Pre-Application Meeting

In response to the continued surge in cases to the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 in San Francisco, the Pre-Application process will continue, but with the following adjustments:

1. Mail:
   1. Applicants should mail the pre-app notices to adjacent neighbors and neighborhood organizations per usual, but with the addition of a copy of the plans (no smaller than 8.5”x 11”). If no schematic plans exist for the project, that must be indicated on the notice.
   2. Applicants must also e-mail the neighborhood organizations, as physical mail and post office boxes may not be checked at this time. Neighborhood organization email addresses can be found in Column G of the Neighborhood Groups List. If there is no email address provided, standard mail will be considered in compliance.
2. Meetings: Starting March 7, 2022, Pre-Application Meetings may be conducted either in-person, virtually, or in a hybrid manner. Should an applicant choose to host a fully virtual Pre-Application Meeting, all previous virtual requirements remain in effect, including providing a local or a toll-free phone number in addition to a video conferencing link on the Pre-Application notice. Starting July 1, 2022, Pre-Application Meetings will be required to be conducted entirely in-person. 
3. Duration: Applicant must continue to follow the 14-day notice period prior to hosting a video conferencing meeting. This process must conclude prior to submitting a project with the City.

The Pre-Application (Pre-App) Community Outreach Process is required prior to submitting permits or land use application for projects with certain scopes of work, as outlined below:

• Projects subject to 311 Notification that include:
  • New Construction;
  • Any vertical addition of 7 feet or more;
  • Any horizontal addition of 10 feet or more;
  • Decks over 10 feet above grade or within the required rear yard;
• All Formula Retail uses subject to a Conditional Use Authorization;
• Community Business Priority Processing (CB3P); and
• Projects in PDR-1-B Districts subject to Section 313.

The Project Sponsor may opt to have a Planning Department Facilitated Pre‐Application Meeting instead of a meeting on or proximate to the proposed project site. 

For questions, you can call the Planning counter at 628.652.7300 or email pic@sfgov.org where planners are able to assist you.