308.1

SEC. 308.1. APPEALS: AMENDMENTS TO THE PLANNING CODE AND CONDITIONAL USES. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (a) Right of Appeal. The action of the Planning Commission, in disapproving in whole or in part an amendment to the Planning Code initiated by application as described in Section 302 and Sections 306 through 306.5, or in approving or disapproving in whole or in part an application for Conditional Use authorization as described in Sections 303 and 304 and Sections 306 through 306.5, shall be transmitted to the Office of the Clerk of the Board in final and signed form within 20 business days of Commission’s action to approve or disapprove in whole or part the application, and subject to appeal to the Board of Supervisors in accordance with this Section 308.1. An action of the Commission so appealed from shall not become effective unless and until approved by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with this Section 308.1. (b) Notice of Appeal. Any appeal under this Section 308.1 shall be taken by filing written notice of appeal with the Board of Supervisors no earlier than ten business days after the date of action by the Planning Commission, and no later than within 30 days after the date of action by the Planning Commission. The appeal shall be filed with the Office of the Clerk of the Board in a manner prescribed by the Clerk of the Board and in accordance with the Planning Fee Schedule. The notice of appeal shall be subscribed by either (i) the owners or Verified Tenants of at least 20% of the property affected by the proposed amendment or Conditional Use or (ii) five members of the Board of Supervisors. The signature on the appeal of members of the Board shall not be deemed to be any indication of their position on the merits of the appeal but rather shall indicate only that they believe there is sufficient public interest and concern in the matter to warrant a hearing by the Board of Supervisors. Upon receipt of a notice of appeal, the Office of the Clerk of the Board shall transmit the notice of appeal and subscribed signatures to Public Works within five business days for its determination of the 20% threshold of the property referenced above. For the purposes of this Section 308.1, the property affected, and the determination of the 20% threshold, shall be calculated by Public Works within five business days from when the Office of the Clerk of the Board requests a determination on the 20% threshold of the property referenced, as follows: (1) When a proposed amendment or Conditional Use has been disapproved by the Planning Commission, the property affected shall be deemed to be all property within the area that is the subject of the application for amendment or Conditional Use, and within 300 feet of all exterior boundaries of the property that is the subject of the application; (2) When a proposed Conditional Use has been approved by the Planning Commission, the property affected shall be deemed to be all property within 300 feet of all exterior boundaries of the property for which the Conditional Use has been approved by the Planning Commission, excluding the property for which the approval has been given; (3) In either of the above cases, when any property is owned by the City and County of San Francisco, the United States Government or the State of California, or any department or agency thereof, or by any special district, and is located within 300 feet of the area that is the subject of the application for amendment or Con-ditional Use, such property shall be excluded in determining the property affected unless such owner shall itself be a subscriber of the notice of appeal; and (4) Wherever a property is held in joint ownership, the signatures of joint owners shall be calculated as representing affected property in direct proportion to the amount of the total ownership of that property attributable to the joint owner or owners subscribing to the notice of appeal. For the purposes of this calculation, the term “joint ownership” shall include joint tenancies, interests in common, community property, partnerships, stock cooperatives, condominiums, community apartments and planned unit developments. Where each owner has exclusive rights to a portion of the property, the proportion of the total ownership attributable to that owner shall be calculated in terms of a ratio of the floor area and land area in which that owner has exclusive, joint, and common rights to the total floor area and land area of that property. Under these calculations, the land area of an affected property in joint ownership shall be given the same weight as the land area of an affected property not in joint ownership, in determining whether 20% of the property affected is represented by signatures to the notice of appeal. (5) For purposes of this Section 308.1, a “Verified Tenant” is a residential or commercial tenant of a property who declares, under penalty of perjury of the laws of the State of California, that the tenant occupies the entire property or at least one separate unit on the property pursuant to a lease with a term exceeding 32 days. Each Verified Tenant who signs an appeal pursuant to this Section 308.1 must maintain proof of tenancy including either an executed lease reflecting a term of more than 32 days, or at least one of the following forms of records reflecting that the tenant has occupied the property for more than 32 consecutive days as of the date of signature: (a) state or federal income tax records, (b) department of motor vehicle records including license, registration or California identification, or (c) utility bills. A Verified Tenant who signs an appeal pursuant to this Section may be required by Public Works to provide such proof of tenancy. A “Verified Tenant” shall not include occupants of property who rent the property for less than 32 consecutive days, or for Tourist or Transient Use, or as a Short-Term Residential Rental, as those terms are defined in Section 41A.4 of the Administrative Code, but shall include tenants of all Unauthorized Units in the property. (6) Where a property contains more than one rental unit, the signatures of Verified Tenants shall be calculated as representing the percentage of affected property in the same proportion of the number of rental units on the property represented by the Verified Tenants subscribing to the appeal to the total number of rental units in that property. Only one Verified Tenant for each residential or commercial rental unit shall be counted for each such unit; if more than one Verified Tenant occupying a single rental unit subscribes to the appeal, that unit will only be given the weight of a single unit in the property. Under these calculations, an affected property rented by multiple Verified Tenants shall be given the same weight as an affected property owned by a single owner or occupied by a single tenant, in determining whether 20% of the property affected is represented by signatures to the notice of appeal. (7) If an owner of 100% of a tenant-occupied property and one or more Verified Tenants of the same property subscribe to the appeal, the land area of the affected property shall be given the same weight as the land area of an affected property owned by a single owner in determining whether 20% of the property affected is represented by signatures to the appeal. If a joint owner of land held in joint ownership property and one or more Verified Tenants of the same property subscribe to the appeal, the total land area of the affected property shall be calculated by adding the land areas calculated pursuant to subsections (3) through (6), above, and may total, but not exceed 100% of the land area of the property in determining whether 20% of the property affected is represented by signatures to the appeal. (c) Hearing. Upon the filing of such written notice of appeal so subscribed, the Board of Supervisors or the Clerk thereof shall set a time and place for hearing such appeal, which shal1 may be not less than 21 nor more than 45 days after such filing. If there is not a Board meeting scheduled during that time, the Clerk may schedule the hearing at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting more than 50 days after the filing. The hearing may be held no more than 60 days from the date of filing, unless the parties consent to a later date as provided in subsection (f) below. (d) Decision. The Board of Supervisors shall hear and decide the appeal within 90 days of the filing of the written notice of appeal, unless the parties consent to a later date as provided in subsection (f) below. The Board’s decision on the appeal is final upon adjournment of the meeting at which the hearing was held and at which the Board votes to approve or deny such appeal. Failure of the Board of Supervisors to act within such time limit shall be deemed to constitute approval by the Board of the action of the Planning Commission. (e) Findings. The Board of Supervisors shall adopt findings supporting its decision to uphold or deny an appeal under this Section 308.1 within 60 days after making its decision on the appeal. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, failure of the Board to approve findings within the time specified will not affect the finality of the Board’s decision on the appeal. (f) Continuances. Any continuance of the time periods specified in this section 308.1 shall require a written request from the party or parties seeking continuance in such form as may be provided by the Clerk of the Board for the Board of Supervisors’ consideration. (g) Votes Required. In acting upon an appeal of a Planning Commission determination on a request for reclassification by an interested party, the Board of Supervisors may disapprove the action of the Planning Commission only by a vote of not less than 2/3 of all members of the Board. In acting upon any other appeal of a Planning Commission determination on a Planning Code amendment, the Board of Supervisors may disapprove the action of the Planning Commission by a majority vote of the Board. In both cases, in the event that one or more of the full membership of the Board is disqualified or excused from voting because of an interest prohibited by general law or the San Francisco Charter, any such disapproval shall be by a vote of all members of the Board that are not disqualified or excused; provided, however, that in the event that a quorum of all members of the Board is disqualified or excused from voting because of an interest prohibited by general law or the Charter, the action of the Planning Commission shall be deemed approved. In the event the Board disapproves the action of the Commission when the Commission has disapproved in whole or in part a proposed amendment, the Board shall, not later than its next regularly scheduled meeting, adopt the proposed ordinance. In the event the Board disapproves the action of the Commission when the Commission has disapproved in whole or in part a proposed conditional use, the Board shall prescribe in its motion such conditions as are in its opinion necessary to secure the objectives of this Code, in accordance with Section 303(d). (Amended by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 321-96, App. 8/8/96; Ord. 121-01, File No. 010271, App. 6/1/2001; Ord. 277-03, File No. 031497, App. 12/12/2003; Ord. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 191-22, File No. 220130, App. 9/16/2022, Eff. 10/17/2022) AMENDMENT HISTORY

Divisions (a) and (b)-(b)(4) amended; Ord. 129-17, Eff. 7/30/2017. Division (a) amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018.Divisions (a), (b), (b)(4) amended; divisions (b)(5)-(7), (e), and (f) added; division (c) amended as divisions (c) and (d); former division (d) redesignated as division (g); Ord. 191-22, Eff. 10/17/2022. CODIFICATION NOTE 1. So in Ord. 191-22. SEC. 308.2. APPEALS: VARIANCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS. (a) Right of Appeal. The action of the Zoning Administrator, in granting or denying a variance application as described in Section 305 and Sections 306 through 306.5, or in making any order, requirement, decision, or other determination, other than a variance, shall be subject to appeal to the Board of Appeals in accordance with this Section 308.2 and Section 8 of the Business and Tax Regulations Code. Such an appeal may be taken by any person aggrieved or by an officer, board, or commission of the City and County. An appeal shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from. (b) Notice of Appeal. Any appeal under this Section 308.2 shall be taken by filing written notice of appeal with the Board of Appeals within: 10 days after the date of the written variance, rear yard modification permitted by Section 134, reasonable modification, or elevator height exemption decision of the Zoning Administrator; within 30 days of a Notice of Violation, Notice of Violation and Penalty Decision, or Notice of Additional Compliance Action and Accrued Penalties issued by the Zoning Administrator; or within 15 days of any other written determination of the Zoning Administrator. (c) Allegations. Any notice of appeal filed pursuant to this Section shall include allegations as follows: (1) A notice of appeal filed from a variance decision shall set forth the particulars wherein the application for variance is alleged to have met or to have failed to meet, as the case may be, the five requirements set forth in Section 305(c). (2) A notice of appeal filed from any order, requirement, decision or other determination of the Zoning Administrator, other than a variance, shall set forth specifically wherein it is alleged that there was error in interpretation of the provisions of this Code, or abuse of discretion on the part of the Zoning Administrator. (d) Hearing. The procedure and requirements for the transmittal of the record, notice of hearing, and hearing in connection with any appeal under this Section shall be as specified in Article I, Part III of the San Francisco Municipal Code. (e) Decision. Upon the hearing of any appeal taken pursuant to this Section, the Board of Appeals may, subject to the same limitations as are placed upon the Zoning Administrator by Charter or by this Code, approve, disapprove or modify the decision or determination appealed from, in conformity with the following requirements: (1) In the case of a variance application, the Board shall specify in its findings, as part of a written decision, facts sufficient to establish wherein the application meets or does not meet, as the case may be, the five requirements set forth in Section 305(c); and, if the five requirements are deemed to be met, the Board shall specify the character and extent of the variance, and shall also prescribe such conditions as are necessary to secure the objectives of this Code, in accordance with Section 305(d). (2) In the case of any order, requirement, decision or other determination of the Zoning Administrator, other than a variance, if the determination of the Board differs from that of the Zoning Administrator, it shall, in a written decision, specify wherein there was error in interpretation of the provisions of this Code, or abuse of discretion on the part of the Zoning Administrator, and shall specify in its findings, as part of such written decision, the facts relied upon in arriving at its determination. (Added by Ord. 235-68, App. 8/7/68; Ord. 321-96, App. 8/8/96; amended by Ord. 33-24, File No. 231144, App. 2/21/2024, Eff. 3/23/2024; Ord. 221-25, File No. 250889, App. 11/21/2025, Eff. 12/22/2025) AMENDMENT HISTORY Division (b) amended; Ord. 33-24, Eff. 3/23/2024. Divisions (a) and (b) amended; Ord. 221-25, Eff. 12/22/2025. SEC. 309. PERMIT REVIEW IN C-3 DISTRICTS. The provisions and procedures set forth in this Section 309 shall govern the review of project authorization and building and site permit applications for (1) the construction or substantial alteration of structures in C-3 Districts, (2) the granting of exceptions to certain requirements of this Code where the provisions of this Section are invoked, and (3) the approval of open space and streetscape requirements of the Planning Code. When any action authorized by this Section is taken, any determination with respect to the proposed project required or authorized pursuant to CEQA may also be considered. This Section shall not require additional review in connection with a site or building permit application if review hereunder was completed with respect to the same proposed structure or alteration in connection with a project authorization application pursuant to Section 322. (a) Exceptions. Exceptions to the following provisions of this Code may be granted as provided in the code sections referred to below: (1) Exceptions to the setback, streetwall, tower separation, and rear yard requirements as permitted in Sections 132.1 and 134; (2) Exceptions to the ground-level wind current requirements as permitted in Section 148; (3) Exceptions to the sunlight to public sidewalk requirement as permitted in Section 146; (4) Exceptions to the limitation on curb cuts for parking access as permitted in Section 155(r); (5) Exceptions to the limitations on above-grade residential accessory parking as permitted in Section 155(s); (6) Exceptions to the freight loading and service vehicle space requirements as permitted in Section 161(e); (7) Exceptions to the off-street tour bus loading space requirements as permitted in Section 162; (8) Exceptions to the height limits for buildings taller than 550 feet in height in the S-2 Bulk District for allowance of non-occupied architectural, screening, and rooftop elements that meet the criteria of Section 260(b)(1)(M); (9) Exceptions to the volumetric limitations for roof enclosures and screens as prescribed in Section 260(b)(1)(F). For existing buildings, exceptions to the volumetric limitations for roof enclosures and screens shall be granted only if all rooftop equipment that is unused or permanently out of operation is removed from the building; (10) Exceptions to the height limits for vertical extensions as permitted in Section 260(b)(1)(G) and for upper tower extensions as permitted in Section 263.9; (11) Exceptions to the height limits in the 80-130F and 80-130X Height and Bulk Districts as permitted in Section 263.8 and in the 200-400S Height and Bulk District as permitted in Section 263.10; (12) Exceptions to the bulk requirements as permitted in Sections 270 and 272; (13) Exceptions to the exposure requirements of Section 140; (14) Exceptions to the usable open space requirements as permitted in Section 135; (15) Exceptions to the Micro-Retail requirements as permitted in Section 249.33; (16) Exceptions to the height and bulk limits for parcels within the Van Ness & Market Residential Special Use District as defined by Section 270(f)(2). In considering such exceptions, the Planning Commission shall consider the extent to which the project achieves the following: (A) sculpts the building massing to achieve an elegant and creative tower form that enhances the skyline; (B) reduces or minimizes potential impacts on winds and shadows; (C) provides ground floor uses that serve a range of income levels and enrich the social landscape of the area such as: Arts Activities, Child Care Facility, Community Facility, Public Facility, School, Social Service, priority health service or neighborhood-serving retail; and (D) maximizes housing density within the allowed envelope; (17) Exceptions to the percent lot coverage requirements of Section 270.2(e)(6) for projects within the Van Ness & Market Residential Special Use District. The Planning Commission shall only grant such exceptions if the Planning Commission finds that: (A) the proposed mid-block alley and percent coverage do not negatively affect the use and purpose of the alley as a means of creating a more efficient pedestrian network, as described in subsections 270.2(a)-(b); and (B) the proposed percent coverage does not negatively impact the quality of the mid- block alley as an area of pedestrian and retail activity and public open space. An exception shall not be granted for any mid-block alley that is less than 35 percent open to the sky; (18) Exceptions to the required minimum dwelling unit mix in Section 207.6 for projects within the Van Ness & Market Residential Special Use District. In considering such exceptions, the Planning Commission shall consider the following criteria: