The Ocean Avenue Neighborhood Commercial Transit District is located on Ocean Avenue from Howth Street to Manor Drive. Ocean Avenue is a multi-purpose transit-oriented small-scale commercial district. Ocean Avenue was developed as a streetcar-oriented commercial district in the 1920s and continues to serve this function, with the K-line streetcar on Ocean Avenue. Numerous other bus lines serve the area, especially the eastern end, where the Phelan Loop serves as a major bus terminus. The eastern end of the district is anchored by the main City College campus and direct linkages to the Balboa Park BART/MUNI rail station a couple blocks to the east, which serves as the southernmost San Francisco station for BART and the terminus of the J, K, and M streetcar lines. Because of the immediate proximity of the BART/MUNI station the district has quick and easy transit access to downtown.
The Ocean Avenue NCT District is mixed use, transitioning from a predominantly one- and two-story retail district to include neighborhood-serving commercial uses on lower floors and housing above. 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. Access (i.e. driveways, garage entries) to off-street parking and loading is generally prohibited on Ocean Avenue to preserve and enhance the pedestrian-oriented character and transit function of the street. Residential and commercial parking are not required.
The Ocean Avenue NCT District is intended to provide convenience goods and services to the surrounding neighborhoods as well as limited goods and services for a wider market. The range of goods and services offered is varied and includes retail stores, retail services, restaurants, and neighborhood-serving arts, entertainment, and institutional community uses. Buildings may range in height, with height limits generally allowing up to four or five stories. Lots are generally small to medium in size and lot consolidation is restricted to preserve the fine grain character of the district.
Rear yard requirements above the ground story and at residential levels preserve open space corridors of interior blocks.
Active commercial, arts, entertainment, and institutional community uses are required at the ground level and permitted at the second story. For purposes of this Section, Arts Activities, Nighttime Entertainment, and Institutional Community Uses shall be considered “active commercial uses,” as described in Section 145.4 of this Code.
Housing development in new buildings is encouraged above the ground story. Existing residential units are protected by limitations on demolition and upper-story conversions. Accessory Dwelling Units are permitted within the district pursuant to Section 207.1 of this Code.
Ocean Avenue NCT | ||
Zoning Category | § References | Controls |
Ocean Avenue NCT | ||
Zoning Category | § References | Controls |
BUILDING STANDARDS | ||
Massing and Setbacks | ||
Height and Bulk Limits. | Varies, but generally 45-X. See Height and Bulk Map Sheet HT12 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 | Required at the Second Story and at each succeeding level or Story of the building, and at the First Story if it contains a Dwelling Unit: 25% of lot depth, but in no case less than 15 feet | |
Front Setback and Side Yard | Not Required. | |
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 | Required on Ocean Avenue within the District, except on the north side of Ocean Avenue between Plymouth and Brighton Avenues.(2) |
Vehicular Access Restrictions | § 155(r) | Prohibited on Ocean Avenue within the District. |
Miscellaneous | ||
Lot Merger | § 121.7 | Certain exceptions permitted by § 121.7. |
Planned Unit Development | § 304 | C |
Awning, Canopy or Marquee | § 136.1 | P |
Signs | As permitted by § 607.1 | |
General Advertising Signs | NP | |
Design Guidelines | General Plan Commerce and Industry Element | Subject to the Urban Design Guidelines |
Zoning Category | § References | Controls | ||
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES |
Zoning Category | § References | Controls | ||
RESIDENTIAL STANDARDS AND USES | ||||
Development Standards | ||||
Usable Open Space [Per Dwelling Unit] | 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 | ||||
Dwelling Unit Mix | §§ 207.6 | Generally Required for creation of five or more Dwelling Units. No less than 40% of the total number of proposed 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 | P(6) | |||
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 | ||||
Dwelling Units, Senior Housing, Group Housing. | No density limit by lot area. Density restricted by physical envelope controls of height, bulk, setbacks, open space, exposure and other applicable controls of this and other Codes, as well as by applicable design guidelines, applicable elements and area plans of the General Plan, and design review by the Planning Department. | |||
Homeless Shelters | Density limits regulated by the Administrative Code | |||
Loss and Division of Dwelling Units | Controls by Story | |||
1st | 2nd | 3rd+ | ||
Residential Conversion | § 317 | C | C | C |
Residential Demolition or Merger | § 317 | C | C | 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 | 2.5 to 1 | |||
Use Size | P up to 3,999 square feet; C 4,000 square feet and above | |||
Off-Street Parking Requirements | ||||
Off-Street Freight Loading | ||||
Commercial Use Characteristics | ||||
Drive-up Facility | § 102 | NP | ||
Formula Retail | 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 | See § 703(b) | |||
Outdoor Activity Area | 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+ | ||
Agricultural Use Category | ||||
Agriculture, Industrial | NP | NP | NP | |
Agriculture, Large Scale Urban | C | C | C | |
Agriculture, Neighborhood | P | P | P | |
Automotive Use Category | ||||
Automotive Uses* | NP | NP | NP | |
Automotive Repair | § 102 | C | NP | NP |
Automotive Service Station | C | NP | NP | |
Electric Vehicle Charging Location | C(8) | C(8) | ||
Fleet Charging | § 102 | C | C | C |
Gas Station | C | NP | NP | |
Parking Garage, Private | § 102 | C | C | C |
Parking Garage, Public | § 102 | C | C | C |
Parking Lot, Private | C | C | C | |
Parking Lot, Public | 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 | P | NP | NP |
Movie Theater | P | P | P | |
Open Recreation Area | § 102 | C | C | C |
Passive Outdoor Recreation | § 102 | C | C | C |
Industrial Use Category | ||||
Industrial Uses | 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 | 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* | P | P | NP | |
Adult Business | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
Adult Sex Venue | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
Animal Hospital | § 102 | P | P | NP |
Bar | P | NP | NP | |
Cannabis Retail | C | C | NP | |
Flexible Retail | P | NP | NP | |
Hotel | § 102 | C | C | C |
Kennel | § 102 | C | NP | NP |
Liquor Store | § 102 | P | NP | NP |
Massage Establishment | C(7) | NP(7) | ||
Massage, Foot/Chair | § 102 | P | NP | NP |
Mortuary | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
Motel | NP | NP | NP | |
Restaurant | P | P | NP | |
Restaurant, Limited | P | P | NP | |
Services, Financial | § 102 | P | C | NP |
Services, Fringe Financial | § 102 | NP | NP | NP |
Services, Health | § 102 | C(5) | P | P |
Services, Limited Financial | § 102 | P | NP | NP |
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 | P | P | NP |
Service, Non-Retail Professional | § 102 | C | P | NP |
Trade Office | § 102 | P | P | NP |
Utility and Infrastructure Use Category | ||||
Utility and Infrastructure* | § 102 | C(4) | C(4) | C(4) |
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) In the Ocean Avenue NCT District, Arts Activities, Nighttime Entertainment, and Institutional Community Uses are considered to be “active uses,” as described in Section 145.4 of this Code. |
(Added by Ord. 61-09, File No. 090181, App. 4/17/2009; amended by 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. 287-13
, File No. 130041, App. 12/26/2013, Eff. 1/25/2014; Ord. 66-14
, File No. 140097, App. 5/14/2014, Eff. 6/13/2014; 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; redesignated and amended by Ord. 30-15
, File No. 140954, App. 3/26/2015, Eff. 4/25/2015; amended by Ord. 209-15
, File No. 150271, App. 12/16/2015, Eff. 1/15/2016; 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; redesignated and amended by Ord. 129-17, File No. 170203, App. 6/30/2017, Eff. 7/30/2017; amended by 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. 225-18, File No. 180483, App. 10/5/2018, Eff. 11/5/2018; 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. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 71-20, File No. 191285, App. 5/1/2020, Eff. 6/1/2020; Ord. 78-20, File No. 191075, App. 5/22/2020, Eff. 6/22/2020; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020; Ord. 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)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Zoning Control Table: 737.68 and 737.68A added; Ord. 66-11
, Eff. 5/20/2011. Zoning Control Table: title amended, 737.10 and 737.17 amended, designation of category 737.38 corrected, 737.39a amended; former categories 737.68 and 737.68A redesignated as rows 737.69C and 737.69D, 737.69, 737.69A, and 737.69B added; Specific Provisions: 737.68 added; Ord. 140-11, Eff. 8/4/2011. Zoning Control Table: 737.43 and 737.44 amended, former categories 737.42, 737.67, and 737.69A deleted; Ord. 75-12
, Eff. 5/23/2012. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 737.13, 737.13a, 737.13b, 737.13c, 737.54, and 737.69B amended; Specific Provisions: 737.54 added, 737.68 deleted; Ord. 56-13
, Eff. 4/27/2013. Zoning Control Table: former categories 737.38, 737.39, and 737.39a redesignated as 737.36, 737.37, and 737.38 and amended; new category 737.39 added; Ord. 287-13
, Eff. 1/25/2014. Specific Provisions: 737.84 amended; Ord. 66-14
, Eff. 6/13/2014. Zoning Control Table: 737.26 amended; Specific Provisions: 737.54 amended; Ord. 235-14
, Eff. 12/26/2014. Zoning Control Table: 737.92b added; Ord. 14-15
, Eff. 3/15/2015. Zoning Control Table: 737.14, 737.15, 737.16, 737.17, and 737.30 amended; Ord. 20-15
, Eff. 3/22/2015. Section redesignated (formerly Sec. 737.1); Zoning Control Table: 737.54, 737.91, and 737.92 amended; Ord. 30-15
, Eff. 4/25/2015. Introductory material amended; Ord. 209-15
, Eff. 1/15/2016. Zoning Control Table: former categories 737.36, 737.37, 737.38, and 737.39 deleted, 737.96, 737.97, and 737.98 added; Ord. 33-16
, Eff. 4/10/2016. Introductory material amended; Zoning Control Table: 737.91 amended; Specific Provisions: 737.91 added; Ord. 162-16
, Eff. 9/3/2016. Zoning Control Table: 7.33A added; Ord. 166-16
, Eff. 9/10/2016. Section redesignated (formerly Section 737); 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 (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 and Note (1) amended; Note (5) added; Ord. 225-18, Eff. 11/5/2018. 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. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 182-19
, Eff. 9/9/2019. Zoning Control Table amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Introductory material and Zoning Control Table amended; Note (2) added; Ord. 71-20, Eff. 6/1/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Note (6) added; Ord. 78-20, Eff. 6/22/2020. Zoning Control Table amended; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020. Zoning Control Table and Note (6) amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Zoning Control Table and Note (5) amended; Note (7) added; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Zoning Control Table and Notes (5) 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. 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.
CODIFICATION NOTES
1. So in Ord. 129-17.
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.
**Editor’s Note:
Ordinance 186-17, effective October 15, 2017, requires that “No more than three MCDs shall be permitted at any given time within the boundaries of Supervisorial District 11.”
Ordinance 186-17, effective October 15, 2017, requires that “No more than three MCDs shall be permitted at any given time within the boundaries of Supervisorial District 11.”