San Francisco Planning Code § 755 Ocean Avenue Neighborhood

The Ocean Avenue Neighborhood Commercial Transit District is located on Ocean Avenue from Howth Street to Manor Drive. Ocean Avenue is a multi-purpose transit-oriented small-scale commercial district. Ocean Avenue was developed as a streetcar-oriented commercial district in the 1920s and continues to serve this function, with the K-line streetcar on Ocean Avenue. Numerous other bus lines serve the area, especially the eastern end, where the Phelan Loop serves as a major bus terminus. The eastern end of the district is anchored by the main City College campus and direct linkages to the Balboa Park BART/MUNI rail station a couple blocks to the east, which serves as the southernmost San Francisco station for BART and the terminus of the J, K, and M streetcar lines. Because of the immediate proximity of the BART/MUNI station the district has quick and easy transit access to downtown.

The Ocean Avenue NCT District is mixed use, transitioning from a predominantly one- and two-story retail district to include neighborhood-serving commercial uses on lower floors and housing above. Housing density is limited not by lot area, but by the regulations on the built envelope of buildings, including height, bulk, setbacks, and lot coverage, and standards for residential uses, including open space and exposure, and urban design guidelines. Access (i.e. driveways, garage entries) to off-street parking and loading is generally prohibited on Ocean Avenue to preserve and enhance the pedestrian-oriented character and transit function of the street. Residential and commercial parking are not required. The Ocean Avenue NCT District is intended to provide convenience goods and services to the surrounding

neighborhoods as well as limited goods and services for a wider market. The range of goods and services offered is varied

and includes retail stores, retail services, restaurants, and neighborhood-serving arts, entertainment, and institutional community uses. Buildings may range in height, with height limits generally allowing up to four or five stories. Lots are generally small to medium in size and lot consolidation is restricted to preserve the fine grain character of the district. Rear yard requirements above the ground story and at residential levels preserve open space corridors of interior blocks. Active commercial, arts, entertainment, and institutional community uses are required at the ground level and permitted at the second story. For purposes of this Section, Arts Activities, Nighttime Entertainment, and Institutional Community Uses shall be considered “active commercial uses,” as described in Section 145.4 of this Code.

Housing development in new buildings is encouraged above the ground story. Existing residential units are protected by limitations on demolition and upper-story conversions. Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted.

Table 755. OCEAN AVENUE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL TRANSIT DISTRICT

ZONING CONTROL TABLE

		Ocean Avenue NCT
Zoning Category	§ References	Controls
		Ocean Avenue NCT
Zoning Category	§ References	Controls
BUILDING STANDARDS
Massing and Setbacks
Height and Bulk Limits.	§§ 102, 105, 106, 250– 252, 260 , 261.1, 263.19, 270, 270.3 , 271. See also Height and Bulk District Maps	Varies. See Height and Bulk Map Sheet HT12 for more information. Height sculpting required on Alleys per §261.1.
5 Foot Height Bonus for Active Ground Floor Uses	§ 263.20	P
Rear Yard	§§ 130, 134, 134(a)(e), 136	Required at the Second Story and at each succeeding level or Story of the building, and at the First Story if it contains a Dwelling Unit: 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	Required on Ocean Avenue within the District, except on the north side of Ocean Avenue between Plymouth and Brighton Avenues.(2)
Vehicular Access Restrictions	§ 155(r)	Prohibited on Ocean Avenue within the District.
Miscellaneous
Lot Merger	§ 121.7	Certain exceptions permitted by § 121.7.
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	Subject to the Urban Design Guidelines, Citywide Design Standards, and any other applicable design guidelines that have been approved by the Planning Commission.
Housing Choice-SF	§ 206.10	Form-based density, additional height, and other zoning modifications for eligible projects in the R-4 Height and
		Bulk District.
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	100 square feet if private, or 133 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	Car parking not required. P up to one space per Dwelling Unit; NP above. 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	§§ 207.6	Generally required for creation of five or more Dwelling Units. No less than 40% of the total number of proposed Dwelling Units shall contain at least two bedrooms; or no less than 30% of the total number of proposed Dwelling Units shall contain at least three bedrooms.
Use Characteristics
Intermediate Length Occupancy	§§ 102; 202.10	P(6)
Single Room Occupancy	§ 102	P
Student Housing	§ 102	P
Residential Uses		Controls By Story

		1st 2nd 3rd+
Residential Uses	§ 102	P(1) P P
Accessory Dwelling Unit	§§ 102, 207.1, 207.2	P per Planning Code Sections 207.1 and 207.2.
Dwelling Units, Senior Housing, Group Housing, Generally	§ 102, 202.2(f), 207, 208	Form-Based Density.
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.
Homeless Shelters	§§ 102, 208	Density limits regulated by the Administrative Code
Loss of Dwelling Units: Conversion, Demolition, or Merger of Dwelling Units, including Residential Flats	§ 317	C
Division of Dwelling Units	§ 207.8	Division of existing Dwelling Units P per § 207.8.

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 intensities may apply pursuant to § 207.9.
Use Size	§§ 102, 121.2	P up to 4,000 square feet; C 4,001 square feet and above
Off-Street Parking Requirements	§§ 145.1, 150, 151.1, 153 - 156, 166, 204.5	Car parking not required. Limits set forth in Section 151.1. Bike parking required per Section 155.2. Car share spaces required when a project has 25 or more parking spaces per § 166.
Off-Street Freight Loading	§§ 150, 152, 153 - 155, 161, 204.5	None required if gross floor area is less than 10,000 square feet. Exceptions permitted per §§ 155 and 161.
Commercial Use Characteristics
Drive-up Facility	§ 102	NP
Formula Retail	§§ 102, 303.1	C
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)

		Ocean Avenue NCT
Outdoor Activity Area	§§ 102, 145.2, 202.2	P if located in front or it complies with Section 202.2(a) (7); C if located elsewhere.
Walk-up Facility	§ 102	P
		Controls by Story
		1st 2nd 3rd+

Uses in Historic Buildings
Historic Buildings § 202.11	In Historic B Uses listed be Hotel, and ce 202.11.	uildings, Uses liste low as C are P, exc rtain Industrial Use	d below as NP are C and ept Cannabis Retail, s, as 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, 202.2(b)	NP	NP	NP
Automotive Repair § 102	C	NP	NP
Automotive Service Station §§ 102, 187.1, 202.2(b)	C	NP	NP
Electric Vehicle Charging Location §§ 102 , 202.2(b), 202.13	C(8)2	C(8)	C(8)
Fleet Charging § 102	C	C	C
Gas Station §§ 102, 187.1, 202.2(b)	C	NP	NP
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	NP	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, 202.2(d)	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	P	P	P
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	NP	NP	NP
Adult Sex Venue	§ 102	NP	NP	NP
Animal Hospital	§ 102	P	P	NP
Bar	§§ 102, 202.2(a)	P	NP	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	P	NP	NP
Massage Establishment	§§ 102, 204, 303(n), 703	C(5)(7)	C(7)	NP(7)
Massage, Foot/Chair	§ 102	P	NP	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	P	NP
Restaurant, Limited	§§ 102, 202.2(a)	P	P	NP
Services, Financial	§ 102	P	C	NP
Services, Fringe Financial	§ 102	NP	NP	NP
Services, Health	§ 102	C(5)	P	P
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	C	P	NP
Trade Office	§ 102	P	P	NP
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category
Utility and Infrastructure*	§ 102	C(4)	C(4)	C(4)
Power Plant	§ 102	NP	NP	NP
Public Utilities Yard	§ 102	NP	NP	NP

Not listed below

(1) C required for ground floor Residential Use when street frontage is listed in 145.4(b)

(2) In the Ocean Avenue NCT District, Arts Activities, Nighttime Entertainment, and Institutional Community Uses are considered to be “active uses,” as described in Section 145.4 of this Code.

(3) [Note deleted.]

(4) C if a Macro WTS Facility; P if a Micro WTS Facility.

(5) A Health Service Use requires a Conditional Use authorization on the ground story whether it is Principal or Accessory.

(6) NP for buildings with three or fewer Dwelling Units. C for buildings with 10 or more Dwelling Units.

(7) P if accessory to a Hotel, Personal Service or Health Service.

(8)2 P where existing use is any Automotive Use.

(Added by Ord. 61-09, File No. 090181, App. 4/17/2009; amended by 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. 66-14 , File No. 140097, App. 5/14/2014, Eff. 6/13/2014; 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. 209-15 , File No. 150271, App. 12/16/2015, Eff. 1/15/2016; 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; redesignated and amended by Ord. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; amended by 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. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 225-18, File No. 180483, App. 10/5/2018, Eff. 11/5/2018; 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. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 71-20, File No. 191285, App. 5/1/2020, Eff. 6/1/2020; 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. 33-24, 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. 37-26, File No. 250886, App. 3/11/2026, Eff. 4/11/2026) AMENDMENT HISTORY

Zoning Control Table: 737.68 and 737.68A added; Ord. 66-11 , Eff. 5/20/2011. Zoning Control Table: title amended, 737.10 and 737.17 amended, designation of category 737.38 corrected, 737.39a amended; former categories 737.68 and 737.68A redesignated as rows 737.69C and 737.69D, 737.69, 737.69A, and 737.69B added; Specific Provisions: 737.68 added; Ord. 140-11, Eff. 8/4/2011. Zoning Control Table: 737.43 and 737.44 amended, former categories 737.42, 737.67, and 737.69A deleted; Ord. 75-12 , Eff. 5/23/2012. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 737.13, 737.13a, 737.13b, 737.13c, 737.54, and 737.69B amended; Specific Provisions: 737.54 added, 737.68 deleted; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Zoning Control Table: former categories 737.38, 737.39, and 737.39a redesignated as 737.36, 737.37, and 737.38 and amended; new category 737.39 added; Ord. 287-13 , Eff. 1/25/2014. Specific Provisions: 737.84 amended; Ord. 66-14 , Eff. 6/13/2014. Zoning Control Table: 737.26 amended; Specific Provisions: 737.54 amended; Ord. 235-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Zoning Control Table: 737.92b added; Ord. 14-15 , Eff. 3/15/2015. Zoning Control Table: 737.14, 737.15, 737.16, 737.17, and 737.30 amended; Ord. 20-15 , Eff. 3/22/2015. Section redesignated (formerly Sec. 737.1); Zoning Control Table: 737.54, 737.91, and 737.92 amended; Ord. 30-15 , Eff. 4/25/2015. Introductory material amended; Ord. 209-15 , Eff. 1/15/2016. Zoning Control Table: former categories 737.36, 737.37, 737.38, and 737.39 deleted, 737.96, 737.97, and 737.98 added; Ord. 33-16 , Eff. 4/10/2016. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 737.91 amended; Specific Provisions: 737.91 added; Ord. 162-16 , Eff. 9/3/2016. Zoning Control Table: 7.33A added; Ord. 166-16 , Eff. 9/10/2016. Section redesignated (formerly Section 737); 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. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. Zoning Control Table and Note (1) amended; Note (5) added; Ord. 225-18, Eff. 11/5/2018. 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. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Note (2) added; Ord. 71-20, Eff. 6/1/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (6) added; Ord. 78-20, Eff. 6/22/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020. Zoning Control Table and Note (6) amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table and Note (5) amended; Note (7) added; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Zoning Control Table and Notes (5) and (7) amended; Ord. 37-22, Eff. 4/14/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (8)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. 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. Undesignated introductory material and 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 amended; Ord. 37-26 , Eff. 4/11/2026.

CODIFICATION NOTES

So in Ord. 129-17.
Note “(8)” is referenced as “(7)” in Ord. 190-22. The note was redesignated by the codifier because a note designated as “(7)” previously had been added to this section by Ord. 233-21.
So in Ord. 245-25.

**Editor’s Note:

Ordinance 186-17, effective October 15, 2017, requires that “No more than three MCDs shall be permitted at any given time within the boundaries of Supervisorial District 11.”