Loading...
(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
The following provisions shall apply to nonconforming uses, noncomplying structures and substandard lots of record:
(a) Definitions. Such uses, structures and lots are hereby defined as follows:
(1) A "nonconforming use" is a use which existed lawfully at the effective date of this Code, or of amendments thereto, or a live/work unit which existed on the effective date of Ordinance No. 412-88 (effective October 10, 1988) (other than a live/work unit wholly or partly occupying space whose legal occupancy under the Building Code was then limited to a residential occupancy) and which fails to conform to one or more of the use limitations under Articles 2, 6, 7 and 8 of this Code that then became applicable for the district in which the property is located.
(2) A "noncomplying structure" is a structure which existed lawfully at the effective date of this Code, or of amendments thereto, and which fails to comply with one or more of the regulations for structures, including requirements for off-street parking and loading, under Articles 1.2, 1.5, 2.5, 6, 7 and 8 of this Code, that then became applicable to the property on which the structure is located.
(3) A "substandard lot of record" is a lot which existed lawfully at the effective date of any requirement of this Code applicable thereto for minimum lot width or area (on December 26, 1946, or through subsequent amendments), and which fails to meet one or more of such requirements. Any lot existing and recorded as a separate parcel in the office of the Assessor or the Recorder at such effective date shall be deemed to be a lot of record under this Code as of such date. Any lot created by merger of such existing lots of record or parts thereof in such a manner as to establish a lesser number of lots, each having an increased area with no reduction in width, or an increased width with no reduction in area, or both an increased area and an increased width, shall also be deemed to be a lot of record under this Code as of the date of such merger.
(b) Timely Compliance with the Code. Such uses, structures and lots, in failing to meet applicable requirements of this Code, are incompatible with the purposes of this Code and with other uses, structures and lots in the City, and it is intended that these uses, structures and lots shall be brought into compliance with this Code as quickly as the fair interests of the parties will permit.
(c) Continuation of Nonconforming Uses, Structures, and Lots. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, such uses, structures and lots may be continued, except as otherwise provided in Sections 180 through 189, and subject to the limitations of this Article 1.7.
(d) Change in Ownership. A mere change of title or possession or right of possession of property, without any other change that is relevant to the restrictions of this Code, shall not terminate the status of a nonconforming use, noncomplying structure or substandard lot of record.
(e) Lawfully Existing Structures and Uses. Any structure or use for which a permit was lawfully granted prior to May 2, 1960, pursuant to the Planning Code provisions in effect on that date, and which was thereafter commenced and completed in accordance with such provisions, shall be deemed to have been a lawfully existing structure or use on that date. Any structure or use for which a permit has been lawfully granted pursuant to the provisions of this Code relating to amendments, and which has thereafter been commenced and completed in accordance with such provisions, shall be deemed to be a lawfully existing structure or use at the time of the amendment that causes it to become a noncomplying structure or a nonconforming use.
(f) Compliance with Other Requirements of the Planning Code. Except as specifically provided in this Code to the contrary, every nonconforming use, noncomplying structure and substandard lot of record shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Code, other than those requirements from which such uses, structures and lots are exempted by this Section 180.
(g) Nonconforming Signs. Section 606(c) and other provisions of Article 6 of this Code shall regulate the signs permitted for nonconforming uses. In addition, signs which are themselves classified as nonconforming uses and noncomplying structures under this Code shall be governed by Section 604 and other provisions of Article 6 of this Code.
(h) Preserving Dwelling Units. If the administrative record regarding a nonconforming unit does not provide conclusive evidence that the unit is illegal, it shall be presumed to be a legal nonconforming unit.
(Added by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; amended by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 412-88, App. 9/10/88; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 287-13
, File No. 130041, App. 12/26/2013, Eff. 1/25/2014)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
The following provisions shall apply to nonconforming uses with respect to enlargements, alterations and reconstruction:
(a) Increases in Nonconformity. A nonconforming use, and any structure occupied by such use, shall not be enlarged, intensified, extended, or moved to another location, with the exception of the construction of a mezzanine within a Live/Work Unit and expansion of Dwelling Units in PDR Districts, unless the result will be elimination of the nonconforming use, except as provided below and in Section 186.1 of this Code. A nonconforming use shall not be extended to occupy additional space in a structure, or additional land outside a structure, or space in another structure, or to displace any other use, except as provided in Sections 182 and 186.1 of this Code.
(b) Permitted Alterations. A structure occupied by a nonconforming use shall not be constructed, reconstructed or altered, unless the result will be elimination of the nonconforming use, except as provided in Section 186.1 of this Code and in Subsections (a) above and (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i) below, and except as follows:
(1) Ordinary maintenance and minor repairs shall be permitted where necessary to keep the structure in sound condition, as well as minor alterations, where such work is limited to replacement of existing materials with similar materials placed in a similar manner.
(2) Minor alterations shall be permitted where ordered by an appropriate public official to correct immediate hazards to health or safety, or to carry out newly enacted retroactive requirements essential to health or safety.
(3) Alterations otherwise allowed by this Code shall be permitted for any portion of the structure that will not thereafter be occupied by the nonconforming use, provided the nonconforming use is not enlarged, intensified, extended, or moved to another location.
(4) All other alterations of a structural nature shall be permitted only to the extent that the aggregate total cost of such other structural alterations, as estimated by the Department of Building Inspection, is less than ½ of the assessed valuation of the improvements prior to the first such alteration, except that structural alterations required to reinforce the structure to meet the standards for seismic loads and forces of the Building Code shall be permitted without regard to cost.
(c) Dwellings Nonconforming as to Density.
(1) A Dwelling or other housing structure exceeding the permitted density of Dwelling Units or other housing units set forth in the Zoning Control Table for the district in which the lot is located shall be classified as a nonconforming use under Section 180 of this Code, but only to the extent that such Dwelling or other housing structure exceeds the permitted density.
(2) In districts where a Dwelling Unit is a Principally Permitted use, this Section 181 shall not apply with respect to enlargements, alterations and reconstruction of the nonconforming portion of such Dwelling or other housing structure, consisting of those Dwelling Units or other housing units that exceed the permitted density, so long as such enlargements, alterations, or reconstruction do not otherwise extend beyond the building envelope as it existed on January 1, 2013.
(3) No enlargements, alterations, or reconstruction shall be permitted under subsection (c)(2) for any Dwelling Unit if any tenant has been evicted pursuant to Administrative Code Sections 37.9(a)(9) through 37.9(a)(14) where the tenant was served with the notice of eviction after December 10, 2013 if the notice was served within ten (10) years prior to filing an application to enlarge, alter or reconstruct such Dwelling or other housing unit. Additionally, no such enlargements, alterations, or reconstruction shall be permitted for any Dwelling Unit if any tenant has been evicted pursuant to Administrative Code Section 37.9(a)(8) where the tenant was served with a notice of eviction after December 10, 2013 if the notice was served within five (5) years prior to filing an application to enlarge, alter or reconstruct such Dwelling or other housing unit. This subsection (c)(3) shall not apply if the tenant was evicted under Section 37.9(a)(11) or 37.9(a)(14) and the applicant(s) either (A) have certified that the original tenant reoccupied the unit after the temporary eviction or (B) have submitted to the Planning Commission a declaration from the property owner or the tenant certifying that the property owner or the Rent Board notified the tenant of the tenant’s right to reoccupy the unit after the temporary eviction and that the tenant chose not to reoccupy it.
(4) Any Dwelling Unit or other housing unit coming within the density limit shall not be affected by this Section 181. Except as provided in Sections 181(h) and 182(e), no Dwelling or other housing structure exceeding the permitted density of Dwelling Units or other housing units shall be altered to increase the number of Dwelling Units or other housing units therein, or to increase or create any other nonconformity with respect to the Dwelling Unit or other housing unit density limitations identified in the Zoning Control Table for the district in which the lot is located.
(d) Structures Damaged or Destroyed by Calamity. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 181, a structure occupied by a nonconforming use that is damaged or destroyed by fire, or other calamity, or by Act of God, or by the public enemy, may be restored to its former condition and use; provided that such restoration is permitted by the Building Code, and is started within eighteen months and diligently prosecuted to completion. The age of such a structure for the purposes of Sections 184 and 185 shall nevertheless be computed from the date of the original construction of the structure. Except as provided in Subsection (e) below, no structure occupied by a nonconforming use that is voluntarily razed or required by law to be razed by the owner thereof may thereafter be restored except in full conformity with the use limitations of this Code.
For purposes of this Subsection (d), "started within eighteen months" shall mean that within eighteen months of the fire or other calamity or Act of God, the structure's owner shall have filed a building permit application to restore the structure to its former condition and use.
(e) Unreinforced Masonry Buildings. In order that major life safety hazards in structures may be eliminated as expeditiously as possible, a structure containing nonconforming uses and constructed of unreinforced masonry that is inconsistent with the requirements of the UMB Seismic Retrofit Ordinance, Ordinance No. 227-92, may be demolished and reconstructed with the same nonconforming use or a use as permitted by Planning Code Section 182; provided that:
(1) there is no increase in any nonconformity, or any new nonconformity, with respect to the use limitations of this Code;
(2) the current requirements of the Building Code, the Housing Code and other applicable portions of the Municipal Code are met; and
(3) such restoration or reconstruction is started within one year after razing or other demolition work on the structure and diligently prosecuted to completion.
(f) Nighttime Entertainment Uses in MUG and MUR Districts. A Nighttime Entertainment use within the MUG or MUR Districts may be enlarged, intensified, extended, or expanded, including the expansion to an adjacent lot or lots, provided that: (1) the enlargement, intensification, extension or expansion is approved as a Conditional Use pursuant to Section 303 of this Code; (2) the use as a whole meets the signage requirements, floor area ratio limit, height and bulk limit, and all other requirements of this Code that would apply if the use were a permitted one; and (3) the provisions of the Entertainment Commission’s Good Neighbor Policy are satisfied.
(g) Automotive Sales and Service Signs in the Automotive Special Use District. Automotive sales and service signs within the Automotive Special Use District which have all required permits but which do not comply with the controls for new signs established in Section 607.3 of this Code shall be permitted to remain as nonconforming uses and shall be permitted to modify the signage text to describe new automobile ownerships and dealerships that may occur from time to time.
(h) Dwellings in PDR and M-2 Districts. In PDR and M-2 Districts, no building containing a residential use shall be altered to increase the number of dwelling units or other housing units therein. However, individual dwelling units or other housing units may be expanded, subject to height, bulk, and all other provisions of this Code which would otherwise be applicable to dwelling units or other housing units in the Urban Mixed Use District.
(i) Nonconforming Non-Residential Uses in the Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use, PDR-1-D, and PDR-1-G Districts. In the Eastern Neighborhoods Mixed Use, PDR-1-D, and PDR-1-G Districts, a non-residential nonconforming use may expand in gross floor area by no more than 25 percent with conditional use authorization pursuant to Section 303 of this Code. Such conditional use authorization may not be granted for any subsequent or additional expansion beyond the initial 25 percent.
(j) In the PDR-1-D, PDR-1-G, and PDR-2 Districts, a storage building for household goods shall be allowed to rebuild to its current square footage, as long as it provides at least one FAR of PDR uses, as defined in Section 401. A Notice of Special Restriction (NSR) shall be recorded on the title of any property receiving approval under this Section. This NSR shall provide the Planning Department with the ability to enforce the provisions of this Section.
(Added by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; amended by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 412-88, App. 9/10/88; Ord. 79-89, App. 3/24/89; Ord. 75-90, App. 3/5/90; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 227-92, App. 7/14/92; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 224-11
, File No. 110590, App. 11/15/2011, Eff. 12/15/2011; Ord. 286-13
, File No. 130783, App. 12/26/2013, Eff. 1/25/2014; Ord. 71-14
, File No. 131205, App. 5/23/2014, Eff. 6/22/2014; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 136-21, File No. 210674, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 70-23, File No. 220340, App. 5/3/2023, Eff. 6/3/2023)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Division (d) amended; Ord. 224-11
, Eff. 12/15/2011. Division headers added throughout section; divisions (a), (b), and (b)(4) amended; division (c) divided into subdivisions (1) through (4) and amended; divisions (e) and (h) amended; Ord. 286-13
, Eff. 1/25/2014. Division (j) added; Ord. 71-14
, Eff. 6/22/2014. Divisions (c)(1) and (c)(4) amended; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Division (f) amended; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019. Division (f) amended; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Divisions (c)(2) and (c)(3) amended; Ord. 136-21, Eff. 9/4/2021. Division (f) amended; Ord. 70-23, Eff. 6/3/2023.
(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
The following provisions shall apply to nonconforming uses with respect to changes of use:
(a) A nonconforming use shall not be changed or modified so as to increase the degree of nonconformity under the use limitations of this Code, with respect to the type of use or its intensity except as provided in Section 181 for Nighttime Entertainment uses within the MUG, or MUR Districts. The degree of nonconformity shall be deemed to be increased if the new or modified use is less widely permitted by the use districts of the City than the nonconforming use existing immediately prior thereto. For purposes of this Section, intensification of a Formula Retail use as defined in Section 178(c) is determined to be a change or modification that increases the degree of nonconformity of the use.
(b) Except as limited in this subsection, a nonconforming use may be reduced in size, extent or intensity, or changed to a use that is more widely permitted by the use districts of the City than the existing use, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Code. Except as otherwise provided herein, the new use shall still be classified as a nonconforming use.
(1) Nonconforming Commercial and Industrial uses in a Residential or Residential Enclave District shall be subject to the requirements of Section 186.
(2) A nonconforming use in a Neighborhood Commercial District may be changed to another use as provided in Subsections (c) and (d) below or as provided in Section 186.1 of this Code.
(c) A nonconforming use may be changed to a use listed as a conditional use for the district in which the property is located, only upon approval of a Conditional Use application pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of this Code, and the new use may thereafter be continued as a permitted conditional use, subject to the limitation of Section 178(b) of this Code.
(d) A nonconforming use may be changed to a use listed as a principal use for the district in which the property is located, subject to the other applicable provisions of this Code, and the new use may thereafter be continued as a permitted principal use.
(e) A nonconforming use may be converted to a Dwelling Unit and to two or more Dwelling Units with Conditional Use authorization, in a district where such use is principally permitted, without regard to the requirements of this Code with respect to residential density or required off-street parking, and the Zoning Administrator may provide relief from certain other standards specified in Section 307(h) through the procedures of that Section, provided the nonconforming use is eliminated by such conversion, provided further that the structure is not enlarged, extended or moved to another location, and provided further that the requirements of the Building Code, the Housing Code and other applicable portions of the Municipal Code are met.
(f) Once a nonconforming use has been changed to a principal or Conditional Use permitted in the district in which the property is located, or brought closer in any other manner to conformity with the use limitations of this Code, the use of the property may not thereafter be returned to its former nonconforming status. Upon restoration of a previous nonconforming use as permitted above, any modification, enlargement, extension, or change of use, from circumstances that last lawfully existed prior to the change from office use, shall be subject to the provisions of this Article, and the restored nonconforming use shall be considered to have existed continuously since its original establishment, prior to the change to Office use, for purposes of this Article.
(g) If a nonconforming use has been wrongfully changed to another use in violation of any of the foregoing provisions, and the violation is not immediately corrected when required by the Zoning Administrator, the wrongful change shall be deemed to be a discontinuance or abandonment of the nonconforming use under Section 183 of this Code.
(h) If a nonconforming use is a Formula Retail use in a District that prohibits Formula Retail uses, the Formula Retail use is deemed abandoned if it is discontinued for a period of 18 months or more, or otherwise abandoned. The Formula Retail use shall not be restored.
(1) Change of one nonconforming Formula Retail use to another Formula Retail use that is determined to not be an enlargement or intensification of use, as defined in Subsection 178(c), is subject to the Commission's adopted Performance-Based Design Guidelines for Formula Retail, which may be applied and approved administratively by the Planning Department. Non-conformance with the Performance-Based Design Guidelines for Formula Retail as required by the Department may result in termination of the nonconforming Formula Retail use.
(2) Change of one nonconforming Formula Retail use to another Formula Retail use that is determined to be an enlargement or intensification of use, as defined in Subsection 178(c), is not permitted.
(Added by Ord. 443-78, App. 10/6/78; amended by Ord. 532-85, App. 12/4/85; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 445-87, 11/12/87; Ord. 412-88, App. 9/10/88; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 62-04, File No. 031501, App. 4/9/2004; Ord. 217-05, File No. 050865, App. 8/19/2005; Ord. 298-08, File No. 081153, App. 12/19/2008; Ord. 42-13
, File No. 130002, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 232-14
, File No. 120881, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 235-14
, File No. 140844, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2018, Eff. 1/12/2019)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Divisions (a) and (b)(1) amended; former division (f) deleted, former divisions (g) and (h) redesignated (f) and (g) and internal references adjusted accordingly; Ord. 42-13
, Eff. 4/27/2013. Division (b)(1) amended; former divisions (b)(2) and (4) deleted and former divisions (b)(3) and (5) redesignated as (b)(2) and (3); divisions (c), (d), and (e) amended; Ord. 232-14
, Eff. 12/26/2014. Division (a) amended; new division (h) added; Ord. 235-14
, Eff. 12/26/2014. Divisions (e) and (f) amended; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Divisions (a), (b), and (f) amended; division (b)(3) deleted; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019.
(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
(a) Discontinuance and Abandonment of a Nonconforming Use, Generally. Whenever a nonconforming use has been changed to a conforming use, or discontinued for a continuous period of three years, or whenever there is otherwise evident a clear intent on the part of the owner to abandon a nonconforming use, such use shall not after being so changed, discontinued, or abandoned be reestablished, and the use of the property thereafter shall be in conformity with the use limitations of this Code for the district in which the property is located. Where no enclosed building is involved, discontinuance of a nonconforming use for a period of six months shall constitute abandonment.
(b) Discontinuance or Abandonment of a Nonconforming Formula Retail Use. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, when a nonconforming Formula Retail use has been changed to a conforming use or discontinued for a period of 18 months, or whenever there is otherwise evident a clear intent on the part of the owner to abandon a nonconforming Formula Retail use, such use shall not be reestablished after being so changed, discontinued or abandoned, and the use of the property thereafter shall be in conformity with the use limitations of this Code for the district in which the property is located.
(c) Discontinuance or Abandonment of Self-Storage Use Due to City and County Occupancy. Adoption of the Western South of Market Area Plan resulted in certain land uses, including Self-Storage, that were previously permitted no longer being permitted. The purpose of this subsection 183(c) is to establish a process by which the owner of property with a Self-Storage use that was established and is operating without the benefit of a required change of use permit may seek and obtain the required permit, lease the property to the City and County of San Francisco for a public safety-related purpose, and re-establish a legal nonconforming Self-Storage use after the City vacates the property.
(1) Legitimization of Existing Self-Storage Use; Notice and Discretionary Review of the Building Permit. In the case of a Self-Storage use that was established and has been operating without the benefit of a required change of use permit, the property owner may seek and be granted such permit notwithstanding the limitation of No. 846.48 in Table 846 of this Code, the permit application shall not be subject to the notification requirements of Section 312 or other notification requirements of this Code, and no requests for discretionary review of the building permit shall be accepted by the Planning Department or heard by the Planning Commission provided that:
(A) the permit application is filed for a property located within (i) the Service/Arts/Light Industrial Zoning District and (ii) 1,000 feet of the South Of Market Special Hall Of Justice Legal Services District; and
(B) the Zoning Administrator has determined that the existing Self-Storage use (i) has been regularly operating or functioning prior to the effective date of this subsection 183(c) and (ii) is not accessory to any other use; and
(C) prior to issuance of the building permit to legitimize the existing Self-Storage use, the property owner pays the Transit Impact Development Fee required by Planning Code Section 411 et seq. in the amount that was in effect and would have been due at the time of the original establishment of the existing Self-Storage use; and
(D) the building permit to legitimize the existing Self-Storage use is issued prior to the earlier of (i) commencement of occupancy by the City for a public-safety related purpose or (ii) issuance of a building permit to establish the public safety-related use.
If the property owner has not applied for a building permit to legitimize an existing Self-Storage use and the permit is not issued as set forth in this subsection (c)(1), the Self-Storage use shall be deemed irrevocably abandoned and may not be re-established.
(2) Change of Use from a Self-Storage Use to Public Use; Notice and Discretionary Review of the Building Permit. Any building permit that is required for the City’s occupancy of the property for a public-safety related purpose classified as a Public Use under Section 890.80 of this Code shall not be subject to the notification requirements of Section 312 or other notification requirements of this Code, and no requests for discretionary review of the building permit shall be accepted by the Planning Department or heard by the Planning Commission.
(3) Re-establishment of Self-Storage Use; Notice and Discretionary Review of the Building Permit. An existing nonconforming Self-Storage use or a Self-Storage use that is legitimized pursuant to subsection (c)(1), that in either case is changed to a public safety-related use due solely to occupancy by the City and County of San Francisco acting through any of its departments, shall not be considered discontinued or abandoned for purposes of subsection (a) above or any other provision of this Code and the property owner may resume use of the premises as a Self-Storage use after the City vacates the property, provided that:
(A) the City’s occupancy was for a public safety-related purpose classified as a Public Use under Section 890.80 of the Planning Code;
(B) if the pre-existing Self-Storage use had been established and was operating without the required change of use permit, the property owner applied for and was granted a building permit to legitimize the pre-existing Self-Storage Use pursuant to subsection (c)(1); and
(C) the property owner resumes the pre-existing Self-Storage use within two years from the later of (i) the date the City vacated the property or (ii) the date the City’s lease for the property was terminated.
The property owner shall apply for and obtain any permits required to resume the pre-existing Self-Storage use within one year from the date the City vacates the property. If the application for a permit is limited to re-establishment of the pre-existing Self-Storage use, the application shall not be subject to the notification requirements of Section 312 or other notification requirements of this Code, and no requests for discretionary review of the building permit shall be accepted by the Planning Department or heard by the Planning Commission.
(4) Extensions of Time.
(A) If a permit to resume the pre-existing Self-Storage use is issued but delayed due to an action before the Board of Appeals or other City agency, or a case in any court of competent jurisdiction, the time to resume such pre-existing use shall be extended by the amount of time final action on the permit was delayed.
(B) The Zoning Administrator may grant one or more extensions of the time within which the pre-existing Self-Storage use must be resumed if the owner or owners of the property have made a good-faith effort to comply but are unable to do so for reasons that are not within their control.
(5) Notice to Property Owner. The Planning Department shall provide written notice to the owner of record of any property that is within the scope of Section 183(c) of any proposed ordinance to substantively amend this Section 183(c) prior to a hearing thereon by the Planning Commission, provided that the property owner has sent a written request for said notice to the Zoning Administrator.
(d) Discontinuance or Abandonment of a Public Parking Lot in the Mission Street NCT District. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, when less than 25% of the parking spaces within a legally established, nonconforming Public Parking Lot located in the Mission Street NCT Zoning District is converted to an Outdoor Activity Area for a separate use, such conversion does not constitute a discontinuance or abandonment of that portion of the Public Parking Lot use. However, if the remaining Public Parking Lot use is discontinued or abandoned, then the portion converted to Outdoor Activity Area shall also be deemed to be discontinued or abandoned.
(Amended by Ord. 186-84, App. 5/4/84; Ord. 292-98, App. 10/2/98; Ord. 235-14
, File No. 140844, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 122-18, App. 5/23/2018, Eff. 6/23/2018; 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. 108-23, File No. 230164, App. 6/23/2023, Eff. 7/24/2023)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Former section amended and designated as division (a); new division (b) added; Ord. 235-14
, Eff. 12/26/2014. Division (a) amended; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Division (a) amended; divisions (c) – (c)(5) added; Ord. 122-18, Eff. 6/23/2018. Division (a) amended; Ord. 233-21, Eff. 1/22/2022. Division (a) amended; Ord. 37-22, Eff. 4/14/2022. Division (d) added; Ord. 108-23, Eff. 7/24/2023.
Any permitted, non-conforming, or conditionally permitted use may be changed to a temporary use without abandoning its original status or authorization as a permitted, non-conforming or conditionally permitted use under Planning Code Article 1.7, provided that such temporary use is permitted and has been authorized as required by any applicable law.
(Added by Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020)
Except as provided in subsection (c) below, the period of time during which the following nonconforming uses may continue or remain shall be limited to five years from the effective date of this Code (May 2, 1960), or of the amendment thereto which caused the use to be nonconforming. Every such nonconforming use shall be completely eliminated within 90 days after the expiration of such period.
(a) A Parking Lot or any other nonconforming commercial or industrial use of land where no enclosed building is involved in such use, except for permanent off-street Parking Lots in the C-3-O, C-3-R, and C-3-G Districts existing on the effective date of Ordinance No. 414-85, provided that such lots are screened in the manner required by Section 156(e); such permanent uses shall be eliminated no later than five years and 90 days from the effective date of an amendment to this Code that makes such permanent uses nonconforming.
(b) Any use of a type first permitted as a Principal or Conditional Use in an NC, RC, C, or M District or in a Residential-Commercial Combined District, when occupying a building in an R District other than a Residential-Commercial Combined District that has an assessed valuation not in excess of $500 on the effective date of this Code or such later date as the use becomes nonconforming, with the following exceptions:
(1) Any lawful use in this category in a building having an assessed valuation of $250 or more on the effective date of this Code, or such later date as the use becomes nonconforming, shall have a period of permitted continuance of 10 years from the date at which the property was placed in a residential zoning classification, if such a period of continuance produces an expiration date that is later than the expiration date stated above; or
(2) Any lawful use in this category that is of a type first permitted in an NC-1 District; or of a type first permitted in any other district and supplying commodities at retail, or offering personal services, primarily to residents of the immediate vicinity; shall have a period of permitted continuance of 10 years from the effective date of this Code, or of the amendment thereto that caused the use to be nonconforming. After five years of such period have elapsed, any use as described in this Paragraph (b)(2) shall, upon application, be qualified for consideration by the Planning Commission as a conditional use as regulated in Section 303 of this Code.
(c) In the Mission Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District, a Parking Lot that is on the site of a designated landmark under Article 10 of this Code as of the effective date of this Ordinance No. 135-20 may continue its Use as a Parking Lot for five additional years from the original expiration date provided by this Section 184.
AMENDMENT HISTORY
(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
The purpose of this Section is to provide for the gradual elimination or conversion, after a reasonable allowance of time for the amortization of investments therein, of certain classes of nonconforming uses in buildings, in order to encourage and promote the orderly and beneficial development of the land and buildings with conforming uses. The Section is intended to apply to obsolescent buildings whose use is widely at variance with the regulations of this Code, and is safeguarded against unnecessary hardship in application by provision for a minimum period of continuance of 20 years, by procedures for extension and exceptions, and by the requirement of repeated notice as the buildings approach an age indicative of obsolescence. It is further declared that the requirement of eventual removal, or conversion to conforming use of such buildings, subject to the exceptions set forth, is in the public interest and is intended to promote the general welfare.
(a) This Section shall apply only to nonconforming uses occupying buildings in R Districts, other than Residential-Commercial Combined Districts, when such uses would first be permitted as a principal or conditional use in an NC, C or M District or in a Residential-Commercial Combined District. It shall not apply to exempt limited commercial and industrial uses meeting the requirements of Section 186, or to any nonconforming use of land or a building whose continuance is more strictly limited by the provisions of Section 184.
(b) Every such building to which this Section applies may be continued in such use for at least 20 years from the effective date of this Code (May 2, 1960), or of the amendment thereto which causes it to be nonconforming, and may be continued for a longer period if it has not yet reached the age hereinafter specified, computed from the date the building was erected. For buildings of Type 1 or Type 2, as defined in the Building Code of the City, the specified age shall be 50 years; for Type 3 buildings it shall be 40 years; and for Type 4 and Type 5 buildings it shall be 30 years.
(c) Upon the expiration of the period specified for each such building, it shall be completely removed or altered and converted to a conforming use, except as hereinafter provided.
(d) Where special circumstances apply to any such building and use, which do not apply generally to others affected hereby, extension of time may be granted under the variance procedure as regulated in Section 305, but no such extension shall be for a period in excess of one year. Successive extensions, subject to the same limitations, may be granted upon new application.
(e) Any nonconforming use affected by this Section shall be qualified for consideration by the Planning Commission as a conditional use as regulated in Section 303, upon application filed at any time during the period of permitted continuance specified above. In the event that a conditional use is authorized by the Planning Commission for any such use, the provisions of Sections 180 through 183 shall continue to apply to such use except as specifically provided in the action of the Commission, and no enlargement, intensification or extension of the nonconforming use shall be permitted by the Commission.
(Amended by Ord. 470-79, App. 9/28/79; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 140-11, File No. 110482, App. 7/5/2011, Eff. 8/4/2011)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Division (e) amended; former division (f) deleted; Ord. 140-11, Eff. 8/4/2011.
(See Interpretations related to this Section.)
The purpose of this Section 186 is to provide for the further continuance in RH, RM, RTO, and RED Districts of nonconforming uses of a limited commercial and industrial character, as herein described, which are beneficial to, or can be accommodated within, the residential areas in which they are located. It is hereby found and declared that, despite the general incompatibility of nonconforming uses with the purposes of this Code, and with other nearby uses, these limited commercial uses may be tolerated in residential areas, and tend to provide convenience goods and services on a retail basis to meet the frequent and recurring needs of neighborhood residents within a short distance of their homes or, within the South of Market RED Districts, tend to provide jobs and continuation of small scale service and light industrial activities. These uses tend to be small in scale, to serve primarily a walk-in trade, and cause a minimum of interference with nearby streets and properties. Accordingly, this Section recognizes the public advantages of these uses and establishes conditions for their continued operation.
(a) Exemption from Termination Provisions. The following nonconforming uses in R Districts shall be exempt from the termination provisions of Section 185, provided such uses comply with all the conditions specified in subsection (b) below:
(1) Any nonconforming use at any Story in an RTO, RH, or RM District which is located more than one-quarter of one mile from any of the Restricted Use Subdistricts specified in subsection (a)(3) below, and which complies with the use limitations specified for the First Story and below of an NC-1 District, as set forth in Section 710 of this Code.
(2) Any nonconforming use in an RTO, RH, or RM District which is located within one-quarter of one mile from any of the Restricted Use Subdistricts specified in subsection (a)(3) below and which complies with the most restrictive use limitations specified for the First Story and below of:
(A) an NC-1 District, as set forth in Section 710 of this Code; or
(B) Any of the specified Restricted Use Subdistricts specified in subsection (a)(3) below.
(3) Subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) above apply to the following Restricted Use Subdistricts: the Geary Boulevard Formula Retail Pet Supply Store and Formula Retail Eating and Drinking Subdistrict set forth in Section 781.4 of this Code; the North Beach Financial Service, Limited Financial Service, and Business or Professional Service Subdistrict set forth in Section 781.6 of this Code; the North Beach Special Use District set forth in Section 780.3 of this Code; and the Third Street Formula Retail Restricted Use District set forth in Section 786 of this Code.
(b) Conditions on Limited Nonconforming Uses. The limited nonconforming uses described above shall meet the following conditions:
(1) The building shall be maintained in a sound and attractive condition, consistent with the general appearance of the neighborhood;
(2) Any signs on the property shall be made to comply with the requirements of Section 606(c) of this Code for Limited Commercial uses;
(3) The hours during which the use is open to the public shall be limited to the period between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., however, in RED, RTO, and RTO-M Districts only, the Planning Commission may extend the hours of operation to 12:00 a.m. through Conditional Use authorization, as outlined in Section 303 of this Code;
(4) Public sidewalk space may be occupied in connection with the use provided that it is occupied only with tables and chairs as permitted by this Municipal Code;
(5) Truck loading shall be limited in such a way as to avoid undue interference with sidewalks, or with crosswalks, bus stops, hydrants, and other public features;
(6) Noise, odors, and other nuisance factors shall be adequately controlled;
(7) An Outdoor Activity Area is principally permitted if it is located at the front of the building. An Outdoor Activity Area that is not at the front of the building is principally permitted in RTO and RTO-M Districts only if it complies with the operating restrictions in Section 202.2(a)(7) and shall not be permitted in RH or RM Districts; and
(8) All other applicable provisions of this Code shall be complied with.
(e) Awnings. Awnings are permitted, subject to the standards in Section 136.1(a) of this Code. Canopies and marquees are not permitted.
(f) Termination. Any use affected by this Section 186 that does not comply with all of the conditions herein specified shall be subject to termination in accordance with Section 185 at the expiration of the period specified in that Section, but shall be qualified for consideration as a conditional use under Section 185(e). Any such use that complies with such conditions at the expiration of such period but fails to comply therewith at any later date shall be subject to termination when it ceases to comply with any of such conditions.
(g) Reactivation. Limited commercial uses in RH, RM, RTO, and RED Districts that have been discontinued or abandoned, as defined in Section 183, may be reactivated if the Zoning Administrator finds that:
(1) the subject space is located on or below the ground floor and was in commercial or industrial use prior to January 1, 1960; and
(2) the proposed commercial use meets all the requirements of this Section 186 and other applicable sections of this Code.
Spaces with a Residential Use shall be subject to the requirements of Section 317.
(Amended by Ord. 470-79, App. 9/28/79; Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87; Ord. 445-87, App. 11/12/87; Ord. 115-90, App. 4/6/90; Ord. 250-06, File No. 061069, App. 10/11/2006; Ord. 63-11, File No. 101053, App. 4/7/2011, Eff. 5/7/2011; Ord. 174-12
, File No. 120715, App. 8/2/2012, Eff. 9/1/2012; Ord. 56-13
, File No. 130062, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 235-14
, File No. 140844, App. 11/26/2014, Eff. 12/26/2014; Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 217-18, File No. 180556, App. 9/14/2018, Eff. 10/15/2018; Ord. 205-19, File No. 181211, App. 9/11/2019, Eff. 10/12/2019; Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020; Ord. 70-23, File No. 220340, App. 5/3/2023, Eff. 6/3/2023; Ord. 249-23, File No. 230701, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; Ord. 85-24, File No. 231221, App. 4/26/2024, Eff. 5/27/2024)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Section header and undesignated introductory paragraph amended; divisions (c) through (e) added; former divisions (c) and (d) redesignated as (f) and [former] (g); Ord. 63-11, Eff. 5/7/2011. Divisions (a), (b), (c), (e), and (f) amended; new division (g) added; former division (g) redesignated as (h) and amended; Ord. 174-12
, Eff. 9/1/2012. Division (a)(1) amended; Ord. 56-13
, Eff. 4/27/2013. Reference amended in division (c); Ord. 235-14
, Eff. 12/26/2014. Divisions (a)-(a)(2)(C) and (b)(2) amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018. Division (b)(3) amended; Ord. 217-18, Eff. 10/15/2018. Undesignated introductory paragraph and divisions (a)(1)-(a)(2)(B), (b)(4)- (b)(6), (f), and (g)(2) amended; former division (a)(2)(C) deleted; new divisions (a)(2)(C) and (a)(3) added; former division (a)(3) redesignated as (a)(4) and amended; Ord. 205-19, Eff. 10/12/2019 Divisions (a)(1) and (a)(2) amended; division (a)(2)(B) deleted; division (a)(2)(C) redesignated as (a)(2)(B); Proposition H, 11/3/2020, Eff. 12/18/2020. Divisions (a)(4), (f), and (g) amended; undesignated paragraph added after (g)(2); Ord. 70-23, Eff. 6/3/2023. Divisions (a)(2)(A) and (a)(3) amended; Ord. 249-23, Eff. 1/14/2024. Divisions (a)(3), (b)(3), (b)(6), and (c) amended; new division (b)(7) added; former division (b)(7) redesignated as (b)(8); Ord. 85-24, Eff. 5/27/2024.
CODIFICATION NOTE
1. So in Ord. 70-23.
Loading...