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(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
(a) General. Notwithstanding any other height limit established by this Article 2.5 to the contrary, the height of dwellings in certain use districts established by Article 2 of this Code shall be further limited by this Section 261. The measurement of such height shall be as prescribed by Section 260.
(b) Height Limits Applicable to the Entire Property.
(1) No portion of a dwelling in any RH-1(D), RH-1 or RH-1(S) District shall exceed a height of 35 feet, except that:
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(B) The permitted height shall be reduced to 30 feet where the average ground elevation at the rear line of the lot is lower by 20 or more feet than at the front line thereof; and
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(C) The permitted height shall be reduced to 25 feet where the average ground elevation at the rear line of the lot is lower by 40 or more feet than at the front line thereof.
(2) No portion of a dwelling in any RH-2 District shall exceed a height of 40 feet, except that the permitted height shall be reduced to 35 feet where the average ground elevation at the rear line of the lot is lower by 20 or more feet than at the front line thereof.
(c) Height Limits Applicable to Front Portion of the Property. Except in cases where the average ground elevation at the rear line of the lot is higher by 20 or more feet than at the front line thereof, the following additional height limits shall apply to the front portion of properties containing dwellings in all RH-1(D), RH-1, RH-1(S) and RH-2 Districts:
(1) Basic Requirement. The height limit shall be 30 feet at the front lot line or, where the lot is subject to a legislated setback line or required front setback as described in Section 131 or Section 132 of this Code, then at such setback; and shall increase at an angle of 45 degrees from the horizontal toward the rear of the lot until the height limit prescribed by Subsection (b) above is reached.
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(2) Increase Based Upon Conditions on Adjacent Lots. At the front wall of the building, and at every vertical cross-section of the building, parallel to the front lot line, to which the limit prescribed by Paragraph (c)(1) above is applicable, said limit shall be increased to the average of the heights of the two adjacent buildings measured in the same vertical plane; or, if there is only one adjacent building, then to the height of the one adjacent building measured in the same vertical plane. For purposes of this provision, an adjacent building shall mean a building on a lot adjoining the subject lot along a side lot line.
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AMENDMENT HISTORY
(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
(a) Purpose. The intimate character of Narrow Streets, as defined in subsection (b), and Alleys is an important and unique component of the City and certain neighborhoods in particular. The scale of these streets should be preserved to ensure they do not become overshadowed or overcrowded. Heights along Alleys and Narrow Streets are hereby limited to provide ample sunlight and air, as follows:
(b) Definitions.
(1) "Narrow Street" shall be defined as a public right of way less than or equal to 40 feet in width, or any mid-block passage or alley that is less than 40 feet in width created under the requirements of Section 270.2.
(2) “Subject Frontage” shall mean:
(A) any building frontage in an RH-1(D), RH-1, or RH-1(S) District that abuts a Narrow Street and is more than 20 feet from an intersection with a street wider than 40 feet; or
(B) any building frontage in an RH-2, RH-3, RM, RTO, NC, NCT, Van Ness & Market Residential Special Use District, or Eastern Neighborhood Mixed Use District that abuts a Narrow Street and that is more than 60 feet from an intersection with a Street wider than 40 feet.
(3) "East-West Narrow Streets" shall mean all Narrow Streets, except those created pursuant to Section 270.2, that are oriented at 45 degrees or less from a true east-west orientation or are otherwise named herein: Elm, Redwood, Ash, Birch, Ivy, Linden, Hickory, Lily, Rose, Laussat, Germania, Clinton Park, Brosnan, Hidalgo, and Alert Streets.
(4) “North-South Narrow Streets” shall mean all Narrow Streets, except those created pursuant to Section 270.2, that are oriented at 45 degrees or less from a true north-south orientation.
(5) Streets in the South of Market area that are perpendicular to Market Street are considered North-South Streets, and streets that are parallel to Market Street are considered East-West Streets.
(c) Applicability. The controls in this Section shall apply in all RH, RM, RTO, NC, NCT, the Van Ness & Market Residential Special Use District, and Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use Districts, except in the Bernal Heights Special Use District. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the CS Bulk District these controls shall only apply on certain frontages as described in Section 270(h).
(d) Controls.
(1) General Requirement. Except as described below, all Subject Frontages shall have upper stories set back at least 10 feet at the property line above a height equivalent to 1.25 times the width of the abutting Narrow Street. Buildings of two stories above grade may be built without a second-story setback, regardless of the width of the street.
(2) Southern Side of East-West Narrow Streets. All Subject Frontages on the southerly side of an East-West Narrow Street shall have upper stories which are set back at the property line such that they avoid penetration of a sun access plane defined by an angle of 45 degrees extending from the most directly opposite property line (as illustrated in Figure 261.1A.) No part or feature of a building, including but not limited to any feature listed in Section 260(b), may penetrate the required setback plane.
(3) Narrow Streets Controls Within the Central SoMa SUD.
(A) Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1) above, buildings of 65 feet or more in height shall not be subject to the 10-foot setback requirement, but instead shall be subject to the Apparent Mass Reduction controls of Section 270(h).
(B) Frontages on the westerly side of a North-South Narrow Street shall meet the sun access plane requirements of subsection (d)(2) above.
(4) Mid-block Passages. Subject Frontages abutting a mid-block passage provided pursuant to the requirements of Section 270.2 shall have upper story setbacks as follows:
(A) for mid-block passages between 20 and 30 feet in width, a setback of not less than 10 feet above a height of 25 feet.
(B) for mid-block passages between 30 and 40 feet in width, a setback of not less than 5 feet above a height of 35 feet.
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(Added by Ord. 72-08, File No. 071157, App. 4/3/2008; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 85-10, File No. 091271, App. 4/30/2010; amended by Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 206-19, File No. 190048, App. 9/13/2019, Eff. 10/14/2019; Ord. 126-20, File No. 200559, App. 7/31/2020, Eff. 8/31/2020; Ord. 47-21, File No. 201175, App. 4/16/2021, Eff. 5/17/2021)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Section header amended; division (b)(4) added; divisions (c), (d)(1), and (d)(2) amended; former division (d)(3) redesignated as division (d)(4) and amended; new divisions (d)(3)-(d)(3)(B) added; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019. Divisions (a), (c), (d)(1), and (d)(2) amended; division (b)(2) redesignated as (b)(2)- (b)(2)(B) and amended; Ord. 206-19, Eff. 10/14/2019. Divisions (b)(2)(B) and (c) amended; Ord. 126-20, Eff. 8/31/2020. Division (b)(5) added; divisions (d)(2) and (d)(3)-(d)(3)(B) amended; Ord. 47-21, Eff. 5/17/2021.
(a) Purpose. Folsom Street is intended to be the main street of the Western SoMa neighborhood, with neighborhood-serving uses and a high-quality pedestrian environment. As such, it is important to allow for appropriate development heights while also maximizing light and air to the sidewalks, parks, plazas, and frontages along the street.
(b) Controls. In the Folsom Street NCT District, any portion of a building above 55 feet in height shall be set back at least 15 feet from any property line fronting Folsom Street, except for those features listed in Section 260(b) of this Code.
(a) Purpose. Buchanan Street between Post Street and Sutter Street is a pedestrian-only thoroughfare lined with both neighborhood- and regional-serving retail uses. This block of Buchanan Street contains seating areas and culturally significant street furnishings, such as lighting and fountains. As such, it is important to allow for appropriate development heights while also maximizing light and air to the street.
(b) Controls. Along Buchanan Street between Post Street and Sutter Street, the portion of any building above 35 feet in height shall be set back one foot in height from the front property line for every foot above 35 feet, except for those exemptions listed in Section 260(b) of this Code.
(a) The height limits established by this Article 2.5 shall apply to all signs regulated by this Code, except for Historic Signs and Vintage Signs defined in Section 602, and Historic Movie Theater Projecting Signs and Historic Movie Theater Marquees defined in Section 188(e) of this Code. No sign shall be erected, placed, replaced, reconstructed or relocated except in conformity with the provisions of this Article, whether such sign is freestanding or attached to a building or structure.
(b) The height of signs is also regulated by Article 6 of this Code, and in each case the most restrictive of the applicable height limitations shall prevail, except for Historic Signs, Vintage Signs, Historic Movie Theater Projecting Signs, and Historic Movie Theater Marquees which are exempt from height limits pursuant to Section 260 of this Code.
(Amended by Ord. 234-72, App. 8/18/72; Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Divisions (a) and (b) amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020.
In the height and bulk districts indicated in the following Sections, buildings and structures exceeding the prescribed height limits may be approved by the Planning Commission according to the procedures for conditional use approval in Section 303 of this Code unless otherwise specified herein. Any exceptions granted may be permitted only in the areas specified and only to the extent stated in each Section.
(Amended by Ord. 234-72, App. 8/18/72; Ord. 15-98, App. 1/16/98; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019)
(Added by Ord. 234-72, App. 8/18/72; amended by Ord. 15-98, App. 1/16/98; repealed by Ord. 176-12
, File No. 120472, App. 8/7/2012, Eff. 9/6/2012)
(Added by Ord. 234-72, App. 8/18/72; amended by Ord. 15-98, App. 1/16/98; repealed by Ord. 176-12
, File No. 120472, App. 8/7/2012, Eff. 9/6/2012)
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