The Land Use and Community Planning team at San Francisco Planning is responsible for the City’s comprehensive planning and policy efforts that determine how land in San Francisco is developed and used. This work aims to create a city that is livable, inclusive, sustainable, and economically vital by guiding and managing growth at both the neighborhood and citywide level. Through extensive engagement 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 develops policies and comprehensive plans 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 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.

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.

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.

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. Learn more about implementing our community plans here.

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.