149

SEC. 149. BETTER ROOFS; LIVING ROOF ALTERNATIVE. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (a) Purpose. State law requires that certain new residential and nonresidential buildings set aside a “solar ready” portion of the roof equal to 15% of the total roof area. The solar ready area must be unshaded and free of obstructions, to allow that portion of the roof to be used for future installation of solar energy or heating systems. The San Francisco Green Building Code requires a building owner to actually use the solar ready area of the roof for solar energy or heating systems. The purpose of this Section 149 is to allow the use of “living roofs” as an additional means of meeting some or all of the Better Roof requirements of the Green Building Code, and thereby further promote the use of rooftops to increase renewable energy resources, stormwater management, and biodiversity. (b) Definitions. As used in this Section 149, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings: Better Roof Requirements. The requirements of San Francisco Green Building Code Sections 4.201.2 and 5.201.1.2, as amended. Living Roof. The media for growing plants, as well as the set of related components installed exterior to a facility’s roofing membrane. “Living Roof” includes both “roof gardens” and “landscaped roofs” as referenced in the California Building Code. Living Roof Area. The area of media for growing plants installed for the purposes of compliance with this Section, consistent with standards prepared and maintained by the Planning Department for planning, installation, and maintenance of Living Roofs. Minimum Better Roof Area. An equivalent area to the Solar Ready Zone, as calculated under CCR Title 24, Part 6, Section 110.10 and San Francisco Green Building Code Sections 4.201.2 and 5.201.1.2, as applicable. Roof. All outside coverings of a building or structure, including the structural supports, decking, and top layer exposed to the outside, at all levels of building, excluding roof area designated for skylights, vehicle traffic, or heliport. Solar Ready Zone. A section of the roof designated and reserved for the installation of a solar electric or solar thermal system as required in certain new buildings by CCR Title 24, Part 6, Section 110.10(b) through (e) and San Francisco Green Building Code Sections 4.201.2 and 5.201.1.2, as applicable. (c) Applicability. A project sponsor may use a Living Roof as an alternative means of meeting some or all of the Better Roof requirements for any building that meets all four of the following criteria: (1) The building constitutes a Large Development Project or Small Development Project under the Stormwater Management Ordinance (Public Works Code secs. 147-147.6); (2) The building has a gross floor area of 2,000 square feet or more; (3) The building has 10 or fewer occupied floors; and (4) The project sponsor applies for a site permit or building permit on or after January 1, 2017. (d) Living Roof Requirements. Should a project sponsor use a Living Roof as a means of meeting some or all of the Better Roof requirements, the sponsor shall submit to the Planning Department for its review and approval a Living Roof design in which the sum of the areas of the following features is equal to or greater than the Minimum Better Roof Area: (1) Area of all solar photovoltaic collectors that meet the performance criteria of the San Francisco Green Building Code (secs. 4.201.2(c)(1) and 5.201.1.2(b)(1)), as appropriate; (2) Area of all solar thermal collectors that meet the performance criteria of the San Francisco Green Building Code (secs. 4.201.2(c)(2) and 5.201.1.2(b)(2)), as appropriate; and (3) Area and Location of Living Roof. (A) For the purpose of this Section 149, each square foot of Living Roof shall count as 0.5 square foot towards the Minimum Better Roof Area requirements; provided, however, that the actual square footage of the Living Roof shall be used to determine compliance with the Stormwater Management Ordinance. The Planning Department, after consulting with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the Department of the Environment, shall adopt rules and regulations to implement these provisions and coordinate compliance with the Stormwater Management Ordinance. (B) A Living Roof may be located within or outside of the Solar Ready Zone used for compliance with CCR Title 24, Part 6, Section 110.10. Where a Living Roof Area is located outside the Solar Ready Zone, the requirements of Section 110.10 for the solar zone shall otherwise still apply. (e) Waiver. If the project sponsor demonstrates to the Zoning Administrator’s satisfaction that it is physically infeasible to meet the Living Roof requirements as written for the project in question, the Zoning Administrator may, in his or her sole discretion and pursuant to the procedures set forth in Planning Code Section 307(h), grant partial relief from the requirements stated in subsection (d) where the design of the Better Roof is within 10% of any quantitative requirements. The requirements of CCR Title 24, Part 6, Section 110.10 for the solar zone shall remain applicable. (Added by Ord. 221-16, File No. 160965, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017; amended by Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018) AMENDMENT HISTORY Division (e) amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. ARTICLE 1.5: TRANSPORTATION, OFF-STREET PARKING, AND LOADING Sec. 150. Off-Street Loading Requirements. Sec. 151.1. Schedule of Permitted Accessory Off-Street Parking Spaces. Sec. 152. Schedule of Required Off-Street Freight Loading Spaces in Districts Other Than C-3 and Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use Districts. Sec. 152.1. Required Off-Street Freight Loading and Service Vehicle Spaces in C-3 and Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use Districts. Sec. 152.2. Allowed Off-Street Freight Loading and Service Vehicle Spaces in Downtown Residential (DTR) Districts. Sec. 152.3. Permitted Off-Street Accessory Parking in Driveways. Sec. 153. Rules for Calculation of Parking Spaces. Sec. 154. Dimensions for Off-Street Parking, Freight Loading, and Service Vehicle Spaces. Sec. 155. General Standards as to Location and Arrangement of Off-Street Parking, Freight Loading, and Service Vehicle Facilities. Sec. 155.1. Bicycle Parking: Definitions and Standards. Sec. 155.2. Bicycle Parking: Applicability and Requirements for Specific Uses. Sec. 155.3. Bicycle Parking Requirements for City-owned and Leased Properties. Sec. 155.4. Requirements for Shower Facilities and Lockers. Sec. 156. Parking Lots. Sec. 161. Exemptions and Exceptions from Off-Street Parking, Freight Loading, and Service Vehicle Requirements.

Sec. 162. Tour Bus Loading Spaces in C-3 Districts. Sec. 163. Transportation Management Programs and Transportation Brokerage Services in Commercial and Mixed Use Districts. Sec. 164. San Francisco Resident Placement and Training Program. Sec. 165. Child-Care Plans and Child-Care Brokerage Services in C-3 Districts. Sec. 166. Car Sharing. Sec. 167. Parking Costs Separated from Housing Costs in New Residential Buildings. Sec. 169. Transportation Demand Management Program. Sec. 169.1. Findings. Sec. 169.2. Definitions. Sec. 169.3. Applicability. Sec. 169.4. Transportation Demand Management Plan Requirements. Sec. 169.5. Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance. Sec. 169.6. Transportation Demand Management Program Standards.

SEC. 150. OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (a) General. This Article 1.5 is intended to assure that off-street parking and loading facilities are provided in amounts and in a manner that will be consistent with the objectives and policies of the San Francisco General Plan, as part of a balanced transportation system that makes suitable provision for walking, cycling, public transit, private vehicles, and the movement of goods. With respect to off-street parking, this Article is intended to require facilities where needed but discourage excessive amounts of automobile parking, to avoid adverse effects upon surrounding areas and uses, and to encourage effective use of walking, cycling, and public transit as alternatives to travel by private automobile. No off-street parking or loading is required on any lot whose sole feasible automobile access is across a protected street frontage identified in Section 155(r). (b) Spaces Required. The requirements for off-street loading spaces for any structure constructed and any use established, whether public or private, after the original effective date of any such requirement applicable to such structure or use shall be as stated in this Article 1.5. (c) Additions to Structure and Uses. (1) For any structure or use lawfully existing on such effective date, off-street loading spaces need be provided only in the case of a major addition to such structure or use, and only in the quantity required for the major addition itself. Any lawful deficiency in off-street loading spaces existing on such effective date may be carried forward for the structure or use, apart from such major addition. (2) For these purposes, a “major addition” is hereby defined as any enlargement, alteration, change of occupancy or increase in intensity of use which would increase the requirement for off-street loading spaces by at least 15%. (3) Successive additions made after the effective date of an off-street loading requirement shall be considered cumulative, and at the time such additions become major in their total, off-street loading spaces shall be provided as required for such major addition. (d) Spaces to be Retained. Once any off-street loading space has been provided which wholly meets the requirements of this Code, such off-street loading space shall not thereafter be reduced, eliminated or made unusable in any manner. Any accessory residential parking space may be leased or rented on a monthly basis as provided under Section 204.5(c) of this Code, and such lease or rental shall not be considered a reduction or elimination of required spaces. (e) Parking in Excess of the Maximum Permitted. Any off-street parking space or spaces which existed lawfully at the effective date of this Section and which have a total number in excess of the maximum permitted off-street parking spaces permitted under Section 151.1 shall be considered noncomplying features pursuant to Section 180(a)(2) and shall be regulated as set forth in Section 188. (Amended by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; Ord. 463-87, App. 11/19/87; Ord. 112-08, File No. 080095, App. 6/30/2008; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 63-11, File No. 101053, App. 4/7/2011, Eff. 5/7/2011; Ord. 209-12 , File No. 120631, App. 9/28/2012, Eff. 10/28/2012; Ord. 183-13 , File No. 130528, App. 8/7/2013, Eff. 9/6/2013; Ord. 99-17, File No. 170206, App. 5/19/2017, Eff. 6/18/2017; Ord. 277-18, File No. 180914, App. 11/20/2018, Eff. 12/21/2018; Ord. 311-18, File No. 181028, App. 12/21/2018, Eff. 1/21/2019) AMENDMENT HISTORY Divisions (a) and (c)(2) amended; former division (d)(3) amended and redesignated as new division (e) [now (f); see below]; former division (e) deleted; Ord. 63-11, Eff. 5/7/2011. Division (d) amended; Ord. 209-12 , Eff. 10/28/2012. New division (e) added; former division (e) redesignated as (f); Ord. 183-13 , Eff. 9/6/2013. Division (e) amended; Ord. 99-17, Eff. 6/18/2017. Division (a) amended; Ord. 277-18, Eff. 12/21/2018. Section name and divisions (b), (c)(1)- (3), and (d) amended; former division (e) deleted; former division (f) redesignated as division (e); Ord. 311-18, Eff. 1/21/2019. SEC. 151. [REPEALED.] (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (Amended by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 445-87, App. 11/12/87; Ord. 537-88, App. 12/16/88; Ord. 412-88, App. 9/10/88; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 32-91, App. 1/25/91; Ord. 368-94, App. 11/4/94; Ord. 217-05, File No. 050865, App. 8/19/2005; Ord. 129-06, File No, 060372, App. 6/22/2006; Ord. 112-08, File No. 080095, App. 6/30/2008; Ord. 51-09, File No. 081620, App. 4/2/2009; Ord. 77-10, File No. 091165, App. 4/16/2010; Ord. 109-11, File No. 101350, App. 6/29/2011, Eff. 7/29/2011; Ord. 232-14 , File No. 120881, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 14-15 , File No. 141210, App. 2/13/2015, Eff. 3/15/2015; Ord. 34-17, File No. 160925, App. 2/17/2017, Eff. 3/19/2017; Ord. 99-17, File No. 170206, App. 5/19/2017, Eff. 6/18/2017; Ord. 196-17, File No. 170419, App. 10/5/2017, Eff. 11/4/2017; Ord. 205-17, File No. 170418, App. 11/3/2017, Eff. 12/3/2017; Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 311-18, File No. 181028, App. 12/21/2018, Eff. 1/21/2019; repealed by Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026) SEC. 151.1. SCHEDULE OF PERMITTED ACCESSORY OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES. New Ordinance Notice Publisher's Note: This section has been AMENDED by new legislation (Ord. 10-26 , approved 2/13/2026, effective 3/16/2026). The text of the amendment will be incorporated under the new section number when the amending legislation is operative. (a) Applicability. Unless otherwise specified in a Special Use District, this Section 151.1 shall apply. (b) Off-street Accessory Parking. Off-street accessory parking shall not be required for any use, and the quantities of off-street parking specified in Tables 151.1-1 and 151.1-2 shall serve as the maximum amount of off-street parking that may be provided as accessory to the uses specified. In addition: