Acronyms used on this page:

CDRC: Civic Design Review Committee
DPW: Department of Public Works
ISCOTT: Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation
MOD: Mayor’s Office on Disability
SFAC: San Francisco Arts Commission
SFMTA: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
SFPUC: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Activating Street Space

Type of Improvement Responsible Agency Relevant Permits & Applications Public Hearing or Legislative Action Maintenance Responsibilty
Block Parties & Street Fairs ISCOTT Temporary Street Closure Application ISCOTT hearing Applicant
Play Streets ISCOTT Temporary Street Closure Application ISCOTT hearing Applicant
Outdoor Café & Restaurant Seating DPW Cafe Tables and Chairs Permit Applicant
Sidewalk Merchandise Displays DPW Display Merchandise/Produce Permit Applicant
Street Artists 1 Arts Commission Street Artists Program Application Applicant
Street Food Vendors DPW 2 Mobile Food Facilities Permits Applicant
Planning 3 Temporary Use Authorization
Street Markets ISCOTT Temporary Street Closure Application ISCOTT hearing Applicant

1. To get licensed as a Street Artist in San Francisco.

2. For public right-of-way.

3. For public and private parcels.

Greening & Stormwater Management

Type of Improvement Responsible Agency Relevant Permits & Applications Public Hearing or Legislative Action Maintenance Responsibilty
GREENING
Hanging Planters 4 SFPUC  Requires MOU with SFPUC Applicant
Median Greening DPW 5 Sidewalk Landscaping Permit Varies: Applicant, DPW
DPW 6 Major Encroachment Permit Board of Supervisors action
DPW Street Parks Program
Sidewalk Landscaping DPW Sidewalk Landscaping Permit Applicant
Street Trees DPW Street Tree Permit Varies: Fronting property owner, DPW
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Bioretention (Rain Gardens) 7 DPW Sidewalk Landscaping Permit Applicant
Channels & Runnels 7 DPW Minor Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Applicant
Permeable Paving 7 DPW Special Sidewalk Surface Permit Applicant
Sidewalk Landscaping 7 DPW Sidewalk Landscaping Permit Applicant
Swales 7 DPW Sidewalk Landscaping Permit Applicant
Multiple – Smaller Projects 8 DPW Minor Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Applicant
Multiple – Larger Projects 8 DPW Major Encroachment Permit Board of Supervisors action Applicant
Multiple – If applicable 9 SFPUC Stormwater Control Plan Application Applicant

4. Requires MOU with SFPUC.

5. Smaller projects.

6. Larger projects.

7. Sidewalk areas only; if project is located in other parts of the roadway, may require additional permits.

8. If multiple elements, may require minor sidewalk encroachment permit or major encroachment permit from DPW.

9. If part of meeting development stormwater management requirements, would require Stormwater Control Plan approval from SFPUC.

Pedestrian Safety & Traffic Calming

Type of Improvement Responsible Agency Relevant Permits & Applications Public Hearing or Legislative Action Maintenance Responsibilty
Crosswalks 10 SFMTA Request through 311 1) SFMTA public hearing; 2) SFMTA Board action SFMTA
Curb Ramps MOD, DPW Request through 311 DPW
Pedestrian Signals 11 SFMTA Request through 311 1) SFMTA public hearing; 2) SFMTA Board action SFMTA
Accessible Pedestrian Signals SFMTA Request through 311 SFMTA
TRAFFIC CALMING
Traffic Calming 12 SFMTA Traffic Calming Application 
Chicanes 12 SFMTA Traffic Calming Application 1) SFMTA public hearing; 2) MTA Board hearing (color curb or parking change) Varies: SFMTA, DPW, fronting property owner
Curb Extensions (Bulb-Outs) 12 SFMTA Traffic Calming Application 1) SFMTA public hearing; 2) MTA Board hearing (color curb or parking change); 3) Board of Supervisors sidewalk change legislation Varies: SFMTA, DPW, fronting property owner
Curb Radius Changes 12 SFMTA Traffic Calming Application Varies: SFMTA, DPW, fronting property owner
Medians & Islands SFMTA Traffic Calming Application 1) SFMTA public hearing; 2) MTA Board hearing (color curb or parking change) SFMTA, DPW
Raised Crosswalks SFMTA Traffic Calming Application SFMTA public hearing SFMTA, DPW
Road Diets (vehicle lane removal) SFMTA Traffic Calming Application 1) SFMTA public hearing; 2) SFMTA Board action SFMTA
Speed Limit Changes SFMTA Traffic Calming Application 1) SFMTA public hearing; 2) SFMTA Board action SFMTA
Speed Humps & Cushions SFMTA Traffic Calming Application SFMTA public hearing SFMTA
Traffic Calming Circles SFMTA Traffic Calming Application SFMTA public hearing SFMTA, DPW

10. Only if mid-block locations, or to close crosswalk.

11. Only if mid-block locations.

12. Sidewalk change legislation generally not required for curb radius changes, widened sidewalk bulbs, corner bulbs, and sidewalk widening up to one block.

Reclaiming Roadway Space

Type of Improvement Responsible Agency Relevant Permits & Applications Public Hearing or Legislative Action Maintenance Responsibilty
Bike Corrals (On-Street Bike Parking) SFMTA On-Street Bicycle Parking Corral Application SFMTA public hearing SFMTA, Requesting business
Parklets Planning Parklet Request for Proposals Applicant

Streetscape Furnishings

Type of Improvement Responsible Agency Relevant Permits & Applications Public Hearing or Legislative Action Maintenance Responsibilty
PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING
Pedestrian Lighting DPW Major Encroachment Permit Board of Supervisors action Varies: Applicant, DPW
Roadway Lighting SFPUC General Excavation Permit SFPUC Commission action, if not in SFPUC inventory If in SFPUC inventory, SFPUC will maintain. If not, applicant maintains.
Special Sidewalk Paving DPW Special Sidewalk Surface Permit Applicant
SITE FURNISHINGS
Banners DPW Banner Permit
Benches & Seating DPW Minor Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Applicant
Bicycle Racks 13 SFMTA Request through 311 SFMTA
DPW General Excavation Permit
Community Kiosks 14 DPW Major Encroachment Permit Board of Supervisors action Applicant
Bollards DPW 15 Minor Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Applicant
DPW 16 Sidewalk Pipe Barrier Permit
Newsracks 17 DPW Request through 311 City Contractor
Public Art SFAC, DPW 18 Minor Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Civic Design Review Committee review SFAC (public projects); Applicant (community initiatives)
SFAC, DPW 19 Major Encroachment Permit Civic Design Review Committee review; Board of Supervisors action
Public Toilets 20 DPW Request through 311 City Contractor
Signage DPW 21 Minor Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Applicant
DPW 22 Major Encroachment Permit Board of Supervisors action Applicant
SFMTA 23 Request through 311 SFMTA
Planning 24 Sign Permits Applicant
Transit Shelters 25 SFMTA Request through 311 City Contractor
Sidewalk Trashcans 26 DPW Request through 311 DPW

13. No permit required if SFMTA installs. Otherwise, need excavation permit.

14. Applies to community initiatives; Advertising/public services kiosks as part of the City’s contract with JCDEcaux are installed and maintained by JCDecaux.

15. For decorative bollards.

16. For security bollards/barriers on the sidewalk.

17. Installed and maintained by City contract with Clear Channel Outdoors.

18. Smaller projects. For public projects, Arts Commission review required if project triggers 2% for art requirement (Admin Code 3.19).

19. Larger projects. For public projects, Arts Commission review required if project triggers 2% for art requirement (Admin Code 3.19).

20. Installed and maintained by City contract with JCDecaux.

21. Smaller projects. Special signage, wayfinding, etc.

22. Larger projects. Special signage, wayfinding, etc.

23. Standard street signs and signals.

24. Building signage.

25. Installed and maintained by City contract with Clear Channel Outdoors.

26. Installed and maintained by DPW.

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