Mayor Lurie's Statement on Board of Supervisors Vote in Support of PermitSF Legislative Package

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today released the following statement after the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to strengthen the city’s economic recovery by supporting five ordinances from his PermitSF legislative package in its first reading:

“San Francisco thrives when our storefronts are full, our neighborhoods are vibrant, and our small businesses have the tools to succeed. Through PermitSF, my administration is making meaningful structural changes that will help businesses and property owners get the permits they need more quickly. This legislation will cut red tape and remove unnecessary hurdles—helping San Francisco’s small business owners and homeowners flourish, fueling our economic recovery, and building a more vibrant future for our entire city.

“President Mandelman and the Board of Supervisors have been partners since the beginning of this initiative, and I am grateful for their collaboration in driving San Francisco’s comeback. Together, we will continue working together to simplify and expedite permitting, support our city’s small businesses, and help our neighborhoods thrive.”

Mayor Lurie introduced the PermitSF legislative package on May 20, 2025, less than 100 days after signing the PermitSF executive directive. Board of Supervisors cosponsors included Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio, District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter, District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, and District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill.

As part of the legislative package, the five ordinances passed today by the Board of Supervisors will make structural changes to help businesses and property owners to secure the permits they need more easily and efficiently. They include common-sense reforms to support small businesses through the permitting process, increase flexibility to support businesses downtown, boost the city’s nightlife businesses, and help families maintain their homes.

The ordinances passed today will:

• Reduce the permit processing timelines by eliminating unnecessary steps in the permit review process for entertainment. Businesses won’t need inspection from the Department of Building Inspection on permits to extend their hours or from Planning Department for limited live performance permits, among others. Last fiscal year, about 60 of these permits costs applicants about a month each of processing time and $12,000 in aggregate.
• Eliminate permits for sidewalk tables and chairs and sidewalk merchandise displays to support small businesses.Each year, over 500 businesses apply for these permits, which can cost a small business between $300 and $2,500 annually. Removing this requirement would save small businesses both time and money, allowing them to focus resources on serving customers and growing their operations.
• Eliminate minor encroachment permits for routine tenant improvements. If a business owner installs a door opener to improve accessibility, they no longer will have to pay a nearly $2,000 one-time fee plus an annual fee to the city.
• Remove permit requirements and fees for many common business signs. Small business owners will not need to obtain a permit and pay the city to paint the name of their business on their façade or put up a small sign in their window, saving businesses hours of time at the Permit Center and saving several hundred dollars.
• Make it possible for business owners to legalize their existing security gates, integrating gates into an existing amnesty program for storefront awnings and signs, ensuring small business owners in Chinatown and throughout the city are not punished for keeping their businesses safe.