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Article 1.2 — DIMENSIONS, AREAS, AND OPEN SPACES›SEC. 135. USABLE OPEN SPACE FOR DWELLING UNITS AND GROUP HOUSING, R, NC, MIXED USE, C, AND M DISTRICTS.

SEC. 135.2. USABLE OPEN SPACE FOR LIVE/WORK UNITS IN NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS OR…

San Francisco Planning Code · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · San Francisco

(See Interpretations related to this Section.)

Usable open space for live/work units within buildings newly constructed after the effective date of Ordinance No. 412-88 (effective October 10, 1988) or for newly created live/work units within an expansion of or addition to an existing building shall be provided according to the standards set forth in this Section.

(a) Character of Space Provided. The character of open space for live/work units shall satisfy the terms of Section 135(a), except that usable private or common open space for live/work units may also be provided as one of the following unenclosed resting or open space areas: A rooftop and/or podium level yard, garden or sun deck. Usable open space for live/work units shall be clearly accessible to and for the use of live/work tenants.

(b) Permitted Obstructions. In the calculation of either private or common usable open space for live/work units, the obstructions for usable open space listed in Section 136 of this Code shall be permitted and in addition, on rooftop or podium level yards, gardens or decks, wind screens of no more than six feet in height shall be permitted. Such wind screens shall conform to Table 5A of the San Francisco Building Code and shall be set back no less than five feet from the building edge.

(c) Amount Required. Thirty-six (36) square feet of open space shall be required for each live/work unit.

(Added by Ord. 412-88, App. 9/10/88)

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▸ Contents — San Francisco Planning Code
San Francisco Planning Code
  1. Article 1 — GENERAL ZONING PROVISIONS
  2. ▸ Article 1.2 — DIMENSIONS, AREAS, AND OPEN SPACES
    Overview
    1. SEC. 121. MINIMUM LOT WIDTH AND AREA.
    2. SEC. 124. BASIC FLOOR AREA RATIO.
    3. SEC. 128. TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS IN C-3 DISTRICTS.
    4. SEC. 132. FRONT SETBACK AREAS IN RTO, RH, AND RM DISTRICTS AND…
    5. SEC. 134. REAR YARDS IN R, RC, NC, M, CMUO, MUG, MUO, MUR, RED…
    6. ▸ SEC. 135. USABLE OPEN SPACE FOR DWELLING UNITS AND GROUP HOUSI…
      Overview
      1. SEC. 135.1. OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR USES OTHER THAN RESIDE…
      2. SEC. 135.2. USABLE OPEN SPACE FOR LIVE/WORK UNITS IN NEWLY CON…
      3. SEC. 135.3. USABLE OPEN SPACE FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL USES IN THE …
    7. SEC. 136. OBSTRUCTIONS OVER STREETS AND ALLEYS AND IN REQUIRED…
    8. SEC. 138. PRIVATELY-OWNED PUBLIC OPEN SPACE (POPOS) REQUIREMEN…
    9. SEC. 140. ALL DWELLING UNITS IN ALL USE DISTRICTS TO FACE ON A…
    10. SEC. 144. STREET FRONTAGES IN RH, RTO, RTO-M, AND RM DISTRICTS.
    11. SEC. 145. FRONTAGES, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AREAS, WALKUP FACILITIES…
  3. Article 1.5 — TRANSPORTATION, OFF-STREET PARKING, AND LOADING
  4. Article 1.7 — COMPLIANCE
  5. Article 2 — USE DISTRICTS
  6. Article 2.5 — HEIGHT AND BULK DISTRICTS
  7. Article 3 — ZONING PROCEDURES
  8. Article 3.5 — FEES
  9. Article 4 — DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES AND PROJECT REQUIREMENTS T…
  10. Article 5 — [RESERVED] ARTICLE 6: SIGNS
  11. Article 7 — NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
  12. Article 8 — MIXED USE DISTRICTS
  13. Article 9 — MISSION BAY DISTRICTS
  14. Part I — SCOPE, PURPOSE AND RELATIONSHIPS
  15. Part II — USES
  16. Part III — DENSITY
  17. Part IV — HEIGHT
  18. Part V — BUILDING FORM
  19. Part VI — OPEN AREAS
  20. Part VII — PARKING
  21. Part VIII — SIGNS
  22. Part X — OFFICE SPACE LIMITATION
  23. Part XI — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
  24. Part XII — RULES FOR NONCONFORMING USES AND NONCOMPLYING STRUC…
  25. Part XIII — COMPLIANCE, PERMIT APPROVAL AND ENFORCEMENT
  26. Part XIV — FEES
  27. Part XV — DEFINITIONS
  28. Part XVI — SEVERABILITY

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