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Article 7 — NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS

San Francisco Planning Code § 761 Hayes-Gough Neighborhood Commercial Transit District

San Francisco Planning Code · 2026-08 edition · updated 2026-09-23 · San Francisco

Cite as: San Francisco Planning Code § 761 · Text as of 2026-09-23

The Hayes-Gough Neighborhood Commercial Transit District is located within walking distance of the Civic Center, lying west of Franklin Street and east of Laguna Street, with its southern edge generally at Lily Street, with an extension south along both sides of Octavia Boulevard to Market Street. This mixed-use commercial district contains a limited range

of retail commercial activity, which primarily caters to the immediate need of the neighborhood. The few comparison goods that it does provide attract clientele from a wider area outside its neighborhood, mostly the Performing Arts and Civic Center workers and visitors. There are a number of restaurants and art galleries, but other types of retail activity are limited.

The Hayes-Gough District controls are designed to allow for growth and expansion that is compatible with the existing building and use scales. Building standards protect the moderate building and Use Size and require rear yards at residential levels. To maintain the mixed-use character of the district, most commercial uses are permitted at the first and second stories and housing is strongly encouraged. Retail sales activity, especially neighborhood-serving businesses, is further promoted by restricting new ground-story medical, business and professional offices. To protect continuous frontage, drive-up and most automobile uses are prohibited, above-ground parking is required to be setback or below ground, and active, pedestrian-oriented ground floor uses are required on Hayes Street and portions of Octavia Boulevard. Housing development in new buildings is encouraged, and is controlled not by lot area but by physical envelope controls. Given the area’s central location and accessibility to the downtown and to the City’s transit network, accessory parking for Residential Uses is not required. The code controls for this district are supported and augmented by design guidelines and policies in the Market and Octavia Area Plan of the General Plan. Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted.

Table 761. HAYES-GOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL TRANSIT DISTRICT

ZONING CONTROL TABLE

Hayes-Gough NCT
Zoning Category § References Controls
BUILDING STANDARDS Hayes-Gough 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 Sheets HT02 and HT07
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 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 Required on Hayes Street; portions of Octavia Street
Vehicular Access Restrictions § 155(r) Prohibited on Hayes Street between Franklin and Laguna
Streets, and on Octavia Street between Hayes and Fell
Streets. CU required on Haight between Market and
Webster Streets and on Octavia between Fell and Market
Streets.
Miscellaneous
Lot Size (Per Development) §§ 102, 121.1 P up to 9,999 square feet; C 10,000 square feet and above
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 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
Car parking not required. P up to 0.5 spaces per Dwelling
Unit; C up to 0.75 spaces per Dwelling Unit. NP above
0.75 spaces per 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 § 207.6 Generally required for creation of five or more Dwelling
Units. 40% of 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 Units §§ 102, 207.1, 207.2 P per Planning Code Sections 207.1 and 207.2.
Dwelling Units, Senior Housing, and 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 P 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 AND US ES
Zoning Category § References Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND US ES
Development Standards
Floor Area Ratio §§ 102, 123, 124 , 207.9 3.0 to 1 2 For Office Uses minimum intensities may
apply pursuant to § 207.9.
Use Size § 102, 121.2 P up to 3,000 square feet; C 3,001 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 NP
Hours of Operation
§ 102
P 6 a.m. - 2 a. m.; C 2 a.m.- 6 a.m.
Hayes-Gough NCT
Maritime Use
§ 102
NP
Open Air Sales
§ 102, 703(b)
See Section 70 3(b)
Outdoor Activity Area
§§ 102, 145.2, 202.2
P if located in
(7); C if locate
front or it complies with Section 202.2(a)
d elsewhere.
Walk-up Facility
§ 102
P
Controls by Story
1st 2nd
3rd+
Uses in Historic Buildings
Historic Buildings
§ 202.11
In Historic Bui
Uses listed bel
Hotel, and cert
202.11.
ldings, Uses listed below as NP are C and
ow as C are P, except Cannabis Retail,
ain Industrial Uses, 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, 187.1, 202.2(b)
NP NP
NP
Electric Vehicle Charging Location
§§ 102 , 202.2(b), 202.13
C(8)1 C(8)
C(8)
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
C 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
Gym § 102 P P C
Hotel § 102 C C C
Kennel § 102 C NP NP
Liquor Store § 102 C NP NP
Massage Establishment §§ 102, 204, 303(n), 703 C(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 P(4) NP NP
Services, Health § 102 C P C
Services, Limited Financial § 102 P NP NP
Services, Personal § 102 P P C
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 C P C
Service, Non-Retail Professional § 102 C P NP
Trade Office § 102 C P C
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category
Utility and Infrastructure* § 102 C(5) C(5) C(5)
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) [Note deleted.]

  • (3) [Note deleted.]

(4) Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 249.35, including, but not limited to, the proximity restrictions set forth in subsection 249.35(c)(3).

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

  • (6) C for buildings with 10 or more Dwelling Units.

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

(8)1 P where existing use is any Automotive Use.

(Added by Ord. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; amended by 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. 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. 78-20, File No. 191075, App. 5/22/2020, Eff. 6/22/2020; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020; Ord. 111-21, File No. 210285, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; 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. 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 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 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. 303-18, 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. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (6) added; Ord. 78-20, Eff. 6/22/2020. Introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 111-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (7) added; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Zoning Control Table and Note (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)1 added; Ord. 190-22 , Eff. 10/17/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 264-22 , Eff. 1/22/2023. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 249-23 , Eff. 1/14/2024. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 33-24 , Eff. 3/23/2024. 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

  1. 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.

  2. So in Ord. 245-25.

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