140

SEC. 140. ALL DWELLING UNITS IN ALL USE DISTRICTS TO FACE ON AN OPEN AREA. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (a) Requirements for Dwelling Units. In each Dwelling Unit in any use district, the required windows (as defined by Section 504 of the San Francisco Housing Code ) of at least one room that meets the 120-square-foot minimum superficial floor area requirement of Section 503 of the Housing Code shall face directly onto an open area of one of the following types: (1) A public street, public alley at least 20 feet in width, side yard at least 25 feet in width, or rear yard meeting the requirements of this Code; provided, that if such windows are on an outer court whose width is less than 25 feet, the depth of such court shall be no greater than its width; or (2) An open area (whether an inner court or a space between separate buildings on the same lot) which is unobstructed (except for fire escapes not projecting more than necessary for safety and in no case more than four feet six inches, chimneys, and those obstructions permitted in subsections 136(c)(14), (15), (16), (19), (20) and (29) of this Code) and is no less than 25 feet in every horizontal dimension for the floor at which the Dwelling Unit in question is located. (3) In accordance with Section 210.5, this Section 140 shall not apply to Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse projects. (b) Requirements for Group Housing. For group housing projects, either each bedroom or at least one interior common area that meets the 120 square-foot minimum superficial floor area requirement of Section 503 of the Housing Code shall include windows meeting the requirements of subsections (a)(1) or (a)(2) above. The requirements of this subsection (b) may be waived by the Zoning Administrator per Section 307(m) of this Code. (c) Exceptions. (1) For historic buildings identified in Section 307(h), and for the conversion of a nonconforming use in an existing building to a Residential Use in a district where the Residential Use is principally permitted, the requirements of this Section 140 may be modified or waived pursuant to the procedures and criteria set forth in Sections 307(h) and 329. This administrative exception does not apply to new additions to historic buildings. (2) For Accessory Dwelling Units, the requirements of this Section 140 may be modified or waived pursuant to the procedures and criteria set forth in Sections 307(l) and 207.1.

(Amended by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 368-94, App. 11/4/94; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 51-09, File No. 081620, App. 4/2/2009; Ord. 196-11 , File No. 110786, App. 10/4/2011, Eff. 11/3/2011; Ord. 232-14 , File No. 120881, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 164-15 , File No. 150348, App. 9/23/2015, Eff. 10/23/2015, Retro. 5/20/2015 ; Ord. 188-15 , File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 195-18, File No. 180268, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 122-23, File No. 230371, App. 7/5/2023, Eff. 8/5/2023; Ord. 159-23, File No. 230732, App. 7/28/2023, Eff. 8/28/2023; Ord. 248-23, File No. 230446, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; Ord. 62-24, File No. 230310, App. 3/28/2024, Eff. 4/28/2024) AMENDMENT HISTORY [Former] division (b) amended; Ord. 196-11 , Eff. 11/3/2011. Divisions (a), (a)(1), and [former] (b) amended; Ord. 232-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Division (a) amended; new division (b) added and former division (b) redesignated as (c); Ord. 164-15 , Eff. 10/23/2015. Diagram amended; other nonsubstantive changes; Ord. 188-15 , Eff. 12/4/2015. Division (c) content redesignated as (c)(1); division (c)(2) added; Ord. 195-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. Division (a) amended; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019. Division (a)(3) added; Ord. 122-23, Eff. 8/5/2023, and Ord. 159-23, Eff. 8/28/2023. Division (a)(2) amended; Ord. 248-23, Eff. 1/14/2024. Division (c)(2) amended; Ord. 62-24, Eff. 4/28/2024.

Editor's Note: Ordinance 155-15 (File No. 150348, App. 8/6/2015, Eff. 9/5/2015) purported to amend this section. At the direction of the Office of the City Attorney, Ord. 155-15 was never codified (and accordingly is not referenced in the history notes above). Its provisions effectively were superseded by Ord. 164-15 (File No. 150348, App. 9/23/2015, Eff. 10/23/2015, Retro. 5/20/2015). SEC. 140.1. [REPEALED.] (Added by Ord. 242-12 , File No. 120996, App. 12/7/2012, Eff. 1/6/2013; repealed by Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026) SEC. 141. SCREENING OF ROOFTOP FEATURES IN R, NC, C, M, WMUG, WMUO, RED, RED-MX, SALI AND MIXED USE DISTRICTS. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (a) In R, NC, C, M, WMUG, WMUO, RED, RED-MX, SALI and Mixed Use Districts, rooftop mechanical equipment and appurtenances to be used in the operation or maintenance of a building shall be arranged so as not to be visible from any point at or below the roof level of the subject building. This requirement shall apply in construction of new buildings, and in any alteration of mechanical systems of existing buildings that results in significant changes in such rooftop equipment and appurtenances. The features so regulated shall in all cases be either enclosed by outer building walls or parapets, or grouped and screened in a suitable manner, or designed in themselves so that they are balanced and integrated with respect to the design of the building. Minor features not exceeding one foot in height shall be exempted from this regulation. (b) In C-3 Districts, whenever the enclosure or screening of the features listed in Section 260(b)(1)(A) and (B), will be visually prominent, modifications may, in accordance with provisions of Section 309, be required in order to insure that: (1) the enclosure or screening is designed as a logical extension of the building form and an integral part of the overall building design; (2) its cladding and detailing is comparable in quality to that of the rest of the building; (3) if enclosed or screened by additional volume, as authorized by Section 260(b), the rooftop form is appropriate to the nature and proportions of the building, and is designed to obscure the rooftop equipment and appurtenances and to provide a more balanced and graceful silhouette for the top of the building or structure; and (4) the additional building volume is not distributed in a manner which simply extends vertically the walls of the building. (c) In Mixed Use Districts, mechanical equipment and appurtenances shall be enclosed in such a manner that: (1) the enclosure is designed as a logical extension of the building form and an integral part of the overall building design; (2) its cladding and detailing is comparable in quality to that of the rest of the building; (3) if screened by additional volume, as authorized by Section 260(b), the rooftop form is appropriate to the nature and proportions of the building, and is designed to obscure the rooftop equipment and appurtenances and to provide a more balanced and graceful silhouette for the top of the building or structure; and (4) the additional building volume is not distributed in a manner which simply extends vertically the walls of the building. (d) Off-street parking or freight loading spaces shall only be permitted on unenclosed rooftops when the parking area is screened with fencing, trellises and/or landscaped screening features such that parked vehicles cannot be easily viewed from adjacent buildings, elevated freeways or public vista points. (Ord. 532-85, 1985; amended by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 217-05, File No. 050865, App. 8/19/2005; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008 ; Ord. 42-13 , File No. 130002, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 232-14 , File No. 120881, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header and division (a) amended; Ord. 42-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Section header and divisions (a) and (c) amended; Ord. 232-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. SEC. 142. SCREENING AND GREENING OF PARKING AND VEHICULAR USE AREAS. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) Off-street parking and Vehicular Use Areas adjacent to the public right-of-way shall be screened as provided in this Section 142. Where an existing Automotive Use converts to an Electric Vehicle Charging Location, the requirements of this Section shall not apply. (a) Screening of Parking and Vehicular Use Areas less than 25 Linear Feet Adjacent to a Public Right-of-Way. (1) Every off-street parking space within a building, where not enclosed by solid building walls, shall be screened from view from all Streets and Alleys through use of garage doors or by some other means. (2) Along rear yard areas and other interior open spaces, all off-street parking spaces, driveways and maneuvering areas within buildings shall be screened from view and confined by solid building walls. (3) Off-street parking spaces in Parking Lots shall meet the requirements of Section 156 and other applicable provisions of Article 1.5 of this Code. Such parking areas shall be screened from view as provided in Section 156(c) of this Code. (4) Off-street parking in driveways as permitted in Section 152.3 is not subject to the screening requirements of this Section 142. (b) Vehicular Use Areas That Are Greater than 25 Linear Feet along the Public Right-of-Way. All lots containing Vehicular Use Areas where such area has more than 25 linear feet along any public right-of-way shall provide screening in accordance with the requirements of this Section 142 and the Ornamental Fencing definition in Section 102. The following instances shall trigger the screening requirements for these Vehicular Use Areas: (1) Any existing Vehicular Use Area that is accessory to an existing Principal Use if such use expands Gross Floor Area equal to 20% or more of the Gross Floor Area of an existing building; (2) Any repair, rehabilitation, or expansion of any existing Vehicular Use Area, if such repair, rehabilitation or expansion would increase the number of existing parking spaces by either more than 20% or by more than four spaces, whichever is greater; or (3) The excavation and reconstruction of an existing Vehicular Use Area if such excavation and reconstruction involves the removal of 200 square feet or more of the asphalt, concrete or other surface devoted to vehicular use. This provision does not apply to the resurfacing due to emergency work to underground utilities if such work is intended to maintain safety or other public purpose beyond the control of the property owner. (c) Perimeter Screening. All Vehicular Use Areas that are greater than 25 linear feet adjacent to the public right-of-way shall provide a screening feature around the perimeter of the lot adjacent to the public right-of-way. Screening shall add to the visual diversity of the use and need not be an opaque barrier. This feature shall be at least one of the following: (1) Ornamental Fencing or a solid wall that is 4 feet in height and a 5 foot deep Permeable Surface with landscaping along the perimeter of the lot that is adjacent to a public right-of- way and compliant with the applicable water use requirements of Administrative Code Chapter 63; or (2) A combination of permeable landscaping compliant with the applicable water use requirements of Administrative Code Chapter 63 and Ornamental Fencing where the Permeable Surface and landscaping is the equivalent area of a 5 foot deep average perimeter landscaping that has been otherwise configured to result in either: (A) a public space or amenity that is accessible from the public right-of-way or (B) a natural drainage system, such as combined swales, retention basins, detention basins or rain gardens, to reduce stormwater runoff. (d) Modification of Perimeter Screening Requirements. The Zoning Administrator is authorized to modify the requirements of subsection (c), thereby allowing alternative landscape treatments to partially or wholly satisfy this screening requirement provided that alternative landscape treatments such as landscaped berms, perimeter plantings, pedestrian lighting,