Apply for Shared Spaces permit for the sidewalk or parking lane

Get a legislated permit for your Shared Space.

What to do

If you had a pandemic permit, you must remove your Pandemic Shared Spaces by May 30th, 2023 if you did not submit a post-pandemic permit application by March 31, 2023. That is the end of the pandemic program. 

1. What to include on your site plan

Your site plan:

  • Does not need to be computer generated. Hand-drawn site plans are OK. 
  • Does not have to be drawn by an architect or designer

You must include the following items:

  • North arrow
  • Street names and crosswalks
  • Colored curbs
  • Marked parking spaces
  • Total length and width of proposed Shared Space. You must have 3-foot emergency access gap and 3-foot setbacks on both sides
  • Business footprint (name and address), including length of your business
  • Neighboring businesses (name and address), if applicable
  • Sidewalk and street fronting business. You must include total sidewalk width and any surface obstructions, like tree wells, bike racks, parking meters, light poles
  • Utilities in the parking lane and clearance from them

Follow the latest design guidelines outlined in the Shared Spaces Manual

Site Plan Template

You must use our template and certifications form and attach it with your application.

Your site plan must include the dimensions of where you will put tables and chairs, or display merchandise.

See example site plans:

2. Prepare other documents

You will also need to gather a few more things before your apply:

This application will take about 20 minutes. Once you start the form, you cannot save it and return later.

Use this application worksheet to preview the questions.

Do not make any structural changes to your existing Shared Space unless instructed by the Shared Spaces permitting team.

3. After submitting your application

Email confirmation

We will email you a confirmation. We will also let you know if you need to make changes to the site plan you submitted with your application.

Inspection Process

Once your site plan and your application are complete and approved, we will: 

  1. Conduct a preliminary inspection of your Shared Space

  2. Post a 10-Day Public Notice at the site

  3. After the 10-Day Public Notification period has passed, your permit will be conditionally approved

  4. You will be given time to make modifications to your existing structure or install a new structure that matches the accepted site plan. 

  5. After construction and/or remodel is complete, you must follow up with Department of Public Works (sharedspacespermit@sfdpw.org) to schedule a final site visit to verify that your Shared Space is compliant. 

Get your permit

We will email you your permit as a PDF document. 

You must print and display your permit in your storefront window.

Maintenance

You must maintain your Shared Space. Keep it safe, accessible, clean, and quiet. 

Shared Spaces responsibilities 

Special cases

Renew your Tables and Chairs permit

Renew your Tables and Chairs permit

To renew a Public Works Table and Chair or Display permit issued before pandemic Shared Spaces permits, email us at commercialpermitrenewals@sfdpw.org

End your Shared Space

End your Shared Space

If you do not want to operate your Shared Space after April 1, 2023, you can follow the steps to end your Shared Space. 

You must remove your Shared Space by March 31, 2023.

Get help

Last updated May 22, 2023