San Francisco County Municipal Code Art. 6 Signs

Sec. 601. Purposes of Sign Controls. Sec. 602. Sign Definitions. Sec. 603. Exempted Signs. Sec. 604. Permits and Conformity Required. Sec. 604.1. Information Required on Advertising Signs. Sec. 604.2. General Advertising Sign Inventories. Sec. 605. Public Use Districts. Sec. 606. Residential and Residential Enclave Districts. Sec. 607. Commercial and Industrial Districts. Sec. 607.1. Neighborhood Commercial and Residential-Commercial Districts, and Residential Transit Oriented-Commercial Districts. Sec. 607.2. Mixed Use Districts. Sec. 608. Special Sign Districts and Signs in Special Use Districts. Sec. 608.1. Near R Districts. Sec. 608.2. Near Schools, Parks, and Recreation Facilities. Sec. 608.3. Civic Center Special Sign Districts. Sec. 608.4. Transit Center Special Sign District. Sec. 608.5. Near Freeways. Sec. 608.6. Near Certain Scenic Streets. Sec. 608.7. Near Rapid Transit Routes. Sec. 608.8. Market Street Special Sign District. Sec. 608.9. Jackson Square Special Sign District. Sec. 608.10. Stonestown Special Sign District. Sec. 608.11. Hospitals and Medical Centers in R Districts Adjacent to or Across the Street from NC, C or M Districts. Sec. 608.12. 555 9th Street Special Sign District. Sec. 608.13. In the Rincon Hill Downtown Residential Mixed Use District. Sec. 608.14. Vintage Signs. Sec. 608.15. Northeast Waterfront Special Sign District. Sec. 608.16. City Center Special Sign District. Sec. 608.18. 3250 19th Avenue Special Sign District. Sec. 609. Amortization Periods. Sec. 609.1. General Advertising Signs Located in R Districts. Sec. 609.3. Within Civic Center Special Sign Districts. Sec. 609.4. Signs Near Nonlandscaped Freeways. Sec. 609.5. Signs Near Landscaped Freeways. Sec. 609.6. Signs Near Certain Scenic Streets. Sec. 609.7. Wind Signs. Sec. 609.8. Miscellaneous Service Station Signs in R Districts. Sec. 609.9. Signs Near Rapid Transit Routes. Sec. 609.10. In the Market Street Special Sign District. Sec. 609.11. In the Jackson Square Special Sign District. Sec. 609.12. On and Near Market Street from the Central Skyway Overpass to Diamond Street. Sec. 609.13. Nonconforming General Advertising Signs in Neighborhood Commercial Districts. Sec. 609.14. In the Northeast Waterfront Special Sign District.

Sec. 610. Violation of General Advertising Sign Requirements. Sec. 611. General Advertising Signs Prohibited.

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Res. 319-14, File No. 140821, App. 8/7/2014; Ord. 20-15, File No. 110548, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65)

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Proposition G, 3/5/2002)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98; Ord. 195-11, File No. 110448, App. 10/4/2011, Eff. 11/3/2011)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Amended by Ord. 125-70, App. 4/14/70; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Added by Ord 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(Added by Ord. 28-02, File No. 011962, App. 3/15/2002)

(Amended by Ord. 125-70, App. 4/14/70; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Added by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98)

(Added by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98; Ord. 20-15, File No. 110548, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015)

(Added by Ord. 242-08, File No. 071431, App. 10/30/2008; amended by Ord. 140-11, File No. 110482, App. 7/5/2011, Eff. 8/4/2011)

(Added by Ord. 242-08, File No. 071431, App. 10/30/2008; amended by Ord. 140-11, File No. 110482, App. 7/5/2011, Eff. 8/4/2011)

Business signs in P Districts shall be subject to the controls of this Article 6 for the zoning district nearest the location of the proposed sign, other than Public Districts or Residential Districts. No general advertising sign, other than those signs exempted by Section 603 of this Code, shall be permitted. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 285-94, App. 8/2/94; Ord. 80-14 , File No. 140062, App. 6/13/2014, Eff. 7/13/2014) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section amended; Ord. 80-14 , Eff. 7/13/2014.

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Added by Ord. 537-88, App. 12/16/88; amended by Ord. 79-89, App. 3/24/89; Ord. 327-96, App. 8/21/96; repealed by Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015)

(See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Added by Ord. 345-87, App. 8/21/87; repealed by Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015)

No general advertising sign, and no other sign exceeding 100 square feet in area, shall be located in an NC, C, M, PDR, or Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use District within 100 feet of any R District in such a manner as to be primarily viewed from residentially zoned property or from any street or alley within an R District; any sign of which the face is located parallel to a street property line and lies for its entire width opposite an NC, C, M, PDR, or MUR District shall be deemed prima facie not to be primarily so viewed. No sign of any size within 100 feet of any R District shall project beyond the street property line or building setback line of any street or alley leading off the main commercial frontage into the R District. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section amended; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019.

No general advertising sign, and no other sign exceeding 200 square feet in area, shall be located within 100 feet of any part of the premises of a school, attendance at which satisfies the compulsory education laws of the State of California, in such a way that it is primarily viewed through any part of such premises. No general advertising sign, and no other sign exceeding 200 square feet in area, shall be located within 200 feet of any part of the premises of a park, playground, recreation center or facility, square, avenue or grounds under the jurisdiction and supervision of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission or a park, playground, or recreation center or facility of any other public agency, if the sign is so arranged that it is primarily viewed from or through such premises. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 134-97, App. 4/25/97)

No General Advertising Sign, and no other Sign exceeding 200 square feet in area, shall be located within the Civic Center Special Sign Districts Numbers 1 and 2, as designated on Sectional Map SSD of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco. Within such districts, no Sign that is located on publicly owned property, or that is located on a street frontage facing publicly owned property, shall have any moving, rotating or otherwise animated part; or have any flashing, blinking, fluctuating or otherwise animated light; or project beyond any Street Property Line or building setback line; or be Attached to a Building in any manner other than with its entire area flat against a wall of such building that directly faces a street. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header and section amended; Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016.

(Added by Proposition F, 6/3/97; repealed by Proposition G, 6/3/2008)

Except for Historic Signs and Vintage Signs designated pursuant to Section 608.14 of this Code, no General Advertising Sign, and no other Sign exceeding 200 square feet in area, shall be located after the date of determination and designation of the route of a Freeway so that it is primarily to be viewed by persons traveling on any portion of such Freeway. When located so as to be viewed primarily by persons traveling on any portion of a Freeway, Business Signs not exceeding 200 square feet in area which are permitted by this Section 608.5, Historic Signs, and Vintage Signs designated pursuant to Section 608.14 which may exceed 200 square feet in area shall, regardless of any other provision of this Code, be limited to Signs which designate the name of the owner or occupant of the premises upon which the Sign is placed, or which identify such premises, or which direct attention to goods manufactured or produced, or services rendered, on the property upon which the Sign is placed. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98; Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016)

No general advertising sign, and no other sign exceeding 200 square feet in area, shall be located after the date of determination and designation of the route or portion thereof of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District or other rapid transit line, wherever such route or portion thereof is other than underground, so that the sign is primarily to be viewed by persons traveling on any such route or portion thereof. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65)

Within the boundaries of the Rincon Hill Downtown Residential Mixed Use District set forth in Section 827 and generally bounded by Folsom Street, The Embarcadero, Bryant Street, and Essex Street, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, the existing Signs and/or Sign Towers may be changed, modified or replaced provided that all the following criteria are met: (a) Such changed, modified or replacement sign is in the same general location as the existing signage; (b) The total area and height of the changed, modified or replacement sign is not increased from the total area and height of the existing sign or sign tower; (c) Such sign or sign tower may contain letters, numbers, a logo, service mark and/or trademark, and may be nonilluminated, or directly or indirectly illuminated; (d) Such sign or sign tower may only reflect the identity of the owner or a tenant of the building, including a parent corporation, subsidiary and/or affiliate of the owner or of the tenant. (Added by Ord. 389-95, App. 12/14/95; amended by Ord. 217-05, File No. 050865, App. 8/19/2005 ; Ord. 56-13 , File No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016) AMENDMENT HISTORY Undesignated introductory material amended; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Section header and introductory material amended; Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016.

(Added by Ord. 294-24, File No. 240931, App. 12/19/2024, Eff. 1/19/2025; repealed by Ord. 97-25, File No. 250140, App. 6/27/2025, Eff. 7/28/2025)

No lawfully existing sign which fails to conform to the provisions of this Article 6 need be removed or altered to conform to said provisions prior to the end of its normal life as provided in Section 604 of this Code, except as specified in Sections 609.1 through 609.12. Where two or more amortization periods of differing duration apply to the same sign, the most restrictive of such amortization periods shall prevail unless this Code specifically provides otherwise. Where removal or alteration of a sign is required, such requirement shall apply to the sign faces, the sign structure, the supporting framework and all other parts of the sign. (Amended by Ord. 64-77, App. 2/18/77)

Any lawfully existing general advertising sign in an R District shall be removed within five years after the effective date of this Article 6 or such later date as the sign becomes nonconforming. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65)

(Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; repealed by Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016)

Any lawfully existing sign which does not conform to Section 608.3 of this Code shall be removed or altered to conform therewith within the period of time specified below after the

effective date of this Article 6 or such later date as the sign becomes nonconforming: (a) In Civic Center Special Sign Districts Numbers 1 and 2, one year for painted wall signs; (b) In Civic Center Special Sign District No. 1, one year for general advertising signs; (c) In Civic Center Special Sign District No. 2, five years for general advertising signs other than painted wall signs. Provided, however, that within these Special Sign Districts, except as stated otherwise in Section 609.10 of this Code, a lawfully existing sign which does not conform to Section 608.3 need not be removed or altered to conform therewith prior to the end of its normal life if located on the north side of Market Street and within 60 feet of the north line of Market Street and primarily viewed from Market Street, or if located on the north line of Hayes Street (between Market Street and a point 100 feet east of the east line of Van Ness Avenue) and within 60 feet of the north line of Hayes Street and primarily viewed from Hayes Street. (Amended by Ord. 125-70, App. 4/17/70)

Any lawfully existing sign which is now or hereafter near a nonlandscaped portion of a freeway and which does not conform to the provisions of Section 608.5 of this Code shall be removed or altered to conform therewith within 10 years after the effective date of this Article 6, or within 10 years after such date as the precise route of the freeway has been determined and designated but not before such route has been opened to traffic, whichever date is later; provided, however, that any lawfully existing sign near the James Lick Freeway if located west of Fifth Street, north of Division Street, and east of 10th Street, or near the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge approach east of Fifth Street need not be removed or altered to conform to Section 608.5 prior to the end of its normal life if located within the area exempted from the prohibition of freeway signs by Section 4721.D(2) of the San Francisco Building Code as that Section was in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this Article 6. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65)

Any lawfully existing sign which is now or hereafter near a landscaped portion of a freeway and which does not conform to the provisions of Section 608.5 of this Code shall be removed or altered to conform therewith within three years after the effective date of this Article 6, or three years after the date when the landscaping project has been completed, whichever is later; unless an earlier date for removal or alteration of the sign has been established by Section 4721.C of the San Francisco Building Code, as that Section was in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this Article 6, in which case the date for removal or alteration shall be two years following the date so established by the Building Code. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65)

Any lawfully existing sign which does not conform to Section 608.6 of this Code shall be removed or altered to conform therewith within five years after the effective date of this Article 6 or such later date as the sign becomes nonconforming; unless such sign was made subject to removal or alteration within five years after February 18, 1960, by Section 4722.D of the San Francisco Building Code, as that Section was in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this Article 6, in which case such earlier date shall prevail. Provided, however, that any lawfully existing sign within the Special Sign District along Nineteenth Avenue between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard and on a lot in a C-1 or C-2 District need not be removed or altered to conform to Section 608.6 prior to the end of its normal life or until such earlier date, if any, by which it must be removed or altered to qualify said street for designation as a part of the State scenic highway system in accordance with the applicable provisions of State law. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65)

Any lawfully existing wind sign in any zoning district shall be removed within one year after the effective date of this Article 6. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65)

Any lawfully existing sign at an automobile service station in an R District (other than those signs covered by Paragraph 606(d)(1)(A) of this Code) which does not conform to Paragraph 606(d)(1)(B) of this Code shall be removed or altered to conform therewith within one year after the effective date of this Article 6 or such later date as the sign becomes nonconforming. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65; amended by Ord. 20-15, File No. 110548, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section amended; Ord. 20-15, Eff. 3/22/2015.

Any lawfully existing sign which is now or hereafter near a rapid transit route or portion thereof and which does not conform to the provisions of Section 608.7 of this Code shall be removed or altered to conform therewith within five years after the effective date of this Article 6, or within five years after such date as the precise rapid transit route or portion has been determined and designated but not before such route or portion has been opened to traffic, whichever date is later. (Added by Ord. 263-65, App. 10/22/65)

Any lawfully existing Sign which does not conform to Section 608.9 of this Code shall be removed or altered to conform therewith within five years after the effective date of said Section or such later date as the Sign becomes nonconforming. (Added by Ord. 223-72, App. 8/9/72; amended by Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header and section amended; Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016.

COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS. If state and/or federal statutes, as applicable, which currently required local governments to pay monetary compensation to the owners of nonconforming Signs as a condition of requiring removal of such Signs is/are repealed, or amended so as to eliminate that requirement, then any lawfully existing General Advertising Sign within a Neighborhood Commercial District shall be removed within five years of the effective date of the repeal of the amendment of said state and/or federal legislation, as applicable. (Added by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; amended by Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header and section amended; Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016.

Any lawfully existing Sign that does not conform to Section 608.15 of this Code shall be removed or altered to conform to that Section within five years after the effective date of Section 608.15 or such later date as the sign becomes nonconforming. (Added by Ord. 59-08, File No. 031034, App. 4/10/2008; amended by Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header and section amended; Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016.