modified development standards.
• **§ 235** — establishment, mapping, and legal effect of Special Use Districts.
• **§§ 237–249.99** — Article 2 SUD designations and district-specific controls.
• **§ 249.22** — Non-Contiguous SFMTA Sites SUD.
• **§ 249.26** — 2245 Post Street SUD.
• **§ 249.33** — Van Ness & Market Residential SUD.
• **§ 249.35B** — Design and Development SUD.
• **§ 249.41** — 901 Bush Street SUD.
• **§ 249.64** — Parkmerced SUD. (§ 249.64)
• **§ 249.65** — Bayshore Boulevard Home Improvement SUD. (§ 249.65)
• **§ 249.74** — Fifth and Mission SUD review controls. (§ 249.74)
• **§ 249.80** — Mission Rock SUD building standards. (§ 249.80)
• **§ 249.82** — 430 29th Avenue SUD. (§ 249.82)
• **§ 249.84** — India Basin SUD. (§ 249.84)
• **§ 249.86** — 3333 California Street SUD. (§ 249.86)
• **§ 249.97** — Priority Equity Geographies SUD. (§ 249.97)
• **§ 608** — signs in specified SUDs. (§ 608)
• **§ 780.4** — Mission-Harrington neighborhood-commercial SUD. (§ 780.4)
• **§ 802.2** — application of SUD provisions within Article 8 areas. (§ 802.2)
• **§ 1208** — published interpretation concerning Washington-Broadway parking.