Apply for Shared Spaces permit for the sidewalk or parking lane

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 setbacks on both sides and a 3-foot emergency access gap if your parklet is longer than 20 feet. 
• Business footprint (name and address), including length of your business frontage
• 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.

Sidewalk Permits 

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

See example site plans:

• Café tables and chairs
• Display merchandise

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

• Your Business Account Number (BAN) (Look it up if you don't know it.) 
• Gross receipts from last reported tax year
• Certificate of Insurance (COI) (see example for insurance requirements)
• Pictures of your space
• Signed neighbor permission, if applicable

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.

Email confirmation

1. 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.
2. Both SFMTA and Public Works will review your application and contact you if anything needs revising or is missing.
3. After your application is approved, a preliminary inspection of your space is done by Public Works and a 10-day public notice is posted. 
4. Your application is conditionally approved to build at the end of the public comment period.  
5. You have 60 days to build or modify the shared space to the specifics of approved application and following the rules of the Shared Spaces Manual.
6. You fill out the Shared Spaces Inspection Request Form to request a final inspection. After passing the inspection, you receive your Shared Spaces Permit

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