Zoning Page

San Francisco Ordinance to Remove Conditional Use Permit for Formula Retail on Van Ness Avenue (RC-4 District)

  • When: 2025/05/01
  • Address: Van Ness Avenue between Broadway and Redwood Street, San Francisco, CA
  • City: San Francisco
  • State: CA
  • Category: Zoning Code Modification
  • Subcategory: Process updates
  • Asset Class: Commercial
  • Property Type: Retail
  • Planning Department: True

An ordinance was approved to amend the San Francisco Planning Code, specifically removing the conditional use authorization requirement for formula retail uses in the Residential-Commercial (RC) zoning districts along Van Ness Avenue, between Broadway and Redwood Street. Previously, formula retail businesses in these districts required a conditional use permit. The amendment now makes formula retail principally permitted in the RC-4 district within this specified corridor. This legislative change, supported by the Small Business Commission with a 7-0 vote, aims to address persistent commercial and retail vacancies, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and stimulate the local economy. The ordinance aligns with the historical commercial identity of Van Ness Avenue. The Board of Supervisors finally passed the ordinance on April 29, 2025, and the Mayor approved it on May 1, 2025.

Source

City Representative - John Carroll