San Francisco Planning Department

About the Planning Department

Action Plan 2008-2010
FAQs

Employment Opportunities

The San Francisco Planning Department promotes the orderly, harmonious use of land and improved quality of life for our diverse community and future generations.

The City Charter states it is the function of the Planning Commission to adopt and maintain a comprehensive, long-term general plan for future improvement and development of the City. The Department's mission states: The San Francisco Planning Department is dedicated to public service, the orderly and harmonious use of land and improved quality of life for our diverse community and future generations.

The Department's principal activities are:

• Development and maintenance of the General Plan.
  
  
• The development of area plans based on the General Plan, to provide more specific guidance for the development of the various City areas.
  
  
• Reviewing of private development projects and proposed capital improvements projects and other physical projects involving City property for consistency and conformity with the General Plan.
  
  
• The formulation of planning policies and standards that will ensure a quality living and working environment for San Francisco neighborhoods and districts.
  
  
• Serving as an information center to assist citizens in understanding and applying to their property or to project proposals the policies of the General Plan and provisions of the Planning Code that might affect them.
  
  
• Anticipating and acting on the need for new plans, policies, and Planning Code changes.
  
  
• Applying the approved plans, policies, Planning Code and other regulations to proposed land use.
  
  
• Applying the Planning Code and applicable sections of the Administrative Code to applications for permits.

The Department is administered in a manner designed to fulfill the objectives of the General Plan, provide applicants with efficient permit processing services and provide citizens appropriate opportunities to participate in land use decisions.

What does the Planning Department do?

The Planning Department implements its stated mission of the orderly use of land through adoption of General Plan policies and application of these policies and the requirements of the Planning Code and Zoning Regulations to permit approvals.

Permits

Permits are required in San Francisco to operate businesses and to do construction activity. Depending upon what activities you are proposing, you may need to obtain permits from the Building Department, the Fire Department, the Health Department or the State Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The Planning Department reviews most applications for these permits in order to ensure that what you are proposing complies with the zoning regulations, called, "The Planning Code".

Zoning Regulations -- What It Means:

• Zoning regulations govern what uses can be established in various parts of the city called "zones". If you want to open or expand a shop or conduct business in San Francisco, you should first find out from the Planning Department where such business can be conducted or if expansion is allowed.
  
  
• Zoning regulations govern sizes and shapes of buildings. Different parts of the city have different regulations that limit how big a building can be or how much can be added to an existing building. If you plan to build a building or add to an existing one, you should first find out from the Planning Department what the limitations are for your specific property.
  
  
• Zoning regulations limit the number of dwelling units or apartments that can exists on a property. If you are planning to add living area or cooking facilities to your house, you should first find out from the Planning Department if this is allowed in your zone and what other requirements accompany this activity.
  
  
• Zoning regulations govern a number of activities that you may not have thought about such as requiring the accommodation of car parking off of the street or planting street trees under certain circumstances. Please consult with the Planning Department if you are contemplating any changes to your property or business.
  
  
• Planners are available at The Planning Department's information desk at 1660 Mission Street (between South Van Ness and the skyway) from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. to assist you in understanding the Planning Code. You may call in person or phone the information desk at 558-6377 during these hours.