SEC. 724. SACRAMENTO STREET NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
Located in the Presidio Heights neighborhood in north-central San Francisco, the Sacramento Street Neighborhood Commercial District functions as a small-scale linear shopping area. It
extends along Sacramento Street between Lyon and SpruceStreets. Interspersed among residential buildings and garages, the district’s daytime-oriented retail stores provide a limited array
of convenience goods to the immediate neighborhood. Sacramento Street also has many elegant clothing, accessory, and antique stores and services, such as hair salons, which attract
customers from a wider trade area. Its numerous medical and business offices draw clients from throughout the City. Evening activity in the district is limited to one movie theater, a few
restaurants, and some stores near Presidio Avenue.
The Sacramento Street District controls are designed to promote adequate growth opportunities for development that is compatible with the surrounding low-density residential
neighborhood. The building standards guide large-scale development and protect rear yards at the grade level and above. Most new commercial development is permitted at the first story; a
conditional use authorization is required if a general retail use would involve conversion of any existing housing units. Special controls are designed to protect existing neighborhood-
serving ground-story retail uses. Limits on financial service uses are intended to minimize the environmental impacts generated by the growth of such uses. The daytime orientation of the
District is encouraged by requiring conditional use authorization for bars and restricting late-night commercial activity. New hotels and parking facilities are limited in scale and operation
to minimize disruption to the neighborhood. Most new automobile and drive-up uses are prohibited to promote continuous retail frontage.
Housing development in new buildings is encouraged above the second story. Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted.
Table 724. SACRAMENTO STREET NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
ZONING CONTROL TABLE
Sacramento Street NCD
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
Sacramento Street NCD
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
BUILDING STANDARDS
Massing and Setbacks
Height and Bulk Limits.
§§ 102, 105, 106,
250–252, 260,
263.19, 261.1, 270,
270.3 , 271. See also
Height and Bulk
District Maps
Varies. See Height and Bulk Map Sheets
HT02 and HT03 for more information.
Height sculpting required on Alleys per
§261.1.
5 Foot Height Bonus for Active
Ground Floor Uses
§ 263.20
NP
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
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.
Street Frontage, Ground Floor
Commercial
§ 145.4
Not Required
Vehicular Access Restrictions
§ 155(r)
See Section 155(r)
Miscellaneous
Planned Unit Development
§ 304
C
Awning, Canopy or Marquee
§ 136.1
P
Signs
§§ 262, 602- 604,
607, 607.1, 608, 609
As permitted by § 607.1
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
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
100 square feet if private, or 133 square feet
if common, or the amount of open space
required in the nearest Residential District,
whichever is less.
Off-Street Parking Requirements
§§ 145.1, 150, 151.1
, 153 - 156, 161,
166, 204.5
No car parking required. Maximum
permitted per § 151.1 . 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
§ 207.7
Generally required for creation of 10 or
more Dwelling Units. No less than 25% of
the total number of proposed Dwelling
Units shall contain at least two Bedrooms,
and no less than 10% of the total number of
proposed Dwelling Units shall contain at
least three Bedrooms.
Use Characteristics
Intermediate Length Occupancy
§§ 102; 202.10
P(6)
Single Room Occupancy
§ 102
P
Student Housing
§ 102
P
Residential Uses
Controls By Story
1st
2nd
3rd+
Residential Uses
§ 102
P
P
P
Accessory Dwelling Unit
§§102, 207.1, 207.2
P per Planning Code §§ 207.1 and 207.2.
Dwelling Unit Density, General
§§ 102, 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.
Group Housing Density
§ 208
Form-Based Density.
Homeless Shelters
§§ 102, 208
Density limits regulated by the
Administrative Code
Senior Housing Density
§§ 102, 202.2(f),
Form-Based Density.
Loss of Dwelling Units:
Conversion, Demolition, or Merger
of Dwelling Units, including
Residential Flats
§ 317
C
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
1.8 to 1 3 For Office Uses minimum
intensities may apply pursuant to § 207.9.
Use Size
§§ 102, 121.2
P up to 2,500 square feet; C 2,501 square
feet and above
Off-Street Parking Requirements
§§ 145.1, 150, 151.1
, 153 - 156, 161,
166, 204.5
No car parking required. Maximum
permitted per § 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. - 12 a.m.; C 12 a.m. - 6 a.m.
Maritime Use
§ 102
NP
Open Air Sales
§§ 102, 703(b)
See Section 703(b)
Outdoor Activity Area
§§ 102, 145.2
P
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
Electric Vehicle Charging Location
§§ 102, 202.2(b),
202.13
C(8)2
C(8)
C(8)
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
P
P
Entertainment, General
§ 102
P
P
NP
Entertainment, Nighttime
§ 102
C
NP
NP
Movie Theater
§§ 102, 202.4
P
NP
NP
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
C
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
C
NP
Adult Business
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Adult Sex Venue
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Animal Hospital
§ 102
P
P
NP
Bar
§§ 102, 202.2(a)
C
NP
NP
Cannabis Retail
§§ 102, 202.2(a)
C
C
NP
Flexible Retail
§§ 102, 202.9
P
NP
NP
Gym
§ 102
P
NP
NP
Hotel
§ 102
C
C
NP
Kennel
§ 102
C
NP
NP
Liquor Store
§ 102
P
NP
NP
Massage Establishment
§§ 102, 204, 303(n),
C(4)(7)
C(7)
NP(7)
Massage, Foot/Chair
§ 102
NP
NP
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
P
NP
NP
Services, Fringe Financial
§ 102
NP(3)
NP(3)
NP(3)
Services, Health
§ 102
P
P
P
Services, Limited Financial
§ 102
P
NP
NP
Services, Personal
§ 102
P
NP
NP
Services, Retail Professional
§ 102
P
P
P
Storage, Self
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Tobacco Paraphernalia
Establishment
§ 102
C
NP
NP
Non-Retail Sales and Service*
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Design Professional
§ 102
C(4)
NP
NP
Service, Non-Retail Professional
§ 102
C
P
NP
Trade Office
§ 102
C(4)
NP
NP
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category
Utility and Infrastructure*
§ 102
C(5)
C(5)
C(5)
Power Plant
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Public Utilities Yard
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
* Not listed below
(1) [Note deleted.]
(2) [Note deleted.]
(3) FRINGE FINANCIAL SERVICE RESTRICTED USE DISTRICT (FFSRUD)
Boundaries: The FFSRUD and its 1/4 mile buffer includes, but is not limited to, the Sacramento Street
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).
(4) [Note deleted.]
(5) C if a Macro WTS Facility; P if a Micro WTS Facility.
(6) NP for buildings with three or fewer Dwelling Units. C for buildings with 10 or more Dwelling Units.
(7) P if accessory to a Hotel, Personal Service or Health Service.
(8)2 P where existing use is any Automotive Use.
(Added by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; amended by Ord. 445-87, App. 11/12/87; Ord. 412-88, App. 9/10/88; Ord. 87-00, File No. 991963, App. 5/19/2000; Ord. 260-00, File No. 001424, App. 11/17/2000; Ord. 243-05, File No. 051248, App.
10/21/2005; Ord. 275-05, File No. 051250, App. 11/30/2005; Ord. 289-06, File No. 050176, App. 11/20/2006; Ord. 269-07, File No. 070671, App. 11/26/2007; Ord. 244-08, File No. 080567, App. 10/30/2008; Ord. 245-08, File No. 080696; Ord.
51-09, File No. 081620, App. 4/2/2009; Ord. 66-11, File No. 101537, App. 4/20/2011, Eff. 5/20/2011; Ord. 140-11, File No. 110482, App. 7/5/2011, Eff. 8/4/2011; Ord. 75-12 , File No. 120084, App. 4/23/2012, Eff. 5/23/2012; Ord. 56-13 , File
No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 63-13 , File No. 130042, App. 4/10/2013, Eff. 5/10/2013; Ord. 287-13 , File No. 130041, App. 12/26/2013, Eff. 1/25/2014; Ord. 235-14 , File No. 140844, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014;
Ord. 14-15 , File No. 141210, App. 2/13/2015, Eff. 3/15/2015; Ord. 20-15 , File No. 110548, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; redesignated and amended by Ord. 30-15 , File No. 140954, App. 3/26/2015, Eff. 4/25/2015; amended by Ord. 33-16 ,
File No. 160115, App. 3/11/2016, Eff. 4/10/2016; Ord. 162-16 , File No. 160657, App. 8/4/2016, Eff. 9/3/2016; Ord. 166-16 , File No. 160477, App. 8/11/2016, Eff. 9/10/2016; Ord. 23-17, File No. 160656, App. 2/10/2017, Eff. 3/12/2017; Ord.
129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; Ord. 130-17, File No. 170204, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; 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. 311-18, File No. 181028, 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. 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. 248-23, File No. 230446, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; 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: 724.69C and 724.69D added; Ord. 66-11 , Eff. 5/20/2011. Zoning Control Table: 724.10, 724.17, and 724.69 amended; Specific Provisions: 724.68 added; Ord. 140-11, Eff. 8/4/2011. Zoning Control Table: 724.43 and
724.44 amended, former categories 724.42, 724.67, and 724.69A deleted; Ord. 75-12 , Eff. 5/23/2012. Zoning Control Table: 724.13 and 724.69B amended; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table:
724.51 amended; Specific Provisions: 724.51 added; Ord. 63-13 , Eff. 5/10/2013. Zoning Control Table: former categories 724.38 and 724.39 redesignated as 724.36 and 724.37 and amended; Ord. 287-13 , Eff. 1/25/2014. Zoning Control Table:
724.26, 724.49, and 724.50 amended; Ord. 235-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Zoning Control Table: 724.92b added; Ord. 14-15 , Eff. 3/15/2015. Zoning Control Table: 724.14, 724.15, 724.16, and 724.17 amended; Ord. 20-15 , Eff. 3/22/2015. Section
redesignated (formerly Sec. 724.1); Zoning Control Table: 724.54, 724.91, and 724.92 amended; Ord. 30-15 , Eff. 4/25/2015. Zoning Control Table: former categories 724.36 and 724.37 deleted, 724.96 and 724.97 added; Ord. 33-16 , Eff.
4/10/2016. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 724.91 amended; Specific Provisions: 724.91 added; Ord. 162-16 , Eff. 9/3/2016. Zoning Control Table: 724.33A added ; Ord. 166-16 , Eff. 9/10/2016. Introductory material
amended; Zoning Control Table: 724.51 amended; Specific Provisions: 724.51 amended; Ord. 23-17, Eff. 3/12/2017. Introductory material amended; new Zoning Control Table and notes added; Ord. 129-17, Eff. 7/30/2017. Previous Zoning
Control Table and Specific Provisions deleted; Ord. 130-17, Eff. 7/30/2017. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (1) 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 (2) deleted; Ord. 303-18, Eff. 1/21/2019.
Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 311-18, Eff. 1/21/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 116-19, Eff. 7/29/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 182-19, Eff. 9/9/2019. Zoning Control Table and Note (3) amended; Ord. 63-20,
Eff. 5/25/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (6) added; Ord. 78-20, Eff. 6/22/2020. Introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 111-21, Eff.
9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table and Notes (3) and (6) amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table and Note (4) amended; Note (7) added; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Zoning Control Table and Notes (4) and (7) amended; Ord.
37-22, Eff. 4/14/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 75-22, Eff. 6/13/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (8)2 added; Ord. 190-22 , Eff. 10/17/2022. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 264-22 , Eff. 1/22/2023. Zoning Control
Table amended; Ord. 248-23 , Eff. 1/14/2024. Second introductory paragraph and Zoning Control Table amended; Note (4) deleted; 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. So in Ord. 63-20.
2. Note “(8)” is referenced as “(7)” in Ord. 190-22. The note was redesignated by the codifier because a note designated as “(7)” previously had been added to this section by Ord. 233-21.
3. So in Ord. 245-25.