(a) Findings. The Board hereby finds and declares as follows: One of the challenges posed by new development is the increased number of privately-owned automobiles it brings to San Francisco's congested neighborhoods. Growth in the number of privately-owned automobiles increases demands on the City's limited parking supply and often contributes to increased traffic congestion, transit delays, pollution and noise. Car-sharing can mitigate the negative impacts of new development by reducing the rate of individual car-ownership per household, the average number of vehicle miles driven per household and the total amount of automobile-generated pollution per household. Accordingly, car-sharing services should be supported through the Planning Code when a car-sharing organization can demonstrate that it reduces:
(1) the number of individually-owned automobiles per household;
(2) vehicle miles traveled per household; and
(3) vehicle emissions generated per household.
(b) Definitions. For purposes of this Code, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) A "car-share service" is a mobility enhancement service that provides an integrated citywide network of neighborhood-based motor vehicles available only to members by reservation on an hourly basis, or in smaller intervals, and at variable rates. Car-sharing is designed to complement existing transit and bicycle transportation systems by providing a practical alternative to private motor vehicle ownership, with the goal of reducing over-dependency on individually owned motor vehicles. Car-share vehicles must be located at unstaffed, self-service locations (other than any incidental garage valet service), and generally be available for pick-up by members 24 hours per day. A car-share service shall provide automobile insurance for its members when using car-share vehicles and shall assume responsibility for maintaining car-share vehicles.
(2) A "certified car-share organization" is any public or private entity that provides a membership-based car-share service to the public and manages, maintains and insures motor vehicles for shared use by individual and group members. To qualify as a certified car-share organization, a car-share organization shall submit a written report prepared by an independent third party academic institution or transportation consulting firm that clearly demonstrates, based on a statistically significant analysis of quantitative data, that such car-sharing service has achieved two or more of the following environmental performance goals in any market where they have operated for at least two years: (A) lower household automobile ownership among members than the market area's general population; (B) lower annual vehicle miles traveled per member household than the market area's general population; (C) lower annual vehicle emissions per member household than the market area's general population; and (D) higher rates of transit usage, walking, bicycling and other non-automobile modes of transportation usage for commute trips among members than the market area's general population. This report shall be called a Car-sharing Certification Study and shall be reviewed by Planning Department staff for accuracy and made available to the public upon request. The Zoning Administrator shall only approve certification of a car-share organization if the Planning Department concludes that the Certification Study is technically accurate and clearly demonstrates that the car-share organization has achieved two or more of the above environmental performance goals during a two-year period of operation. The Zoning Administrator shall establish specific quantifiable performance thresholds, as appropriate, for each of the three environmental performance goals set forth in this subsection.
(3) The Planning Department shall maintain a list of certified car-share organizations that the Zoning Administrator has determined satisfy the minimum environmental performance criteria set forth in subsection 166(b)(2) above. Any car-share organization seeking to benefit from any of the provisions of this Code must be listed as a certified car-share organization.
(4) An "off-street car-share parking space" is any parking space generally complying with the standards set forth for the district in which it is located and dedicated for current or future use by any car-share organization through a deed restriction, condition of approval or license agreement. Such deed restriction, condition of approval or license agreement must grant priority use to any certified car-share organization that can make use of the space, although such spaces may be occupied by other vehicles so long as no certified car-share organization can make use of the dedicated car-share spaces. Any off-street car-share parking space provided under this Section must be provided as an independently accessible parking space. In new parking facilities that do not provide any independently accessible spaces other than those spaces required for disabled parking, off-street car-share parking may be provided on vehicle lifts so long as the parking space is easily accessible on a self-service basis 24 hours per day to members of the certified car-share organization. Property owners may enact reasonable security measures to ensure such 24-hour access does not jeopardize the safety and security of the larger parking facility where the car-share parking space is located so long as such security measures do not prevent practical and ready access to the off-street car-share parking spaces.
(5) A "car-share vehicle" is a vehicle provided by a certified car-share organization for the purpose of providing a car-share-service.
(6) A "property owner" refers to the owner of a property at the time of project approval and its successors and assigns.
(c) Generally Permitted. Car-share spaces shall be generally permitted in the same manner as residential accessory parking. Any residential or commercial parking space may be voluntarily converted to a car-share space.
(d) Requirements for Provision of Car-Share Parking Spaces.
(1) Amount of Required Spaces. In newly constructed buildings containing residential uses or existing buildings being converted to residential uses, if parking is provided, car-share parking spaces shall be provided in the amount specified in Table 166. In newly constructed buildings containing parking for non-residential uses, including non-accessory parking in a garage or lot, car-share parking spaces shall be provided in the amount specified in Table 166.
Number of Residential Units | Number of Required Car-Share Parking Spaces |
0 - 49 | 0 |
50 - 200 | 1 |
201 or more | 2, plus 1 for every 200 dwelling units over 200 |
Number of Parking Spaces Provided for Non-Residential Uses or in a Non-Accessory Parking Facility | Number of Required Car-Share Parking Spaces |
0 - 24 | 0 |
25 - 49 | 1 |
50 or more | 1, plus 1 for every 50 parking spaces over 50 |
(2) Availability of Car-Share Spaces. The required car-share spaces shall be made available, at no cost, to a certified car-share organization for purposes of providing car-share services for its car-share service subscribers. At the election of the property owner, the car-share spaces may be provided
(A) on the building site, or
(B) on another off-street site within 800 feet of the building site.
(3) Off-Street Spaces. If the car-share space or spaces are located on the building site or another off-street site:
(A) The parking areas of the building shall be designed in a manner that will make the car-share parking spaces accessible to non-resident subscribers from outside the building as well as building residents;
(B) Prior to Planning Department approval of the first building or site permit for a building subject to the car-share requirement, a Notice of Special Restriction on the property shall be recorded indicating the nature of requirements of this Section and identifying the minimum number and location of the required car-share parking spaces. The form of the notice and the location or locations of the car-share parking spaces shall be approved by the Planning Department;
(C) All required car-share parking spaces shall be constructed and provided at no cost concurrently with the construction and sale of units; and
(D) if it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Department that no certified car-share organization can make use of the dedicated car-share parking spaces, the spaces may be occupied by non-car-share vehicles; provided, however, that upon ninety (90) days of advance written notice to the property owner from a certified car-sharing organization, the property owner shall terminate any non car-sharing leases for such spaces and shall make the spaces available to the car-share organization for its use of such spaces.
(e) Substitution for Required Parking. Provision of a required car-share parking space shall satisfy or may substitute for any required residential parking; however, such space shall not be counted against the maximum number of parking spaces allowed by this Code as a principal use, an accessory use, or a conditional use.
(f) List of Car-Share Projects. The Planning Department shall maintain a publicly-accessible list, updated quarterly, of all projects approved with required off-street car-share parking spaces. The list shall contain the Assessor's Block and Lot number, address, number of required off-street car-share parking spaces, project sponsor or property owner contact information and other pertinent information as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
(g) Optional Car-Share Spaces.
(1) Amount of Optional Spaces. In addition to any permitted or required parking that may apply to the project, the property owner may elect to provide additional car-share parking spaces in the maximum amount specified in Table 166A; provided, however, that the optional car-share parking spaces authorized by this subsection (g) are not permitted for a project that receives a Conditional Use authorization to increase parking. Additional car-share parking spaces shall be allowed beyond the maximum amount specified in Table 166A, to the extent needed, when such additional car-share parking spaces are part of a Development Project’s compliance with the Transportation Demand Management Program set forth in Section 169 of the Planning Code.
Number of Residential Units | Maximum Number of Optional Car-Share Parking Spaces |
10 - 24 | 2 |
25 - 49 | 3 |
50 or more | 5 |
Amount of Square Footage for Non-Residential Uses | Maximum Number of Optional Car-Share Parking Spaces |
5,000 - 9,999 sq. ft. | 2 |
10,000 - 19,999 sq. ft. | 3 |
20,000 or more sq. ft. | 5 |
The optional car-share spaces shall not be counted against the maximum number of parking spaces allowed by this Code as a principal use, an accessory use, or a conditional use.
(2) Requirements for Optional Car-Share Spaces. All car-share spaces are subject to the following:
(A) They shall meet the provisions of this Section 166.
(B) The car-share parking spaces shall be deed-restricted and dedicated for car-sharing, and must be offered and maintained in perpetuity.
(C) At project entitlement, the property owner must submit a letter of intent from a certified car-share organization that articulates the car-share organization's intent to occupy the requested car-share spaces under this Subsection (g).
(D) Use of the car-share vehicles shall not be limited to residents of the building.
(E) If an additional car-share space is built, and a certified car-share organization chooses not to place vehicles in that space, the owner of the project may not sell, rent, or otherwise earn fees on the space but may use it for (i) bicycle parking, or (ii) permitted storage and other permitted uses but not for parking of any motorized vehicle; provided, however, that upon ninety (90) days of advance written notice to the property owner from a certified car-sharing organization, the property owner shall terminate any non car-sharing use for such space and shall make the space available to the car-share organization for its use of such space.
(F) A sign shall be placed above or next to each car-share parking space stating that the parking space is for car-sharing and cannot be used for private automobile parking. The sign shall meet the Department's design specifications and shall include the name and contact information of a person to call for enforcement of this requirement and such other information as the Department requires. An informational plaque shall also be placed on the outside of the building location, which shall meet the design, location and information requirements established by the Department.
(3) Existing Car-Share Spaces Located on Gas Stations Sites and Surface Parking Lots. If the number of car-share spaces located on a gas station, surface parking lot, or other similar site for at least one year exceeds the total number of required and/or optional car-share parking spaces as provided for under Table 166 and Table 166A, the developer may retain those car-share spaces if the site is redeveloped without reducing the permitted levels of private parking; provided, however, that a property owner cannot seek additional optional car-share parking spaces per Table 166A.
(Added by Ord. 217-05, File No. 050865, App. 8/19/2005; amended by Ord. 129-06, File No, 060372, App. 6/22/2006; Ord. 72-08, File No. 071157, App. 4/3/2008; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 286-10, File No. 100829, App. 11/18/2010; Ord. 28-13
, File No. 120900, App. 3/5/2013, Eff. 4/4/2013; Ord. 34-17, File No. 160925, App. 2/17/2017, Eff. 3/19/2017)
AMENDMENT HISTORY