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SEC. 811.  CHINATOWN VISITOR RETAIL DISTRICT.
   The Chinatown Visitor Retail Neighborhood Commercial District extends along Grant Avenue between California and Jackson Streets. This district contains a concentration of shopping bazaars, art goods stores and restaurants which attract visitors and shoppers and contribute to the City's visual and economic diversity. Grant Avenue provides an important link between Downtown retail shopping and the Broadway, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf areas.
   This district is intended to preserve the street's present character and scale and to accommodate uses primarily appealing to visitors (e.g. tourist gifts shops, jewelry stores, art goods, large restaurants). In order to promote continuous retail frontage, entertainment, financial services, medical service, automotive, and drive-up uses are restricted. Most commercial uses, except financial services are permitted on the first two stories. Administrative services, (those not serving the public) are prohibited in order to prevent encroachment from downtown office uses. There are also special controls on restaurants and tourist hotels. Building standards protect and complement the existing small-scale development and the historic character of the area.
   The height limit applicable to the district will accommodate two floors of housing or institutional use above two floors of retail use. Existing residential units are protected by prohibition of upper-story conversions and limitation on demolition. Accessory dwelling units are permitted within the district pursuant to Subsection 207(c)(4) of this Code.
Table 811
CHINATOWN VISITOR RETAIL DISTRICT ZONING CONTROL TABLE
Chinatown Visitor Retail District
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
Chinatown Visitor Retail District
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
Massing and Setbacks
Height and Bulk Limits.
§§ 102.12, 105, 106, 250 - 252, 254, 260, 263.4, 270, 271. See also Height and Bulk District Maps
50-N. P up to 35 feet; C above 35 feet. See Height and Bulk Map for more information.
5 Foot Height Bonus for Active Ground Floor Uses
Not Permitted
Rear Yard
§§ 130, 134, 134.1, 136
No more than 75% of lot coverage at the lowest level occupied by a dwelling. Location of open space may be modified per § 134.1.
Sun Access Setbacks
15 ft. at specified heights
Front Setback and Side Yard
§§ 130, 131, 132, 133
Not Required.
Street Frontage and Public Realm
Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvements
Required
Street Frontage Requirements
Required
Maximum Street Frontage [per building]
P up to 50 feet; C required for more than 50 feet
Ground Floor Commercial
Not Required
Vehicular Access Restrictions
§ 155(r)
All alleyways in the Chinatown Mixed Use Districts.
Miscellaneous
Lot Size (Per Development)
P up to 5,000 sq. ft.; C 5,001 sq. ft. & above
Planned Unit Development
§ 304
C
Awning, Canopy, or Marquee
P
Signs
§§ 602 - 604, 607.2, 608.1, 608.2
As permitted by § 607.2
General Advertising Signs
§§ 262, 602.7, 604, 608, 609, 610, 611
NP
Design Guidelines
General Plan Commerce and Industry Element
Subject to the Urban Design Guidelines
 
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES
Development Standards
Usable Open Space [Per Dwelling Unit]
§§ 135, 136
48 sq. ft.
Off-Street Parking, Residential
§§ 150, 151.1, 153 - 156, 166, 167, 204.5, 303
P up to one car for each two Dwelling Units; C for up to .75 cars for each Dwelling Unit, subject to the criteria and procedures of Sections 303(u) and 151.1(e), NP above 0.75 cars for each Dwelling Unit (2)
Dwelling Unit Mix
Not Applicable
Use Characteristics
Single Room Occupancy
§ 102
P
Student Housing
§ 102
P
Residential Uses
Controls by Story
 
 
1st
2nd
3rd
Residential Uses
 
P
P
P
Accessory Dwelling Unit Density
§§ 102, 207(c)(4)
Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted to be constructed within an existing building zoned for residential use or within an existing and authorized auxiliary structure on the same lot, provided that it does not eliminate or reduce a ground-story retail or commercial space.
Dwelling Unit Density
§ 207
Up to 1 unit per 200 sq. ft. lot area.
Group Housing Density
§§ 208, 890.88(b)
1 bedroom per 140 sq. ft. lot area
Homeless Shelters Density
§§ 102, 208
Density limits regulated by the Administrative Code
Senior Housing Density
§§ 102, 202.2(f), 207
P up to twice the number of Dwelling Units otherwise permitted as a Principal Use in the district and meeting all the requirements of § 202.2(f)(1). C up to twice the number of Dwelling Units otherwise permitted as a Principal Use in the district and meeting all requirements of § 202.2(f)(1), except for § 202.2(f)(1)(D)(iv), related to location.
Loss of Dwelling Units
Controls by Story
 
 
1st
2nd
3rd+
Residential Conversion, Demolition or Merger
§ 317
C
C
C
Residential Hotel Conversion, Demolition or Merger
Admin. Code
NP
NP
NP
 
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS
Development Standards
Floor Area Ratio
§§ 102, 123, 124
2.0 to 1
Use Size
P up to 2,500 sq. ft. C 2,501 to 5,000 sq. ft. (1)
Open Space
1 sq. ft. for every 50 sq. ft. of building over 10,000 sq. ft.
Off-Street Parking, Non-Residential
§§ 145.1, 150, 151.1, 153 - 156, 166, 204.5
No car parking 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, Non-Residential
§§ 150, 152, 153 - 155, 161, 204.5
None required if gross floor area is less than 10,000 sq. ft.
Commercial Use Characteristics
Drive-up Facility
§ 102
NP
Formula Retail
§§ 102, 303.1
NP
Hours of Operation
§ 102
P 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.; C 11 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Maritime Use
§ 102
NP
Open Air Sales
§ 102
P
Outdoor Activity Area
§§ 102, 145.2
P in front, C elsewhere
Walk-up Facility
§ 102
P if recessed 3 ft., C otherwise
 
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
Zoning Category
§ References
Controls
NON-RESIDENTIAL USES
Controls by Story
1st
2nd
3rd+
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, 202.4
NP
NP
NP
Parking Garage, Private
§ 102
C
C
C
Parking Garage, Public
§ 102
C
C
C
Parking Lot, Private
§ 102
C
C
C
Parking Lot, Public
§ 102
C
C
C
Entertainment, Arts and Recreation Use Category
 
 
 
Entertainment and Recreation Uses*
§§ 102, 202.4
NP
NP
NP
Entertainment, General
§ 102
C
C
NP
Entertainment, Nighttime
§ 102
C
C
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*
 
P
P
P
Hospital
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Medical Cannabis Dispensary
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Public Facilities
§ 102
C
C
C
Sales and Service Use Category
 
 
 
Retail Sales and Service Uses*
 
P
P
NP
Adult Business
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Animal Hospital
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Bar
§ 102
C
C
NP
Cannabis Retail
§§ 102, 202.2(a)
NP
NP
NP
Flexible Retail
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Gym
§ 102
NP
P
NP
Hotel
§ 102
C
C
C
Kennel
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Massage Establishment
§ 102
C
C
C
Massage, Foot/Chair
§ 102
P
C
C
Mortuary
§ 102
C
C
NP
Motel
§§ 102, 202.2(a)
NP
NP
NP
Restaurant
§ 102
NP
Services, Financial
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Services, Fringe Financial
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Services, Health
§ 102
NP
P
NP
Services, Instructional
§ 102
NP
P
NP
Services, Limited Financial
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Services, Personal
§ 102
NP
P
NP
Services, Retail Professional
§ 102
NP
P
NP
Storage, Self
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Tobacco Paraphernalia Store
§ 102
C
NP
NP
Trade Shop
§ 102
P
C
NP
Non-Retail Sales and Service*
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Design Professional
§ 102
NP
P
NP
Trade Office
§ 102
NP
P
P
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category
 
 
 
Utility and Infrastructure*
§ 102
C
C
C
Power Plant
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Public Utilities Yard
§ 102
NP
NP
NP
Wireless Telecommunications Services Facility
§ 102
P
P
P
 
 
* Not listed below
(1)   C for Use Size is not required for Restaurants larger than 2,500 sq. ft., but C to establish the Use is required as indicated.
(2)   Installation of a garage in an existing residential building of four or more units requires a mandatory discretionary review by the Planning Commission; Section 311 notice is required for a building of less than four units. In approving installation of the garage, the Commission shall find that:
   (a)   the proposed garage opening/addition of off-street parking will not cause the “removal” or “conversion of residential unit,” as those terms are defined in Section 317 of this Code;
   (b)   the proposed garage opening/addition of off-street parking will not substantially decrease the livability of a dwelling unit without increasing the floor area in a commensurate amount;
   (c)   the building has not had two or more “no-fault” evictions, as defined in Section (a)(7) through (9) and (11) through (13) of the San Francisco Administrative Code, with each eviction associated with a separate unit(s) within the past ten years, and
   (d)   the proposed garage/addition of off-street parking installation is consistent with the Priority Policies of Section 101.1 of this Code.
   Prior to the Planning Commission hearing, or prior to issuance of notification under Section 311(c)(2) of this Code, the Planning Department shall require a signed affidavit by the project sponsor attesting to (a), (b), and (c) above, which the Department shall independently verify. The Department shall also have made a determination that the project complies with (d) above.
 
(Added by Ord. 131-87, App. 4/24/87; amended by Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 275-05, File No. 051250, App. 11/30/2005; Ord. 235-06, File No. 060533, App. 9/14/2006; 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. 139-09, File No. 090402, App. 7/2/2009; Ord. 77-10, File No. 091165, App. 4/16/2010; Ord. 66-11, File No. 101537, App. 4/20/2011, Eff. 5/20/2011; 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. 287-13 , File No. 130041, App. 12/26/2013, Eff. 1/25/2014; Ord. 227-14 , File No. 120796, App. 11/13/2014, Eff. 12/13/2014; 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; Ord. 73-15, File No. 141303, App. 5/28/2015, Eff. 6/27/2015; redesignated and amended by Ord. 162-15 , File No. 150805, App. 9/18/2015, Eff. 10/18/2015; 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. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016; Ord. 99-17, File No. 170206, App. 5/19/2017, Eff. 6/18/2017; Ord. 229-17, File No. 171041, App. 12/6/2017, Eff. 1/5/2018; Ord. 213-18, File No. 180319, App. 9/14/2018, Eff. 10/15/2018; 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; Ord. 208-19, File No. 190594, App. 9/20/2019, Eff. 10/21/2019)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Zoning Control Table: .74A and .74B added; Ord. 66-11 , Eff. 5/20/2011. Zoning Control Table: .41, .43, and .44 amended, former categories .42 and .45 deleted; Ord. 75-12 , Eff. 5/23/2012. Zoning Control Table: .54 amended; Specific Provisions: 811.54 added; Ord. 56-13 , Eff. 4/27/2013. Zoning Control Table: .39a and .39b amended; Ord. 287-13 , Eff. 1/25/2014. Zoning Control Table: .20 amended; Specific Provisions: 811.47b and 811.54 amended, former category 811.71 deleted; Ord. 227-14 , Eff. 12/13/2014. Specific Provisions: 811.54 amended; Ord. 235-14 , Eff. 12/26/2014. Zoning Control Table: .92b added; Ord. 14-15 , Eff. 3/15/2015. Zoning Control Table: .15, .16, and .17 amended; Ord. 20-15 , Eff. 3/22/2015. Zoning Control Table: .54 amended; Specific Provisions: 811.54 amended; Ord. 73-15, Eff. 6/27/2015. Section redesignated (formerly Sec. 811.1); introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: .91 amended; Specific Provisions: 811.91 added; Ord. 162-15 , Eff. 10/18/2015. Zoning Control Table: former categories .38a, .38b, .39a, and .39b deleted, .97 and .98 added; Ord. 33-16 , Eff. 4/10/2016. Specific Provisions: 811.91 amended; Ord. 162-16 , Eff. 9/3/2016. Zoning Control Table: .99 added; Ord. 166-16 , Eff. 9/10/2016. Zoning Control Table: .99 added; Ord. 166-16, Eff. 9/10/2016. Zoning Control Table: .30 amended; Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016. Zoning Control Table: heading and categories .22 and .94 amended; Ord. 99-17, Eff. 6/18/2017. Zoning Control Table: .75 added; Ord. 229-17, Eff. 1/5/2018. Zoning Control Table: .75 and .83 deleted; Ord. 213-18, Eff. 10/15/2018. Zoning Control Table: .23 and .94 amended; Ord. 277-18, Eff. 12/21/2018. Zoning Control Table: .23 and .94 amended; Ord. 311-18, Eff. 1/21/2019. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table replaced; Notes (1)-(2) added; Specific Provisions table deleted; Ord. 208-19, Eff. 10/21/2019.