San Francisco Planning is responsible for the City’s comprehensive planning and policy direction regarding land use and community development. We seek to foster places that are livable, inclusive, sustainable, and economically vital by guiding and managing growth at both the neighborhood and citywide level. Through extensive engagement and dialogue with community stakeholders and other public agencies, we consider issues related to land use, housing, design, historic preservation, public space, community facilities, transportation, and economic development.
Planning engages in policy development and comprehensive planning in several ways: citywide land use and development policy, including engagement at the regional level; working with communities to craft comprehensive area plans for specific neighborhoods; and crafting site-specific master plans for large development sites. These efforts look at today’s needs as well as those of the long-term, 25 years and further in the future.
Land Use Policy and Regional Coordination
- Southeast Framework
- Health Care Services Master Plan
- Production Distribution & Repair (PDR) Policy (coming soon)
- Growth Capacity and Jobs/Housing Balance (coming soon)
- Plan Bay Area/Horizons
Area Plans
Area Plans are comprehensive policy visions that guide the development and evolution of specific neighborhoods. These efforts are generally adopted to the City’s General Plan and make changes to zoning, design policies, inventory needed public improvements, and establish financial and implementation frameworks to guide the evolution and development for each specific district.
Area Plans Underway
The Market Street Hub Project
The Market Street Hub ProjectAdopted Area Plans
- Central SoMa Area Plan (completed 2018)
- Transit Center District Plan (completed 2012)
- Glen Park Community Plan (completed 2012)
- Eastern Neighborhoods Plans -- Mission, East SoMa, Western SoMa, Showplace Square/Potrero, Central Waterfront (completed 2008/2013)
- Balboa Park Station Area Plan (completed 2009)
- Market & Octavia Area Plan (completed 2008)
- Rincon Hill Plan (completed 2005)
General Plan
For a full list of adopted area plans, see the San Francisco General Plan.
Master Plans
Planning collaborates with other agencies, particularly the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) to develop and review master plans for multi-phase developments on large sites under single ownership, both private and public. Larger than individual buildings or discrete developments, redevelopment of these sites, which may range from 5 to 200 acres or more, entails planning for multiple phases over several years and creation of significant new infrastructure, blocks and streets, parks, and community facilities. In addition to rezoning, these projects also result in the creation of Development Agreements between development sponsors and the City, which are contracts that lay out development rights, additional public benefits of the project, and implementation.
Projects currently under development and review include:
Past adopted projects include:
Implementing our Plans
Infrastructure improvements such as improved public infrastructure and amenities, such as parks, street improvements, transit, childcare centers, and libraries are essential to fulfilling the Area Plans’ visions for complete neighborhoods.
Most recently-adopted Area Plans include fees on new development called impact fees that partially fund these public improvements. To help the City set priorities for community improvements, the City has established Community Advisory Committees (CACs) in certain plan areas. Committee members are appointed by the Mayor or the Board of Supervisors, and CAC meetings are open to the public.
