The San Francisco Business Zoning Check tool embodies San Francisco's Planning Code regulations pertaining to business uses, and is recent up to Ordinance No. 54-21.
This tool doesn't provide any information about Interim Zoning Controls. Visit San Francisco's Interim Zoning Control page for further information.
The information presented in this tool does not consititute an entitlement or legal advice. The City's Zoning Administrator has the final say with regards to the administration and enforcement of the Planning Code.
Discover where in San Francisco you can locate your business!
San Francisco's Planning Code divides the city into zoning districts. Each zoning district has rules about what types of businesses can be located within its boundaries. Use this tool to find out what types of businesses are allowed at a particular location in San Francisco, or to find out where in San Francisco your proposed business can be located.
Enter the type of business you'd like to open to find the official term that most closely describes it.
OR, select from the categories below to browse the official terms for businesses, as listed in the Planning Code.
Agriculture
Automotive
Entertainment
Industrial
Institutional and Community
Non-Retail Sales and Service
Retail Sales and Service
Utility and Infrastructure
No matching use results for .
Click here to search again. OR, you may select from the categories below to browse the official terms for businesses, as listed in the Planning Code.
Agriculture
Automotive
Entertainment
Industrial
Institutional and Community
Non-Retail Sales and Service
Retail Sales and Service
Utility and Infrastructure
It looks like you are interested in opening a cannabis business. Review this handout from SF Planning to learn about how to classify your business under the Planning Code.
Matching use types for :
Click here to search again. OR, you may browse the official terms for businesses, as listed in the San Francisco Planning Code.
The supplied parcel has split zoning. This tool provides a general view of permitted land uses, and we recommend you speak to a planner for further information.
The supplied parcel is partially within Daly City. We recommend that you consult Daly City's zoning regulations for your proposed use.
For more information on this property, including past Planning and Building Permit applications that could impact how your project is reviewed for approval, visit the City's Property Information Map.
Answer the questions below, as your responses may impact whether your business is allowed.
Which floor would you like your business to be located on?
Is this business part of a chain (generally speaking, a business that has at least 11 retail establishments)? See definition
Will the business offer drive-through service? See definition
Will the business offer window service or another walk-up facility? See definition
Search parameters:
Search Parameters
Land use notes:
Notes
Process Information:
Cannabis-related uses
Contact the Office of Cannabis to determine eligibility and begin application process.
Note:Future process changes will likely come, please contact Planning Staff to ensure that the above information is current and accurate prior to beginning your application process.
It appears that your project requires a Pre-Application Meeting. The Pre-Application Meeting is a mandatory form of community outreach conducted by the project sponsor to receive initial feedback, before any permit applications are filed. The meeting's intention is to initiate neighbor communication and identify and resolve issues and concerns early on.
Process
Invite adjacent neighbors and relevant neighborhood organizations to attend a Pre-Application Meeting. The Pre-Application Meeting must follow rules about who is invited, when and where the meeting is held, and what information must be collected and displayed. For more information, click here.
When you submit your the Permit Application, you must submit along with it specific documentation about the Pre-Application Meeting.
Permitted By Right
Background
If your project involves changing how an existing building or piece of property is used (for instance, from a restaurant to a store), and your new business is permitted by right at your project location, you will be required to submit a Building Permit Application.
Process
We recommend you contact the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) to confirm their requirements before submitting your Building Permit Application. They can be reached at (415) 558-6088, or at 1660 Mission Street 1st floor Public Information Counter.
Conditional Use Authorization
Background
It appears that you are required to apply for a Conditional Use Authorization (CUA) in order to open your business. A Conditional Use Authorization is required to open a type of business that is not principally permitted in the zoning district in which your business is located. A Conditional Use may be authorized, if certain conditions are met. Conditional Uses require a Planning Commission hearing in order to determine if the proposed business is necessary or desirable to the neighborhood, whether it may potentially have a negative impact on the surrounding neighborhood, and whether the use complies with the San Francisco General Plan.
Generally, the Conditional Use Authorization Application process takes, on average, about 6 to 9 months.
Process
You may first be required to conduct a Pre-Application Meeting to notify the neighboring community of your proposal.
Contact the Planning Department for an intake appointment to process your application.
After your application is accepted, a planner will review the application against the San Francisco General Plan, the Planning Code, adopted design guidelines, and Planning Department policies. A planner will also set a Planning Commission hearing date.
At least 20 days prior to the public hearing, the public will be notified of your proposed project. Information about your project will be posted on the project site, posted online, and mailed to your neighbors.
A public hearing will be held by the Planning Commission. During the hearing, the Planning Commission may "condition" the use by applying conditions to mitigate any negative impacts to the surrounding community (for instance, by requiring your business to be open only during certain hours), as well as by applying conditions that may be required by the Department and the Planning Code.
Community Business Priority Processing Program (CB3P)
Background
The Community Business Priority Processing Program (CB3P) is a program that you may be eligible for. CB3P is an optional program, and it is designed to streamline the Conditional Use Authorization process for certain small and mid-sized businesses. CB3P can help you out the door faster and open your business sooner. Applicants enrolled in the CB3P program will get their hearing before the Planning Commission within 90 days of a completed application.
Generally, for those enrolled in CB3P, the Conditional Use Authorization process takes around 3 months.
If you are eligible to participate in CB3P, send an email request along with CB3P Checklist for Eligibility and the Intake Appointment Request Form to CPC.Intake@sfgov.org.
After you are enrolled in CB3P, you will need to complete your Conditional Use Authorization Application and processes.
Neighborhood Notification
Background
It appears that you will be required to go through the Neighborhood Notification process prior to receiving your Building Permit. During the Neighborhood Notification Process, your neighbors will receive written notice of your project plans and have a 30-day window to voice any concerns about the proposed project.
Your project may need to go through the Neighborhood Notification process. Neighborhood Notification is required when you change of the use of a site from any one land use category to another land use category.
It appears that you will be required to go through the Neighborhood Notification process prior to receiving your Building Permit (note that neighborhood notification is not required if you are changing the use of the property from a Restaurant to a Limited Restaurant). During the Neighborhood Notification Process, your neighbors will receive written notice of your project plans and have a 30-day window to voice any concerns about the proposed project.
If your Wireless Telecommunications Services Facility is determined by the Zoning Administrator to be a Micro Wireless Telecommunications Services Facility, you will be required to go through the Neighborhood Notification process prior to receiving your Building Permit. During the Neighborhood Notification Process, your neighbors will receive written notice of your project plans and have a 30-day window to voice any concerns about the proposed project.
Process
After you have submitted your Building Permit Application, a Planning Department staff member will inform you if Neighborhood Notification is required. If so, you will be asked to provide certain materials to include in the notification packet that the Department will prepare. Notification will be mailed and posted online. The process provides for a 30-day notification period for owners, tenants and neighborhood groups in the vicinity of a proposed project to allow them an opportunity to voice concerns over the nature of a proposal.
Formula Retail
Background
Generally speaking, formula retail establishments, commonly known as chain stores, have multiple locations and standardized features or a recognizable appearance (for example, Target or Safeway). Additional processes apply to formula retail establishments, in order to maintain San Francisco's diverse and distinct neighborhoods.
Process
The Formula Retail Use Affidavit & Checklist will help you determine if your business qualifies as a formula retail use in San Francisco. You must submit this Affidavit & Checklist along with your Permit Application if your business may be considered formula retail. If your business does qualify as Formula Retail, then additional controls and regulations will apply depending on the zoning district where the proposed business will be located.
It is recommended to visit or call Planning staff at the Planning Information Center early in the planning of your project for help in determining if your formula retail use would be allowable.
Limitation on the Conversion Of PDR, Institutional Community, and Arts Activities Uses
Background
The Planning Codes has requirements to prevent certain businesses from being displaced from the Eastern Neighborhoods (e.g., Mission, Potrero Hill, parts of the waterfront south of Mission Bay, and parts of the South of Market neighborhood). These requirements apply if the opening of your business will result in the removal of Production, Distribution and Repair (PDR) uses of 5,000 square feet or more, Institutional Community uses of 2,500 square feet or more, or Arts Activities uses.
PDR uses include a variety of light-industrial and craft uses, such as automotive, storage and wholesale and small business uses (furniture makers, recording studios, plumbing supply stores, and lumberyards).
Institutional Community uses include child care and community facilities, job training, religious institutions and social services.
Arts Activities uses include space for performance, exhibition, rehearsal and production of visual, performance and sound arts, as well as art studios and art schools.
Process
If you think these requirements might apply to your project, contact the Planning Information Center. You may also review Planning Code Section 202.8 for more details.
If your project will be removing PDR, Industrial Community, and/or Arts Activity uses, your project will require a Conditional Use Authorization.
Your project will need to provide newly developed building space for the lost PDR, Institutional Community, or Arts Activities. The amount of space that will need to be provided depends on the project location and the square footage of the converted PDR, Institutional Community, or Arts Activities uses.
Limitation on Replacing Existing Grocery Stores, Movie Theaters, and Automotive Service Stations
Background
The Planning Code has processes to ensure that neighborhoods do not lose essential services. If the opening of your business will result in the closure of a grocery store greater than 5,000 square feet in size, a movie theater, or an automotive service station, your project will require Conditional Use Authorization.
Process
If you think the opening of your business may displace a grocery store over 5,000 square feet, movie theater, or automotive service station, contact the Planning Information Center. You may also review Planning Code Sections 202.3 (grocery stores), 202.4 (movie theaters), and 202.5 (automotive service stations) for further information.
If your business will displace one of these businesses, you will be required to apply for a Conditional Use Authorization.
Signs
Background
If you'd like to install a new sign that is visible from the outside of your new business, you'll need to submit a Sign Permit Application. A sign includes fabricated and hanging signs, as well as signs that have been painted directly on a building. For more information, see the Planning Department's how-to guide for signs.
Process
To obtain a sign permit application, visit the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) at 1660 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Environmental Review
Background
It is possible that your project will need to undergo environmental review before you open your business.
Process
Contact the Planning Information Center if you have questions as to whether your project will require environmental evaluation.
Flexible Retail Information
The Flexible Retail use allows 2 or more of the 6 uses below to be located and operated by 1 or more business on 1 site. At least 2 of the 6 uses must be operated on‐site at all times.
Arts Activities
Limited Restaurants
General Retail Sales and Services
Personal Services
Retail Professional Services
Trade Shop
You will need to conduct additional, separate searches to determine whether the 2 (or more) uses you'd like to operate on your site are allowed and whether any special processes apply.
That's because any parcel operating as Flexible Retail must adhere to all underlying zoning controls. This means that if any of the uses contained within the Flexible Retail category are not permitted, require special approval, or require Neighborhood Notification, those limitations continue to apply. For example, many areas of the city require Neighborhood Notification to establish a Limited Restaurant. If a Flexible Retail business would like to establish a Limited Restaurant and the zoning district requires Neighborhood Notification for such use, the business must undergo Neighborhood Notification to establish the Limited Restaurant under their Flexible Retail use.
All other Departments' permits and licenses apply. This includes the Health Department, Department of Building Inspection, Treasurer and Tax Collector, Entertainment Commission, and any other City department that may require approvals, permits, or licenses in order to establish a new use.
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