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Legislation that supports Legacy Businesses
Learn about laws designed to help San Francisco's Legacy Businesses.
Citywide
In Neighborhood Commercial Districts*, Neighborhood Commercial Transit Districts*, Chinatown Community Business District*, Chinatown Visitor Retail District*, and Chinatown Residential Neighborhood Commercial District*, requires Conditional Use authorization before replacing a Legacy Business. This legislation is for an 18-month period.
Enacted: November 1, 2024
Mission - Calle 24 Special Use District
In the Calle 24 Special Use District, any new non-residential use where the immediately prior use was a Legacy Business requires a Conditional Use Authorization, except:
(i) where the subject non-residential space has had no occupant and has not been open to the public for three or more years from the date the application for the new use is filed; or
(ii) where the Legacy Business has removed itself or otherwise been removed from the Legacy Business Registry.
Enacted: March 31, 2027
North Beach
In the North Beach Neighborhood Commercial District*, any new non-residential use where the immediately prior use was a Legacy Business requires a Conditional Use Authorization, except:
(i) where the subject non-residential space has had no occupant and has not been open to the public for three or more years from the date the application for the new use is filed; or
(ii) where the Legacy Business has removed itself or otherwise been removed from the Legacy Business Registry.
Enacted: November 14, 2025
Polk St.
In the Polk Street Neighborhood Commercial District*, allows the merger of a retail storefront for a grocery store that is a Legacy Business.
Enacted: February 9, 2023
Polk St. and Chinatown
In the Polk Street Neighborhood Commercial District*, allows a merger of commercial spaces for a Legacy Business on a corner lot. In Chinatown Mixed Use Districts*, exempts Legacy Business restaurants from use size limits.
Enacted: November 5, 2021
Polk St. and Pacific Ave.
In the Polk Neighborhood Commercial District* and the Pacific Neighborhood Commercial District*, requires Conditional Use authorization before replacing a Legacy Business.
Enacted: November 3, 2017
*Enter an address into the San Francisco Property Information Map to find out if it is in this District.