Archive of Legislation Impacting Nightlife Businesses (2013-2015)
This page collects San Francisco ordinances adopted between 2013 and 2015 that could potentially impact nightlife and entertainment businesses.
For pending legislation, as well as legislation adopted in 2016, please visit our page of current legislation impacting nightlife businesses.
Legislation Adopted in 2015
Amending the Planning Code to allow accessory use entertainment (with limited live performance permits) in the Western South of Market Mixed Use General and Regional Commercial Districts; 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.
Amending the Building, Administrative, Planning, and Police Codes to require attenuation of exterior noise for new residential structures and acoustical analysis and field testing in some circumstances; to provide that a Place of Entertainment (POE) not become a public or private nuisance on the basis of noise for nearby residents of residential structures constructed or converted on or after January 1, 2005; to authorize the Entertainment Commission to hold a hearing on a proposed residential use near a POE, and require the project sponsor’s participation in the hearing; to authorize the Entertainment Commission to measure noise conditions at such project sites and provide comments and recommendations regarding noise to the Planning Department and Department of Building Inspection; to require lessors and sellers of residential property to disclose to lessees and purchasers potential noise and other inconveniences associated with nearby POEs; to require that such disclosure requirements be recorded against all newly approved residential projects in a Notice of Special Restrictions; to require the Planning Department and Commission to consider noise issues when reviewing proposed residential projects; and to specify factors concerning noise for the Entertainment Commission to review when considering granting a POE permit; making environmental findings, and findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1, and findings of local conditions under California Health and Safety Code, Section 17958.7; and directing the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to forward the Ordinance to the State Building Standards Commission upon final passage.
Amending the Administrative Code to direct the Small Business Commission to establish a Legacy Business Registry and authorize an administrative fee for the Registry not to exceed $50.
Legislation Adopted in 2014
Amending the Planning Code to amend the Third Street Alcohol Restricted Use District to allow Alcoholic Beverage Control Type 23, “Small Beer Manufacturer” Licenses; and making environmental findings, and findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1.
Ordinance No. 141038: Administrative Code – Street Light Policy (Sup. Wiener/Cohen/Breed)
Amending the Administrative Code to provide a Street Light Policy; and to make relevant findings.
Amending the Police Code to reduce restrictions on the location of, and lessen permitting requirements for, mechanical amusement devices and arcades, and remove obsolete Code provisions; amending the Business and Tax Regulations Code to clarify the appeal period for appealing mechanical amusement device permits and other Entertainment Commission permits to the Board of Appeals; and making environmental findings.
Ordinance No. 140064: Police Code – Plaza Program Entertainment Permits (Mayor/Sup. Cohen)
Amending the Police Code to include “Plazas” as identified in Administrative Code, Chapter 94, as a type of limited live performance locale, and establish various requirements applicable to such Plazas; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Ordinance No. 131207: Environment Code – Bottled Water (Sup. Chiu/Mar/Kim/Cohen)
Amending the Environment Code to restrict the sale or distribution on City property of drinking water in plastic bottles of 21 ounces or less, set City policy to increase the availability of drinking water in public areas, and bar the use of City funds to purchase bottled water; and making environmental findings.
Amending the Planning Code, to amend the Third Street Alcohol Restricted Use District, to allow Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Type 2, “Winegrower” licenses; and making environmental findings, and findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1.
Revising the Health Care Security Ordinance to phase in over a three-year period requirement that all health care expenditures to be made irrevocably; to permit waiver of unused portions of certain revocable expenditures; to clarify that the existing City public benefit program known as the Health Access Program (HAP) has two component programs, Healthy San Francisco and Medical Reimbursement Accounts; to charge the Department of Public Health with creating a plan to maximize HAP participants’ enrollment in the State health insurance exchange, Covered California, by plan year 2016.
Legislation Adopted in 2013
Amending the Police Code to clarify permit requirements and procedures, as well as to expand suspension, citation, and enforcement provisions regarding Entertainment Commission permits, including Place of Entertainment Permits, Limited Live Performance Permits, Temporary Place of Entertainment Permits, Temporary Limited Live Performance Permits, Extended-Hours Premises Permits, and Temporary Extended-Hours Premises Permits, and noise limits and standards; amending the Administrative Code to clarify fee setting and reporting procedures; and making environmental findings.
Amending the Planning Code, Mission Alcoholic Beverage Special Use District controls, to allow the transfer of liquor licenses and relocation of uses under specified circumstances, to restrict the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption, and to exempt from the controls grocery stores and certain institutional, arts, and other uses; establishing operating conditions for certain establishments with a liquor license; amending the Valencia Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District controls to restrict the conversion of existing ground floor retail uses to restaurants; and making environmental findings, Planning Code, Section 302, findings, and findings of consistency with the General Plan and the priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1.
Amending the Planning Code, Section 723, to extend the restriction on Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishments in the Polk Street Neighborhood Commercial District (NCD) for an additional three years and apply it to an area within one-quarter mile of the boundaries of the NCD; adding Section 788, to establish the Lower Polk Street Alcohol Restricted Use District for the properties located on Polk Street between California Street to the north, O’Farrell Street to the south, and Polk Street’s side streets between California Street, Larkin Street, O’Farrell Street, and Van Ness Avenue; amending Zoning Map, Sheet ZN-02, to designate the Lower Polk Street Alcohol Restricted Use District; and making environmental findings, Planning Code, Section 302, findings, and findings of consistency with the General Plan and the priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1.