For the purposes of this Article 15.1, unless otherwise provided in this Article, the following words and phrases shall mean:
“Amplified Sound Equipment.” Any machine or device, including but not limited to a loudspeaker, for the reproduction or amplification of the human voice, music, or other sound. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, Amplified Sound Equipment shall not include: (a) warning devices, such as but not limited to sirens, on authorized emergency vehicles, or warning devices, such as but not limited to horns, on other vehicles used only for traffic safety purposes; (b) radio or television sets that are (1) permanently installed in motor vehicle to receive programs broadcast from regularly licensed and established radio or television stations, or (2) installed in any dwelling house to receive programs broadcast from regularly licensed and established radio or television stations for the pleasure and entertainment of the occupants of such dwelling houses, or (3) established or maintained in stores indoors to demonstrate radio or television sets carried for sale or demonstration; (c) other mechanical sound or voice-reproducing devices used for the pleasure and entertainment of the occupants of private motor vehicle, or (d) pedestrian operated bullhorns, not exceeding 10 watts, E.I.A.; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 49 of this Code shall be applicable to all items encompassed in exceptions (a)-(d).
“Any Sidewalk Abutting the Premises.” The sidewalk not more than 50 feet from the premises of the Business that is located between the premises and a public street. For purposes of this definition, “premises” includes any immediately adjacent area that is owned, leased, or rented by the permit applicant or Permittee.
“Bona Fide Nonprofit Club or Organization.” Any fraternal, charitable, religious, benevolent, or other nonprofit organization for mutual social, mental, political, or civic welfare, to which admission is limited to members and guests if the revenue accruing therefrom is used exclusively for the benevolent purposes of said organization or agency, and if the organization or agency is exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue laws of the United States as a bona fide fraternal, charitable, religious, benevolent, or nonprofit organization.
“Business.” The enterprise for which a permit is sought or has been issued under this Article, whether operated on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
"Conduct that Constitutes a Nuisance." Any conduct that would constitute a violation of the following laws: assault and battery (Cal. Penal Code § 240, 242, 245); sexual battery (Cal. Penal Code § 243.4); discharging firearm (Cal. Penal Code § 246, 246.3); unlawful weapons (Cal. Penal Code § 12020; S.F. Police Code § 1291); disturbing the peace (Cal. Penal Code § 415, 416, 417); unlawful threats (Cal. Penal Code § 422); obstruction of pedestrian or vehicle right-of-way (Cal. Penal Code § 370); gambling (Cal. Penal Code §§ 330, 337a); rape (Cal. Penal Code § 261); statutory rape (Cal. Penal Code § 261.5); prostitution and related offenses (Cal. Penal Code §§ 266, 266a, 266e, 266h, 266i, 315, 316, 647(b)); sex crimes for which registration is required under the Sex Offender Registration Act (Cal. Penal Code § 290); felony sexual assault loitering for lewd or lascivious purposes (Cal. Penal Code § 647(d)); loitering on private property without lawful business (Cal. Penal Code § 647(h); identify theft (Cal. Penal Code § 530.5); a violent felony warranting enhancement of a prison term (Cal. Penal Code § 667.5); criminal gang activity (Cal. Penal Code § 186.22); drug offenses (Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 11351, 11352, 11359, 11360, 11378, 11379, 11378.5, 11379.5); violation of Alcohol Beverage Control laws (Cal. Business & Professions Code §§ 23300, 25602, 25631, 25657, 25658); public urination or defecation (San Francisco Police Code § 153); accumulation of filth (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17920.3(j)); or excessive noise emissions (San Francisco Police Code Section 49 or Article 29).
“Corrective Action.” Action which includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(a) Requesting assistance from the local law enforcement agency in a timely manner regarding the conduct.
(b) Requesting those individuals engaging in Conduct that Constitutes a Nuisance to cease the conduct, or ejecting those Persons from the premises.
(c) Revising the Security Plan, subject to approval by the Entertainment Commission or the Director as provided under this Article.
“Director.” The Executive Director of the Entertainment Commission or individual designated by the Director to act on his or her behalf.
“Entertainment.” Any of the following, except when conducted in a Private Residence:
(a) Any act, play, review, pantomime, scene, song, dance act, song and dance act, or poetry recitation, conducted in or upon any premises to which patrons or members are admitted.
(b) The playing or use of any instrument capable of producing or used to produce musical or percussion sounds, including but not limited to, reed, brass, percussion, or string-like instruments, or karaoke, or recorded music presented by a live disc jockey on the premises.
(c) A fashion or style show.
(d) The act of any female entertainer, while visible to any customer, who exposes the breast or employs any device or covering which is intended to simulate the breast, or wears any type of clothing so that the breast may be observed.
“Fixed Place Outdoor Amplified Sound Locale.” A Business that uses Amplified Sound Equipment, not attached to a Sound Truck, at any location out of doors in the City for more than a total of 12 days, whether consecutive or non-consecutive, per 12-month period, and at which Entertainment is not furnished or does not occur; for example, playing recorded music on Any Sidewalk Abutting the Premises, patio, courtyard, plaza, or other outdoor space that is under the control of the Business or for which the Business has obtained a permit to use from the City. This definition shall not include property that is a Private Residence.
“Fixed Place Outdoor Amplified Sound Permit.” A permit allowing a Fixed Place Amplified Sound Locale to use Amplified Sound Equipment outdoors.
“Just Add Music (JAM) Permit.” A temporary permit for authorization to provide outdoor entertainment or outdoor amplified sound on City sidewalks, City streets, and outdoor property that is not in the public right-of-way, issued pursuant to the 27th Supplement to Mayoral Proclamation Declaring the Existence of a Local Emergency Dated February 25, 2020, which Supplement is dated September 25, 2020.
“Limited Live Performance Permit.” A permit allowing a Limited Live Performance Locale to present Live Performances.
“Limited Live Performance Locale.” A locale with all the following features:
(a) The presentation of Live Performances is a secondary purpose of the locale rather than its primary purpose.
(b) The locale is indoors, or consists of an outdoor patio, plaza, courtyard, or similar space, with or without open means of public ingress and egress, with an area in which Live Performances are presented that is no greater than 200 square feet. For purposes of this provision, “outdoor patio, plaza, courtyard, or similar space” also shall include, regardless of the square footage of the Live Performance area, (1) any Plaza as identified in Administrative Code Chapter 94; (2) any Shared Space as identified in Administrative Code Chapter 94A, or (3) any Greater Downtown Activation Location as identified in Administrative Code Chapter 94D.
(c) Live Performances presented at the locale conclude by 11 p.m. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, Live Performances must conclude by 10 p.m. at any locale in any of the following areas: (1) the North Beach Neighborhood Commercial District as defined in Planning Code Section 722; (2) the north and south sides of Chestnut Street between the east side of Fillmore Street and the west side of Divisadero Street; and (3) the north side of Lombard Street, between Fillmore Street and Divisadero Street.
(d) The locale is not a Private Residence.
(e) Patrons or members are admitted to the locale, except this requirement shall not apply to a Plaza as identified in Administrative Code Chapter 94 or a Shared Space as identified in Administrative Code Chapter 94A.
“Live Performance.” Any act, play, review, pantomime, scene, song, dance act, song and dance act, poetry recitation, fashion or style show, recorded music presented by a live disc jockey on the premises, or the playing or use of any instrument capable of producing or used to produce musical or percussion sounds, including but not limited to, reed, brass, percussion, or string-like instruments.
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“Manager.” The individual authorized by the Permittee to exercise discretionary power to organize, direct, carry out or control the operations of the Business.
“One Time Event.” An indoor event, or outdoor event such as a concert, parade, fair, festival, athletic event, or block party, that is organized for a group of people, (a) at which Entertainment is furnished or occurs, and (b) which takes place at any location in the City that is not a Private Residence.
“One Time Event Permit.” A permit, as further described in Section 1060.29, allowing a Person to conduct a One Time Event on the premises specified in the permit for no longer than one 24-hour period.
“One Time Outdoor Amplified Sound.” An outdoor gathering, occurrence, or event at which (a) no Entertainment is furnished or occurs, and (b) Amplified Sound Equipment not attached to Sound Trucks is used to project sound outside of any building or at any location out of doors in the City that is not a Private Residence.
“One Time Outdoor Amplified Sound Permit.” A permit allowing One Time Outdoor Amplified Sound on the premises specified in the permit.
“Permittee.” The Person to whom a permit has been issued under this Article.
“Person.” Any person, individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit excepting the United States of America, the State of California, and any political subdivision of either.
“Place of Entertainment.” Every premises, including outdoor premises, to which patrons or members are admitted which serves food, beverages, or food and beverages, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages, for consumption on the premises and wherein Entertainment is furnished or occurs upon the premises.
“Private Residence.” A residence that is used solely or primarily to provide housing and not rented out to third parties for Entertainment uses.
“Professional Entertainer.” A person who is compensated for his or her performance. This definition does not restrict the definition of “Entertainment” in this Section 1060 and is relevant only to the extent the term “Professional Entertainer” is used in this Article.
“Sale of the Business” or “Sell the Business.” The sale or other transfer of the ownership interest in a Business that results in a Person (who did not already have such a percentage interest) owning 50% or more of the Business, regardless of the form of ownership.
“Security Guard.” A person who has a valid Proprietary Private Security Officer registration document issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs; or a person who is a Patrol Special Police Officer appointed by the Police Commission or an assistant to a Patrol Special Police Officer and is operating in accordance with rules of the Police Commission governing Patrol Special Police Officers and assistants to Patrol Special Police Officers; or, a person who is a Private Patrol Operator, as defined by California Business and Professions Code Sections 7582.1-7582.2, as may be amended from time to time.
“Security Plan.” A plan that adequately addresses the safety of persons and property by (a) providing a ratio of one Security Guard to a specific number of individuals as described in the paragraph immediately below (b) securing the sidewalk for a 100-foot radius in all directions around the premises of the Business to prevent injury to persons and/or damage to property, and (c) providing for the orderly dispersal of individuals and traffic from the premises of the Business and within 100 feet of any door that patrons use to enter or exit the premises. The phrase “100 feet” in (c) means 100 feet from the door in both directions on the same side of the street as the premises of the Business. The plan shall include sufficient staff with the requisite experience to implement the plan.
The Security Plan must provide at least one Security Guard for every 100 individuals anticipated to be present at any one time during Entertainment events on the premises of the Business, with the following two qualifications. There must always be at least one Security Guard for every 100 individuals actually present at any one time during Entertainment events on the premises of the Business. Further, in those areas of the City where a conditional use authorization is required for a late night use, on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9:00 p.m. until closing (including early morning hours Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) the Security Plan must provide at least one Security Guard for every 100 individuals authorized by the Occupancy Permit during Entertainment events on the premises of the Business.
The definition of Security Plan in this Section 1060 does not limit the discretion of the Entertainment Commission and Director as specified in this Article to impose more stringent requirements for a Security Plan as circumstances warrant.
If no Entertainment event is occurring on the premises, the Security Plan does not have to include Security Guards, but the Entertainment Commission retains discretion to impose Security Guard requirements as part of a Security Plan.
“Sound Truck.” Any motor vehicle or other means of conveyance, having mounted thereon, attached thereto, or carrying any Amplified Sound Equipment, except that an “Unenclosed Tour Bus” as defined in Section 2913 of this Code shall not be considered a Sound Truck for purposes of this Article.
“Sound Truck Permit.” A permit allowing a Sound Truck to use Amplified Sound Equipment.
“Tax Collector.” Tax Collector of the City and County of San Francisco.
(Amended by Ord. 42-83, App. 2/4/83; Ord. 325-91, App. 9/4/91; Ord. 165-93, App. 5/28/93; Ord. 262-04, File No. 041148, App. 11/4/2004; Ord. 239-09, File No. 080323, App. 11/20/2009; Ord. 172-11, File No. 110506, App. 9/12/2011, Eff. 10/12/2011; Ord. 100-13
, File No. 130182, App. 6/6/2013, Eff. 7/6/2013; Ord. 82-14
, File No. 140064, App. 6/13/2014, Eff. 7/13/2014; Ord. 224-16, File No. 160893, App. 11/22/2016, Eff. 12/22/2016; Ord. 163-17, File No. 170443, App. 7/27/2017, Eff. 8/26/2017; Ord. 205-19, File No. 181211, App. 9/11/2019, Eff. 10/12/2019; Ord. 111-21, File No. 210285, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 96-23, File No. 230309, App. 5/26/2023, Eff. 6/26/2023; Ord. 250-23, File No. 230861, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024, Retro. 1/1/2023; Ord. 237-24, File No. 240804, App. 10/11/2024, Eff. 11/11/2024)
CODIFICATION NOTE