606

SEC. 606. RESIDENTIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ENCLAVE DISTRICTS. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) Signs in Residential and Residential Enclave Districts, excluding the Residential Transit Oriented-Commercial (RTO-C) District, and other than those Signs exempted by Section 603 of this Code, shall conform to the following provisions: (a) General Provisions for All Signs. (1) No sign shall project beyond a street property line or legislated setback line, or into a required front setback area. (2) No sign shall have or consist of any moving, rotating or otherwise animated part, or (if permitted to be illuminated) any flashing, blinking, fluctuating or otherwise animated light. (3) No roof sign, wind sign, or general advertising sign shall be permitted. (4) No sign shall extend above the roofline of a building to which it is attached, or above a height of 12 feet, except as permitted below. (b) Signs for Uses Permitted in Residential and Residential Enclave Districts. The following types of signs, subject to the limitations prescribed for them, shall be the only signs permitted for uses authorized as principal or conditional uses in R and RED Districts, except that signs for any commercial establishments shall be subject to the limitations of Paragraph (c) below. (1) One nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated nameplate for each street frontage of the lot, not exceeding a height of 12 feet, and having an area not exceeding one square foot in RH Districts or two square feet in RM or RED Districts. (2) One identifying sign for each street frontage of the lot, not exceeding a height of 12 feet, and meeting the following additional requirements: (A) In RH Districts: nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated only; maximum area 12 square feet; (B) In RM, RTO or RED Districts: maximum area eight square feet if directly illuminated, and 20 square feet if nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated. (3) Sale or Lease Signs. One temporary nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated sale or lease sign for each street frontage of the total parcel involved, not exceeding a height of 24 feet if freestanding and not above the roofline if attached to a building, and having an area not exceeding six square feet for each lot or for each 3,000 square feet in such total parcel, whichever ratio permits the larger area, provided that no such sign shall exceed 50 square feet in area and any such sign exceeding 18 square feet in area shall be set back at least 25 feet from all street property lines. Any sale or lease sign shall be removed within seven days following removal of the property from the market. (4) Construction Signs. Temporary nonilluminated signs of persons and firms connected with work on buildings under actual construction or alteration, giving their names and information pertinent to the project, not exceeding a height of 12 feet, with the combined area of all such signs not to exceed 10 square feet for each street frontage of the project. (c) Business Signs for Limited Commercial Uses. For Limited Commercial Uses, as described in Section 186 of this Code, and for Limited Corner Commercial Uses, as permitted by Section 231, the following controls shall apply: (1) Wall Signs. One wall sign is permitted for each street frontage occupied by the use, placed flat against the wall that faces such street and not located above the ground floor. Such sign shall not exceed an area of one square foot for each linear foot of street frontage occupied by the building or part thereof that is devoted to the commercial use or 50 square feet per street frontage, whichever is less. Any such sign may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated. (2) Window Signs. Window Signs are permitted. The total Area of all Window Signs shall not exceed one-third the total area of the business’s ground floor windows and clear doors. Window Signs may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly Illuminated. (3) Projecting Signs. The number of projecting signs shall not exceed one per business. The area of such sign, as defined in Section 602.1(a), shall not exceed six square feet. The height of such sign shall not exceed 14 feet, or the height of the lowest residential windowsill above the commercial use, whichever is lower. No part of the sign shall project more than 75 percent of the horizontal distance from the street property line to the curbline, or four feet, whichever is less. Any such sign may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated. (4) Signs on Awnings. Sign copy may be located on permitted awnings in lieu of wall signs and projecting signs. The area of such sign copy as defined in Section 602.1(c) shall not exceed 20 square feet per business. Such sign copy may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated. (5) Illumination. Any illumination permitted for signs covered by this Subsection (c) shall be extinguished at all times when the commercial use is not open for business. (d) Signs for Other Nonconforming Uses. Any illumination permitted for signs covered by this Subsection (d) shall be extinguished at all times when the nonconforming use is not open for business. (1) Automobile Service Stations. The following business signs are permitted for an automobile service station. Any such signs may be nonilluminated or indirectly or directly illuminated. Directly illuminated signs may be illuminated only during open business hours. (A) A maximum of two oil company signs, which shall not extend above the roofline if attached to a building, or exceed a height of 24 feet if freestanding. The area of any such sign shall not exceed 180 square feet, and along each street frontage all parts of such a sign or signs that are within 10 feet of the street property line shall not exceed 80 square feet in area. The areas of other permanent and temporary signs as covered in Subparagraph 606(d)(1)(B) below shall not be included in the calculation of the areas specified in this Subparagraph. (B) Other Permanent and Temporary Signs Customarily Incidental to the Service Station Business. No such sign shall extend above the roofline if attached to a building, or

exceed a height of 12 feet if freestanding. The area of such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet for each such sign or a total of 80 square feet for all such signs on the premises. (2) Open Land Uses. If there is no building with more than 50 square feet of floor area involved in the use, one business sign is permitted for each street frontage occupied by such use, not exceeding a height of 12 feet and having an area not exceeding one square foot for each foot of such street frontage. The total area of all signs for such a use shall not exceed 50 square feet. Any such sign may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated. (3) Other Uses. For a use not listed in Subsections 606(c) or 606(d) above, one business sign is permitted for each street frontage occupied by the use, placed flat against the wall that faces such street and not located above the ground floor. Such sign shall not exceed an area of one square feet for each foot of street frontage occupied by the building or part thereof that is devoted to the nonconforming use. The total area of all signs for such a use shall not exceed 100 square feet. Any such sign may be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated. (Amended by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 72-08, File No. 071157, App. 4/3/2008 ; Ord. 56-13 , File No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 188-15 , File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 124-25, File No. 250542, App. 8/1/2025, Eff. 9/1/2025; Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026) AMENDMENT HISTORY Division (b)(2)(B) amended; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Introductory paragraph and divisions (b) and (b)(2)(B) amended; former division (b)(2)(C) deleted; divisions (b)(3) and (b)(4) amended; new division (c) added and former division (c) redesignated as (d) and amended; divisions (d)(1), (d)(1)(A), and (d)(3) amended; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Section header and division (a)(4) amended; Ord. 188-15 , Eff. 12/4/2015. Introductory paragraph and division (c)(2) amended; Ord. 124-25, Eff. 9/1/2025. Introductory paragraph amended; Ord. 245-25, Eff. 1/12/2026. SEC. 607. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) Signs in C, M, and PDR Districts, other than those Signs exempted by Section 603 of this Code, shall conform to the following provisions: (a) General Advertising Signs. No General Advertising Sign shall be permitted in any C, M, or PDR District. (b) Roof Signs. Except for Historic Signs and Vintage Signs, Roof Signs are not permitted in C, M, and PDR Districts. (c) Wind Signs. No Wind Sign shall be permitted in any C, M, or PDR District. (d) Window Signs. The total Area of all Window Signs shall not exceed one-third the total area of the business’s ground floor windows and clear doors. Window Signs may be Nonilluminated, Indirectly Illuminated, or Directly Illuminated. (e) Moving Parts. No Sign shall have or consist of any moving, rotating, or otherwise physically animated part (as distinguished from lights that give the appearance of animation by flashing, blinking or fluctuating), except as follows: (1) Moving or rotating or otherwise physically animated parts may be used for the rotation of barber poles and the indication of time of day and temperature. (2) Notwithstanding the type of Signs permissible under subsection (e), a Video Sign is prohibited. (f) Illumination. Any Sign may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly or Directly Illuminated. Signs in PDR, C-3, and M-2 Districts shall not be limited in any manner as to type of illumination, but no Sign in a C-2 or M-1 District shall have or consist of any flashing, blinking, fluctuating or otherwise animated light except as specifically designated as “Special Districts for Sign Illumination” on Sectional Map SSD of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco, described in Section 608 of this Code, in the C-2 area consisting of five blocks in the vicinity of Fisherman’s Wharf. Notwithstanding the type of Signs permissible under subsection (f), a Video Sign is prohibited in the district. (g) Projection. Except for Historic Signs, Vintage Signs, Historic Theater Marquees, and Historic Theater Projecting Signs, no Sign shall project more than 75% of the horizontal distance from the Street Property Line to the curbline and in no case shall a Sign project more than six feet beyond the Street Property Line or building setback line. (h) Height and Extension Above Roofline. (1) Signs Attached to Buildings. Except as provided in Section 260 for Historic Signs, in Section 608.14 for Vintage Signs, and in Section 188(e) for Historic Movie Theater Marquees and Historic Movie Theater Projecting Signs, no Sign Attached to a Building shall extend or be located above the Roofline of the building to which it is attached. In addition, no Sign Attached to a Building shall under any circumstances exceed a maximum height of: In C-3: 100 feet; In all other C, M, and PDR Districts: 60 feet. Such Signs may contain letters, numbers, a logo, service mark and/or trademark and may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly Illuminated. (2) Freestanding Signs. The maximum height for Freestanding Signs shall be as follows: In C-2: 36 feet; In all other C, M, and PDR Districts: 40 feet. (i) Special Standards for Automotive Service Stations. For Automotive Service Stations, only the following Signs are permitted, subject to the standards in this subsection (i) and to all other standards in this Section 607. (1) A maximum of two oil company Signs, which shall not extend above the Roofline if Attached to a building, or exceed the maximum height permitted for Freestanding Signs in the same district if Freestanding. The Area of any such Sign shall not exceed 180 square feet, and along each street frontage all parts of such a Sign or Signs that are within 10 feet of the street property line shall not exceed 80 square feet in area. No such Sign shall project more than five feet beyond any Street Property Line or building setback line. The areas of other permanent and temporary Signs as covered in subsection (i)(2) below shall not be included in the calculation of the areas specified in this subsection (i)(1). (2) Other permanent and temporary Business Signs, not to exceed 30 square feet in Area for each such Sign or a total of 180 square feet for all such Signs on the premises. No such Sign shall extend above the Roofline if Attached to a building, or in any case project beyond any Street Property Line or building setback line. (Amended by Ord. 64-77, App. 2/18/77; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 537-88, App. 12/16/88; Ord. 219-94, App. 6/3/94; Ord. 134-97, App. 4/25/97; Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98; Ord. 28-02, File No. 011962, App. 3/15/2002; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 56-13 , File No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 20-15, File No. 110548, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016; Ord. 124-25, File No. 250542, App. 8/1/2025, Eff. 9/1/2025) AMENDMENT HISTORY Divisions (b), (d)(2), and (g)(1) amended; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Divisions (a), (b), (c), (d)(2), and (e) amended; former divisions (e)(1) and (e)(4) merged into division (e) and amended; former divisions (e)(2) and (e)(3) deleted; divsions (f), (g)(1), (g)(2), and (h)(1) amended; Ord. 20-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Divisions (a), (b), and (c) amended; former divisions (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3), (d)(2), (d)(4), and (h)(3) deleted; division (d) added; former divisions (d), (d)(1), and (d)(3) amended and redesignated as divisions (e), (e)(1), and (e)(2); former divisions (e)–(h)(2) amended and redesignated as divisions (f)–(i)(2); Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016. Division (d) amended; Ord. 124-25, Eff. 9/1/2025. SEC. 607.1. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL-COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, AND RESIDENTIAL TRANSIT ORIENTED-COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) Signs located in Neighborhood Commercial Districts shall be regulated as provided herein, except for those Signs which are exempted by Section 603 of this Code or as more specifically regulated in a Special Sign District under Sections 608 et seq. In the event of conflict between the provisions of Section 607.1 and other provisions of Article 6, the provisions of Section 607.1 shall prevail in Neighborhood Commercial and Residential-Commercial Districts. In each such Special Sign District, Signs, other than those Signs exempted by Section 603 of this Code, shall be subject to the special controls in Sections 608.1 through 608.18, respectively, in addition to all other or, if so expressly specified in those Sections, in lieu of other applicable sign provisions of this Code. In the event of inconsistency with any other provision of Article 6, the most restrictive provision shall prevail unless this Code specifically provides otherwise.