What you need to know about Mayor Lurie's PermitSF Initiative

Mayor Lurie holds a press conference in Chinatown to share the 100 day progress of his PermitSF Initiative

Mayor Lurie came into office swinging for permit reform.

His very first executive order, known as PermitSF outlined improvement goals and identified a list of improvements that would be required within 100 days of his order as well as goals within a 1-year timeframe.

We just passed the 100 day milestone and it's evident he was serious. His office introduced 7 pieces of legislation geared toward streamlining permitting and helping small businesses.

We've done the research on these proposed ordinances so you don't have to. Here's a rundown:

• Ordinance 250537 clears the path for more Entertainment Permits and Amplified Sound Permits. In a city that likes to throw a party, this may help activate the street. The ordinance eliminates extraneous permit reviews for both permit types, and extends timeframes for one-time outdoor permits.  It's a bit of a double-edged sword, though, because it also includes a slight fee increase and written notice to residences within 100' of Entertainment Permit locations.

  
  

• Ordinance 250538 allows most Conditional Use permits to be processed faster, which will hopefully help new businesses open more quickly. The ordinance including expedited reviews for Formula Retail uses with less than 20 establishments. It also allows expedited reviews in the Calle 24 SUD and the North Beach NCD, where it wasn't previously eligible. 

  
  

• Ordinance 250539 helps eliminate ridiculous violations small businesses are frequently faced with, including violations for unwarranted business signs and gates. This ordinance expands on the Awning Amnesty program by incorporating amnesty for those troublesome existing business signs and gates. Businesses that opt to legalize those features will qualify for streamlined permit reviews.

  
  

• Ordinance 250540 is focused on a variety of improvements. It eliminates the need for public hearings for temporary use permits which should help activate vacant spaces with retail, arts, and community organizations. It also allows pop-up retail uses to stay in place for up to 3 years (from 60 days), and it allows temporary outdoor uses to include Retail Sales and Services, so outdoor festivals have more flexibility to bring in a wider range of vendors.

  
  

• Ordinance 250541 takes a swing at unnecessary DPW permits by eliminating the need for permits for cafe tables/chairs, sidewalk merchandise displays, and minor street encroachments for a variety of building-mounted elements including out-swinging doors/gates, ADA buttons, and utility piping. Ordinance 250608 also updates the DPW fee schedule to eliminate permit fees for these items.

  
  

• Ordinance 250542 is a big one. It expands the type of commercial uses that are allowed on the ground floor in C-3 districts, and also on floors 2 and above in RC Districts. For the first time in a very long time, office, business services, trade offices, and design professionals will be allowed to occupy storefronts and upper floors in large sections of the city. 

  
  

  This ordinance also allows privacy glazing on some storefronts and eliminates the need for interior signs, signs painted on doors, and replacement of existing signs without permits. Lastly, it expands fee waivers for commercial/PDR conversions to residential use, which will hopefully make office to residential conversions more affordable in larger sections of the City.

We hope this helps update you on legislation that may help you find new commercial tenants for your vacant spaces, or explore potential development improvements.   

See all Legislation

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