Legislation Impacting Nightlife Businesses
This page collects proposed and adopted San Francisco ordinances that could potentially impact nightlife and entertainment businesses.
For legislation adopted prior to 2016, please view our archive of adopted legislation impacting nightlife businesses.
Pending Legislation
Ordinance No. 170443: Police Code – Outdoor Amplified Sound Permits (Sup. Sheehy)
Amending the Police Code to recodify and revamp permit procedures for outdoor amplified sound by providing for distinct permits for Fixed Place Outdoor Amplified Sound, One Time Outdoor Amplified Sound, and Sound Trucks, and establishing fees for those permits, while also providing amplified sound requirements for Place of Entertainment and Limited Live Performance permits; to impose a fee for Sound Monitoring; to increase the fee for One Time Event permits; to declare operation of a business without these various permits (when required) to be a public nuisance; and to strengthen penalties for permit-related violations and noise violations; and making environmental findings.
Amending the Planning Code to require in the Noriega, Irving, Taraval, and Judah Neighborhood Commercial Districts a Conditional Use authorization for Bars, Liquor Stores, and Medical Cannabis Dispensaries on the first story and for Personal Services on the second story; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; and making findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1, and findings of public necessity, convenience, and welfare under Planning Code, Section 302.
Legislation Adopted in 2017
Amending the Planning Code to allow amusement arcades in the South of Market Service/Light Industrial District; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; making findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1; and adopting findings of public convenience, necessity, and welfare under Planning Code, Section 302.
Amending the Administrative and Planning Codes to authorize the Entertainment Commission to hold a hearing on noise issues related to proposed projects for construction of new hotels and motels, or conversions of existing structures to hotel or motel uses, to be located within 300 feet of a Place of Entertainment, and to provide recommendations to the Planning Department and/or Department of Building Inspection regarding such projects, and require the Planning Department and Planning Commission to consider noise issues when reviewing proposed hotel and motel projects; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; and making findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1.
Legislation Adopted in 2016
Urging the establishment of the LGBTQ Nightlife and Culture Working Group, and urging the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Entertainment Commission to convene the working group with a goal of protecting, preserving, and expanding LGBTQ nightlife, including drafting and enact a plan to create the Citywide LGBTQ Cultural Heritage Strategy.
Amending the Police Code to allow the Director of the Entertainment Commission to extend from 10:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. the hours during which Live Performances may be presented at Limited Live Performance Locales in the Union Street Neighborhood Commercial District; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Amending the Police Code to authorize the Director of the Entertainment Commission to waive the filing fee for Loudspeaker Permits based on certain criteria and authorize the Director of the Entertainment Commission to extend the nine-month deadline for conditional grants of Place of Entertainment and Limited Live Performance Permits.
Amending the Administrative Code to require event organizers seeking additional Police Department personnel (“10B officers”) and equipment for law enforcement purposes to include a request for approval of alcohol license application, if applicable, and a security plan with the request for those services; require the Department to respond to the request for services, and provide a staffing plan if the response is favorable, at least 90 days before the event if the request was received at least 125 days before the event; require the Chief of Police to reconsider denials and staffing plans if so requested; and require the Department after the event to provide to the event organizer and the Entertainment Commission a written report reviewing the use of 10B officers at the event and the costs of the event.