SEC. 764. UPPER MARKET STREET NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL TRANSIT DISTRICT.
The Upper Market Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District is located on Market Street from Church to Noe Streets, and on side streets off Market. Upper Market Street is a
multi-purpose commercial district that provides goods and services to adjacent neighborhoods, but also serves as a shopping street for a broader trade area. The width of Market Street and
its use as a major arterial diminish the perception of the Upper Market Street Transit District as a single commercial district. The street appears as a collection of dispersed centers of
commercial activity, concentrated at the intersections of Market Street with secondary streets.
This district is well served by transit and is anchored by the Market Street subway (with stations at Church Street and Castro Street) and the F-Market historic streetcar line. All light-rail
lines in the City traverse the district, including the F, J, K, L, M, and N, and additional key cross-town transit service crosses Market Street at Fillmore and Castro Streets. Additionally,
Market Street is a primary bicycle corridor. Housing density is limited not by lot area, but by the regulations on the built envelope of buildings, including height, bulk, setbacks, and lot
coverage, and standards for Residential Uses, including open space and exposure, and urban design guidelines. Residential parking is not required and generally limited. Commercial
establishments are discouraged or prohibited from building accessory off-street parking in order to preserve the pedestrian-oriented character of the district and prevent attracting auto
traffic. There are prohibitions on access (i.e. driveways, garage entries) to off-street parking and loading on Market and Church Streets to preserve and enhance the pedestrian-oriented
character and transit function.
The Upper Market Street Transit District controls are designed to promote moderate-scale development which contributes to the definition of Market Street’s design and character. They
are also intended to preserve the existing mix of Commercial Uses and maintain the livability of the district and its surrounding residential areas. Large-lot and use development is reviewed
for consistency with existing development patterns. Rear yards are protected at all levels. To promote mixed-use buildings, most Commercial Uses are permitted with some limitations
above the second story. In order to maintain continuous retail frontage and preserve a balanced mix of Commercial Uses, ground-story neighborhood- serving uses are encouraged, and
financial service uses are limited. Ground floor-commercial space is required along Market and Church Streets. Most Automotive Service and Drive-Up Facility uses are prohibited or
conditional.
Housing development in new buildings is encouraged. Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted.
Table 764. UPPER MARKET STREET NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL TRANSIT
DISTRICT
ZONING CONTROL TABLE
Upper Market Street NCT
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
Upper Market Street 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 Sheet
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 Grade level and at each
succeeding level or Story: 25% of lot depth,
but in no case less than 15 feet. See § 134(a)
(1)(D) for waiver.
Front Setback and Side Yard
§§ 130, 131, 132,
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
Market Street and Church Street for the
entirety of the Upper Market NCT
Vehicular Access Restrictions
§ 155(r)
Prohibited on Market Street from
Embarcadero to Castro Street. CU required
on Duboce Street from Noe to 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
N/A
Awning, Canopy or Marquee
§ 136.1
P
Signs
§§ 262, 602- 604,
607, 607.1, 608, 609
As permitted by § 607.1 and the Upper
Market Street Special Sign District in §
609.12
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
§§ 151.1, 161
Car parking not required. P up to 0.5 spaces
per Dwelling Unit; C up to .75 spaces per
Dwelling Unit; not permitted above .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(9)
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 Unit
§§ 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,
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
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 USES
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES
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
C
Hours of Operation
§ 102
P 6 a.m. - 2 a.m.; C 2 a.m.- 6 a.m.
Maritime Use
§ 102
NP
Open Air Sales
§§ 102, 703(b)
See § 703(b)
Outdoor Activity Area
§§ 102, 145.2, 202.2
P if located in front or it complies with
Section 202.2(a)(7); C if located elsewhere.
Walk-up Facility
§ 102
P
Controls by Story
1st
2nd
3rd+
Uses in Historic Buildings
Historic Buildings
§ 202.11
In Historic Buildings, Uses listed below as
NP are C and Uses listed below as C are P,
except Cannabis Retail, Hotel, and certain
Industrial Uses, as specified in § 202.11.
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
Automotive Repair
§ 102
C
NP
NP
Electric Vehicle Charging Location
§§ 102, 202.2(b),
202.13
C(11)1
C(11)
C(11)
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(8)
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(8)
P
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
P
P
P
Animal Hospital
§ 102
P
P
NP
Bar
§§ 102, 202.2(a)
C
C
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(2)
NP
NP
Massage Establishment
§§ 102, 204, 303(n),
P
C(10)
NP(10)
Massage, Foot/Chair
§ 102
P
C
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
C
C
NP
Services, Fringe Financial
§ 102
NP(5)
NP(5)
NP(5)
Services, Health
§ 102
P(7)
P
C
Services, Limited Financial
§ 102
C
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(6)
C(6)
C(6)
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) C not required if selling only beer and wine and not distilled spirits.
(3) [Note deleted.]
(4) [Note deleted.]
(5) FRINGE FINANCIAL SERVICE RESTRICTED USE DISTRICT (FFSRUD)
Boundaries: The FFSRUD and its 1/4 mile buffer includes, but is not limited to, the Upper Market
Street NCT Neighborhood Commercial District.
Controls: Fringe Financial Services are NP within any FFSRUD and its 1/4 mile buffer pursuant to
Section 249.35. Outside any FFSRUD and its 1/4 mile buffer, Fringe Financial Services are P subject to
the restrictions set forth in Section 249.35(c)(3).
(6) C if a Macro WTS Facility; P if a Micro WTS Facility.
(7) Clinics licensed as community and free clinics as defined under California Health and Safety Code
Section 1204(a)(1) and clinics exempt from licensing under California Health and Safety Code Section
1206(b) are Principally Permitted Uses. Other Health Service uses are subject to the provisions of Section
303.1 of this Code.
(8) Arts Activities and Institutional Community Uses in the Upper Market Street NCT District are
considered to be “active uses,” as defined in Section 145.4 of this Code.
(9) C for buildings with 10 or more Dwelling Units.
(10) P if accessory to a Hotel, Personal Service or Health Service.
(11)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. 205-19, File No. 181211, App. 9/11/2019, Eff. 10/12/2019; 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. Undesignated
introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Note (2) added; Note (4) amended; Notes (7) and (8) replaced; Ord. 182-19, Eff. 9/9/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 205-19, Eff. 10/12/2019. Introductory material, Zoning
Control Table, and Note (5) amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (9) added; Ord. 78-20, Eff. 6/22/2020. Introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Note (4) deleted; Proposition H, 11/3/2020,
Eff. 12/18/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 111-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table and Note (5) amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table and Note (7) amended; Note (10) added; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022.
Zoning Control Table and Notes (7) and (10) amended; Ord. 37-22, Eff. 4/14/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (11)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. Undesignated introductory material and 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 “(11)” is referenced as “(10)” in Ord. 190-22. The note was redesignated by the codifier because a note designated as “(10)” previously had been added to this section by Ord. 233-21.
2. So in Ord. 245-25.