San Francisco Planning Code § 714 Broadway Neighborhood

The Broadway Neighborhood Commercial District, located in the northeast quadrant of San Francisco, extends along Broadway from east of Columbus Avenue to Osgood Place. It is part of a larger commercial area which includes North Beach to the north, Chinatown to the south and west, and Jackson Square to the southeast. Broadway's fame and popularity as a Citywide and regional entertainment district is derived from a concentration of nightclubs, music halls, adult theaters, bars, and restaurants between Grant Avenue and Montgomery Street. These places attract locals and visitors alike, mainly in the evening and late-night hours. In addition to the entertainment and some retail businesses, Broadway contains many upper-story residential hotels. Due to its proximity to downtown, there is strong pressure to develop upperstory offices.

The Broadway District controls are designed to encourage development that is compatible with the existing moderate building scale and mixed-use character, and maintain the district’s balance of entertainment uses, restaurants, and smallscale retail stores. New buildings exceeding 40 feet in height will be carefully reviewed and rear yards at residential levels are protected. Most commercial uses in new buildings are permitted at the first two stories. Neighborhood-serving businesses are strongly encouraged. In order to protect the livability of the area, limitations apply to new formula retail restaurants and adult entertainment uses at the first and second stories, as well as late-night activity. Financial services are allowed on the ground story subject to certain limitations. Nonretail offices are prohibited on the first story and above the second story in order to prevent encroachment of the adjoining downtown office uses. Due to the high traffic volume on Broadway, most automobile and drive-up uses are prohibited in order to prevent further traffic congestion. Parking garages are permitted if their ingress and egress do not disrupt the traffic flow on Broadway.

Housing development in new buildings is encouraged above the second story. Existing housing is protected by limitations on demolitions and upper-story conversions. Accessory dwelling units are permitted within the district pursuant to Section 207.1 of this Code.

Table 714. BROADWAY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT

	ZONING CONTROL TABLE Broadway NCD
Zoning Category	§ References Controls
BUILDING STANDARDS

		Broadway NCD
Zoning Category	§ References	Controls
BUILDING STANDARDS
Massing and Setbacks
Height and Bulk Limits.	§§ 102, 105, 106, 250– 252, 260, 261.1, 270, 271. See also Height and Bulk District Maps	40-X and 65-A. See Height and Bulk Map Sheet HT01 for more information. Height sculpting required on Alleys per §261.1.
5 Foot Height Bonus for Active Ground Floor Uses	§ 263.20	NP
Rear Yard	§§ 130, 134, 134(a)(e), 136	Required at the lowest Story containing a Dwelling Unit, and at each succeeding level or Story of the Building: 25% of lot depth, but in no case less than 15 feet.
Front Setback and Side Yard	§§ 130, 131, 132, 133	Generally not required; however, if the existing sidewalk does not meet the recommended width required by the Better Streets Plan, a front setback shall be provided so that, when combined with the existing sidewalk, the total distance from the curb to the building frontage meets or exceeds the required recommended width under the Better Streets Plan. This setback is required only up to 15 feet above street grade. See § 132(e).
Street Frontage and Public Realm
Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements	§ 138.1	Required
Street Frontage Requirements	§ 145.1	Required; controls apply to above-grade parking setbacks, parking and loading entrances, active uses, ground floor ceiling height, street-facing ground-level spaces, transparency and fenestration, and gates, railings, and grillwork. Exceptions permitted for historic buildings.
Ground Floor Commercial	§ 145.4	Not Required.
Vehicular Access Restrictions	§ 155(r)	Prohibited on Columbus Avenue between Washington and North Point Streets, and on Broadway between Embarcadero and Polk Street
Miscellaneous
Planned Unit Development	§ 304	C
Awning, Canopy or Marquee	§ 136.1	P
Signs	§§ 262, 602- 604, 607, 607.1, 608, 609	As permitted by § 607.1
General Advertising Signs	§§ 262, 602, 604, 608, 609, 610, 611	NP
Design Guidelines and Standards	General Plan Commerce and Industry Element	Urban Design Guidelines, Citywide Design Standards, historic resource consideration, and any other applicable design guidelines that have been approved by the Planning Commission. Properties in this District have been identified as potentially eligible for the National Register or California Register.

Zoning Category	§ References	Controls
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES
Zoning Category	§ References	Controls
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES
Development Standards
Usable Open Space [Per Dwelling Unit]	§ 135, 136	60 square feet if private, or 80 square feet if common, or the amount of open space required in the nearest Residential District, whichever is less.
Off-Street Parking Requirements	§§ 145.1, 150, 151.1, 153 156, 166, 204.5	- No car parking required (2). P up to one car for each two Dwelling or SRO Units; C up to 0.75 cars for each Dwelling Unit, subject to the criteria and procedures of Section 151.1(g); NP above 0.75 cars for each Dwelling Unit. 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.
Dwelling Unit Mix	§ 207.7	Generally required for creation of 10 or more Dwelling Units. No less than 25% of the total number of proposed Dwelling Units shall contain at least two Bedrooms, and no less than 10% of the total number of proposed Dwelling Units shall contain at least three Bedrooms.
Use Characteristics
Intermediate Length Occupancy	§§ 102; 202.10	P(8)
Single Room Occupancy	§ 102	P
Student Housing	§ 102	P
Residential Uses		Controls By Story
		1st 2nd 3rd+
Residential Uses	§ 102	P P P
Accessory Dwelling Unit	§§ 102, 207.1, 207.2	P per Planning Code §§ 207.1 and 207.2.
Dwelling Unit Density, General	§§ 102, 207	1 unit per 400 square foot lot area, or the density permitted in the nearest R District, whichever is greater.
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.
Group Housing Density	§ 208	1 bedroom per 140 square foot lot area, or the density permitted in the nearest R District, whichever is greater.
Homeless Shelter Density	§§ 102, 208	Density limits regulated by the Administrative Code
Senior Housing Density	§§ 102, 202.2(f), 207	P up to twice the number of dwelling units otherwise permitted as a Principal Use in the district and meeting all the requirements of § 202.2(f)(1). C up to twice the number of dwelling units otherwise permitted as a Principal Use in the district and meeting all requirements

		of § 202.2(f)(1), except for § 202.2(f)(1)(D)(iv), related to location.
Loss of Dwelling Units: Conversion,	§ 317	C
Demolition, or Merger of Dwelling Units, including Residential Flats

Zoning Category	§ References	Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AN	D USES
Zoning Category	§ References	Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AN Development Standards	D USES
Floor Area Ratio	§§ 102, 123, 124 , 207.9	2.5 to 1 3 For Office Uses minimum apply pursuant to § 207.9.	intensities may
Use Size	§§ 102, 121.2	P up to 3,000 square feet; C 3,001 sq	uare feet and above
Off-Street Parking Requirements	§§ 145.1, 150, 151.1, 153 - 156, 166, 204.5	Car parking not required. Limits set parking required per Section 155.2. required when a project has 25 or mo per § 166.	forth in § 151.1. Bike Car share spaces re parking spaces
Off-Street Freight Loading	§§ 150, 152, 153 - 155, 161, 204.5	None required if gross floor area is l square feet. Exceptions permitted pe	ess than 10,000 r §§ 155 and 161.
Commercial Use Characteristics
Drive-up Facility	§ 102	NP
Formula Retail	§§ 102, 303.1	C(4)
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, 703(b)	See § 703(b)
Outdoor Activity Area	§§ 102, 145.2, 202.2	P if located in front or it complies wi (7); C if located elsewhere.	th Section 202.2(a)
Walk-up Facility	§ 102	P
		Controls by Stor	y
		1st 2nd	3rd+
Uses in Historic Buildings
Historic Buildings	§ 202.11	In Historic Buildings, Uses listed bel Uses listed below as C are P, except Hotel, and certain Industrial Uses, as 202.11.	ow as NP are C and Cannabis Retail, specified in §
Agricultural Use Category
Agriculture, Industrial	§§ 102, 202.2(c)	NP NP	NP
Agriculture, Large Scale Urban	§§ 102, 202.2(c)	C C	C
Agriculture, Neighborhood	§§ 102, 202.2(c)	P P	P
Automotive Use Category
Automotive Uses*	§§ 102, 187.1, 202.2(b)	NP NP	NP

Electric Vehicle Charging Location §§ 102, 202.2(b), 202.13	C(10)2	C(10)	C(10)
Fleet Charging § 102	C	C	C
Parking Garage, Private § 102	C	C	C
Parking Garage, Public § 102	C	C	C
Parking Lot, Private §§ 102, 142, 156	C	C	C
Parking Lot, Public §§ 102, 142, 156	C	C	C
Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Use Category
Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Uses* § 102	NP	NP	NP
Arts Activities § 102	P	P	P
Entertainment, General § 102	P	P	NP
Entertainment, Nighttime § 102	P	P	NP
Movie Theater §§ 102, 202.4	P	P	P
Open Recreation Area § 102	C	C	C
Passive Outdoor Recreation § 102	C	C	C
Industrial Use Category
Industrial Uses § 102	NP	NP	NP
Institutional Use Category
Institutional Uses* § 102	P	C	C
Child Care Facility § 102	P	P	P
Community Facility § 102	P	P	P
Hospital § 102	NP	NP	NP
Medical Cannabis Dispensary §§ 102, 202.2(e)	DR	DR	NP
Public Facilities § 102	C	C	C
Residential Care Facility § 102	P	P	P
Social Service or Philanthropic Facility § 102	P	P	P
Sales and Service Use Category
Retail Sales and Service Uses* §§ 102, 202.2(a), 202.3	P	P	NP
Adult Business § 102	C	C	NP
Adult Sex Venue § 102	C	C	NP
Animal Hospital § 102	P	P	NP
Bar § 102	C	C	NP
Cannabis Retail §§ 102, 202.2(a)	C	C	NP
Flexible Retail §§ 102, 202.9	P	NP	NP
Hotel § 102	C	C	C
Kennel § 102	C	NP	NP
Liquor Store § 102	C	NP	NP
Massage Establishment §§ 102 1 204, 303n,1 703	P	C	NP(9)
Massage, Foot/Chair § 102	P	C	NP
Mortuary § 102	NP	NP	NP
Motel §§ 102, 202.2(a)	NP	NP	NP
Reproductive Health Clinic §§ 102, 202.5	P	P	P

Restaurant	§§ 102, 202.2(a)	P(4)	P(4)(5)	NP
Restaurant, Limited	§§ 102, 202.2(a)	P(4)	P(4)	NP
Services, Financial	§ 102	P	NP	NP
Services, Fringe Financial	§ 102	NP(6)	NP(6)	NP(6)
Services, Limited Financial	§ 102	P	NP	NP
Services, Retail Professional	§ 102	P	P	P
Storage, Self	§ 102	NP	NP	NP
Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishment	§ 102	C	NP	NP
Trade Shop	§ 102	P	C	NP
Non-Retail Sales and Service*	§ 102	NP	NP	NP
Design Professional	§ 102	P	P	NP
Service, Non-Retail Professional	§ 102	NP	P	NP
Trade Office	§ 102	P	P	NP
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category
Utility and Infrastructure*	§ 102	C(7)	C(7)	C(7)
Power Plant	§ 102	NP	NP	NP
Public Utilities Yard	§ 102	NP	NP	NP

Not listed below

(1) BROADWAY OFF-STREET PARKING RESIDENTIAL

Boundaries: Broadway NCD.

Controls: Installing a garage in an existing residential building of four or more units requires a mandatory discretionary review by the Planning Commission; Section 311 notice is required for a building of less than four units. In approving installation of the garage, the Commission shall find that:

(a) the proposed garage opening/addition of off-street parking will not cause the “removal” or “conversion of residential unit,” as those terms are defined in Section 317 of this Code.

(b) the proposed garage opening/addition of off-street parking will not substantially decrease the livability of a dwelling unit without increasing the floor area in a commensurate amount;

(c) the building has not had two or more “no-fault” evictions, as defined in 37.9(a)(7)-(12) of the Administrative Code, with each eviction associated with a separate unit(s) within the past ten years;

(d) the garage would not front on a public right-of-way narrower than 41 feet; and

(e) the proposed garage/addition of off-street parking installation is consistent with the Priority Policies of Section 101.1 of this Code.

(2) [Note deleted.]
(3) [Note deleted.]
(4) Formula Retail NP for Restaurants and Limited Restaurants
(5) [Note deleted.]

(6) FRINGE FINANCIAL SERVICE RESTRICTED USE DISTRICT (FFSRUD).

Boundaries: The FFSRUD and its 1/4 mile buffer includes, but is not limited to, the Broadway Neighborhood Commercial District. Controls: Fringe Financial Services are NP within any FFSRUD and its 1/4 mile buffer pursuant to Section 249.35. Outside any FFSRUD and its 1/4 mile buffer, Fringe Financial Services are P subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 249.35(c)(3).

(7) C if a Macro WTS Facility; P if a Micro WTS Facility.
(8) NP for buildings with three or fewer Dwelling Units. C for buildings with 10 or more Dwelling Units.
(9) P if accessory to a Hotel, Personal Service or Health Service.

(10)2 P where existing use is any Automotive Use.

(Added by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; amended by Ord. 412-88, App. 9/10/88; Ord. 272-93, App. 8/25/93; Ord. 87-00, File No. 991963, App. 5/19/2000; Ord. 260-00, File No. 001424, App. 11/17/2000; Ord. 275-05, File No. 051250, App. 11/30/2005; Ord. 289-06, File No. 050176, App. 11/20/2006; Ord. 269-07, File No. 070671, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 24408, File No. 080567, App. 10/30/2008; Ord. 245-08, File No. 080696; Ord. 51-09, File No. 081620, App. 4/2/2009; Ord. 139-09, File No. 090402, App. 7/2/2009; Ord. 77-10, File No. 091165, App. 4/16/2010; Ord. 66-11, File No. 101537, App. 4/20/2011, Eff. 5/20/2011; Ord. 140-11, File No. 110482, App. 7/5/2011, Eff. 8/4/2011; Ord. 75-12 , File No. 120084, App. 4/23/2012, Eff. 5/23/2012; Ord. 56-13 , File No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 287-13 , File No. 130041, App. 12/26/2013, Eff. 1/25/2014; Ord. 227-14 , File No. 120796, App. 11/13/2014, Eff. 12/13/2014; Ord. 232-14 , File No. 120881, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; 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. 20-15 , File No. 110548, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; redesignated and amended by Ord. 30-15 , File No. 140954, App. 3/26/2015, Eff. 4/25/2015; amended by Ord. 162-15 , File No. 150805, App. 9/18/2015, Eff. 10/18/2015; Ord. 33-16 , File No. 160115, App. 3/11/2016, Eff. 4/10/2016; 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. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; Ord. 130-17, File No. 170204, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; 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. 47-18, File No. 171108, App. 3/16/2018, Eff. 4/16/2018; Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 277-18, File No. 180914, App. 11/20/2018, Eff. 12/21/2018; Ord. 285-18, File No. 180806, App. 12/7/2018, Eff. 1/7/2019; Ord. 303-18, File No. 180915, App. 12/21/2018, Eff. 1/21/2019; Ord. 116-19, File No. 181156, App. 6/28/2019, Eff. 7/29/2019; Ord. 182-19, File No. 190248, App. 8/9/2019, Eff. 9/9/2019; Ord. 205-19, File No. 181211, App. 9/11/2019, Eff. 10/12/2019; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 78- 20, File No. 191075, App. 5/22/2020, Eff. 6/22/2020; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020; Ord. 136-21, File No. 210674, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 233-21, File No. 210381, App. 12/22/2021, Eff. 1/22/2022; Ord. 37-22, File No. 211263, App. 3/14/2022, Eff. 4/14/2022; 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. 264-22, File No. 220811, App. 12/22/2022, Eff. 1/22/2023; Ord. 248-23, File No. 230446, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; Ord. 249-23, File No. 230701, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; Ord. 333-24, File No. 231144, App. 2/21/2024, Eff. 3/23/2024 ; Ord. 62-24 , File No. 230310, App. 3/28/2024, Eff. 4/28/2024 ; Ord. 173-25, File No. 250634, App. 9/5/2025, Eff. 10/6/2025; 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. 13-26, File No. 251099, App. 2/13/2026, Eff. 3/16/2026; Ord. 37-26, File No. 250886, App. 3/11/2026, Eff. 4/11/2026)

AMENDMENT HISTORY

Zoning Control Table: 714.69C and 714.69D added; Ord. 66-11 , Eff. 5/20/2011. Zoning Control Table: 714.10, 714.17, and 714.69A amended; Specific Provisions: 714.65 deleted, 714.68 added; Ord. 140-11, Eff. 8/4/2011. Zoning Control Table: 714.40, 714.43 and 714.44 amended, former categories 714.42, 714.67, and 714.69A deleted; Specific Provisions: 714.44 ("Broadway Liquor Licenses") added; Ord. 75-12 , Eff. 5/23/2012. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 714.13, 714.54, and 714.69B amended; Specific Provisions: 714.54 added, designation of 714.94 corrected; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Zoning Control Table: former categories 714.38 and 714.39 redesignated as 714.36 and 714.37 and amended; Ord. 287-13 , Eff. 1/25/2014. Zoning Control Table: 714.22 amended; Ord. 227-14 , Eff. 12/13/2014. Zoning Control Table: 714.22 and 714.94 amended; Specific Provisions: 714.94 amended; Ord. 232-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Zoning Control Table: 714.26, 714.49, and 714.50 amended; Specific Provisions: 714.54 amended; Ord. 235-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Zoning Control Table: 714.92b added; Ord. 14-15 , Eff. 3/15/2015. Zoning Control Table: 714.14, 714.15, 714.16, and 714.17 amended; Ord. 20-15 , Eff. 3/22/2015. Section redesignated (formerly Sec. 714.1); Zoning Control Table: 714.54, 714.91, and 714.92 amended; Ord. 30-15 , Eff. 4/25/2015. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 714.91 amended; Specific Provisions: 714.91 added; Ord. 162-15 , Eff. 10/18/2015. Zoning Control Table: former categories

714.36 and 714.37 deleted, 714.96 and 714.97 added; Ord. 33-16 , Eff. 4/10/2016. Specific Provisions: 714.91 amended; Ord. 162-16 , Eff. 9/3/2016. Zoning Control Table: 714.33A added; Ord. 166-16 , Eff. 9/10/2016. New Zoning Control Table and notes added; Ord. 129-17, Eff. 7/30/2017. Previous Zoning Control Table and Specific Provisions deleted; Ord. 130-17, Eff. 7/30/2017. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (2) deleted; Ord. 189-17, Eff. 10/15/2017. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 229-17, Eff. 1/5/2018. Table Note (5) amended; Ord. 47-18, Eff. 4/16/2018. Zoning Control Table and Note (5) amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 277-18, Eff. 12/21/2018. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 285-18, Eff. 1/7/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (3) deleted; Ord. 30318, Eff. 1/21/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 116-19, Eff. 7/29/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 182-19, Eff. 9/9/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 205-19, Eff. 10/12/2019. Zoning Control Table and Note (6) amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (8) added; Ord. 78-20, Eff. 6/22/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (5) deleted; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020. Zoning Control Table and Notes (1), (6), and (8) amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (9) added; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Zoning Control Table and Note (9) amended; Ord. 37-22, Eff. 4/14/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (10)2 added; Ord. 190-22 , Eff. 10/17/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 264-22 , Eff. 1/22/2023. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 248-23 , Eff. 1/14/2024. Second introductory paragraph and Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 249-23 , Eff. 1/14/2024. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 33-24 , Eff. 3/23/2024. Undesignated introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 62-24 , Eff. 4/28/2024. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 173-25; Eff. 10/6/2025. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 245-25 , Eff. 1/12/2026. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 1-26 , Eff. 2/8/2026. Zoning Control Table and Note (4) amended; Ord. 13-26 , Eff. 3/16/2026. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 37-26 , Eff. 4/11/2026. CODIFICATION NOTES

So in Ord. 233-21 and Ord. 37-22.
Note “(10)” is referenced as “(9)” in Ord. 190-22. The note was redesignated by the codifier because a note designated as “(9)” previously had been added to this section by Ord. 233-21.
So in Ord. 245-25.