SF URBAN AGRICULTURE ZONING PROPOSAL
Advocacy Toolkit
Planning Commission Hearing
For an update on the zoning proposal and ways to get involved, please click here.
Background Information
In December 2010, Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Planning Commission introduced an ordinance that would amend the Planning Code to allow for greater food production within San Francisco. The proposal would update San Francisco’s zoning regulations to explicitly permit gardens in all areas of the city and also allow for the sale of produce from those gardens.
The SFUAA is generally supportive of the proposal with the exception of three recommended changes:
Please see below for more information on the proposal including the full proposal language, an FAQ, and the SFUAA's press release on the issue.
Update - February 18, 2011
On February 17, 2011, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved the zoning proposal as it was introduced without any additional restrictions. They also expressed interest in having the ordinance's sponsors explore ways to incorporate value-added/processed goods into on-site sales. These are two great successes! Thank to you the over 60 supporters who made it to the first hearing and those who were there in spirit!
The Commission did not support waiving permit fees, changing fencing language, or pooled produce (they also asked supporters to explore issues of soil testing). However, earlier in the week, the Small Business Commission held a hearing on the proposal and they did support exploring fencing language that would allow vegetative screening on chain link fences as well as incorporating value-added goods into on-site sales.
The proposal will now move to the Land Use Committee of the Board of Supervisors. Stay tuned for the hearing date. We will want to have a good turnout at that hearing as well!
Background Information
In December 2010, Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Planning Commission introduced an ordinance that would amend the Planning Code to allow for greater food production within San Francisco. The proposal would update San Francisco’s zoning regulations to explicitly permit gardens in all areas of the city and also allow for the sale of produce from those gardens.
The SFUAA is generally supportive of the proposal with the exception of three recommended changes:
- Remove any fencing requirement
- Remove or waive “change of use” permit fees for urban agriculture projects
- Allow sales of value-added products and pooled produce on site
Please see below for more information on the proposal including the full proposal language, an FAQ, and the SFUAA's press release on the issue.
Update - February 18, 2011
On February 17, 2011, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved the zoning proposal as it was introduced without any additional restrictions. They also expressed interest in having the ordinance's sponsors explore ways to incorporate value-added/processed goods into on-site sales. These are two great successes! Thank to you the over 60 supporters who made it to the first hearing and those who were there in spirit!
The Commission did not support waiving permit fees, changing fencing language, or pooled produce (they also asked supporters to explore issues of soil testing). However, earlier in the week, the Small Business Commission held a hearing on the proposal and they did support exploring fencing language that would allow vegetative screening on chain link fences as well as incorporating value-added goods into on-site sales.
The proposal will now move to the Land Use Committee of the Board of Supervisors. Stay tuned for the hearing date. We will want to have a good turnout at that hearing as well!
Proposal Language
| SF Urban Ag Zoning Proposal - Full Version.pdf |
| SF Urban Ag Zoning Proposal - Digest Version.pdf |
Planning Commission's Case Report
The Planning Commission's case report on the urban agriculture zoning proposal can be found here. The report includes the proposed zoning change, Planning Department recommendations on the proposal, and public comments submitted to the Planning Commissioners.
Zoning Proposal FAQ
What would the zoning proposal do?
The urban agriculture zoning proposal (Ordinance 101537) would do two main things:
1. Allow gardens – both non-commercial and commercial gardens – in more parts of SF
2. Allow people to sell the produce grown in their gardens
Two big issues related to the development of gardens in San Francisco are finding places to garden and the ability of gardeners to sell what they grow in the city. The proposed ordinance is an important step forward in addressing both of these issues.
Today, there are certain zones of the city where gardens are not allowed. The proposal would make it clear that gardens less than one acre in size would be welcome throughout the city. They would be classified as “Neighborhood Agriculture.” Gardens one acre or larger would, in most parts of the city, have to go through a special permitting process called “conditional use” to be approved. These larger gardens would be classified as “Urban Industrial Agriculture.”
The proposal would also change the law so that gardeners could sell what they grow from their gardens.
What is not addressed in the zoning proposal?
The zoning proposal does not address issues such as the regulations regarding animal husbandry, rooftop gardens, or cultivation of medicinal marijuana. The SFUAA believes that many of these issues are important and should be revisited in the future, but supports the Planning Department and Mayor’s decision to keep the focus of this zoning proposal narrow.
Will the proposal affect my backyard garden?
The proposal does not change any of the regulations regarding backyards gardens that produce food for personal use. Backyard gardens that produce food for sale or consumption by people not living on the site, however, would have to follow the guidelines of the proposal.
Will the proposal affect the way my community garden currently operates?
Any gardens that are currently permitted will be able to continue operating as they currently do. Existing gardens that want to begin selling produce will have to apply for a change of use permit from the Planning Department. Gardens established after the passage of the law will have to follow the “physical and operational standards” included in the proposal.
What are the physical and operational standards for gardens in the proposal as currently drafted?
NOTE: The SFUAA is seeking amendments to remove the fencing requirement (2) and the restriction on selling value-added goods (6). Please see our advocacy toolkit at the top of this page for ways you can help.
Where can I find the full text of the proposal?
The full text is available for download in .pdf form here.
How can I help?
Ways to help include sending letters to the planning commissioners, signing our online petition, showing your support at a public hearing, and spreading the word. For details of how to get involved, please check out our advocacy toolkit at the top of this page.
How can I find out more information?
Contact SFUAA co-coordinator Eli Zigas at ezigas@cultivate-sf.org.
The urban agriculture zoning proposal (Ordinance 101537) would do two main things:
1. Allow gardens – both non-commercial and commercial gardens – in more parts of SF
2. Allow people to sell the produce grown in their gardens
Two big issues related to the development of gardens in San Francisco are finding places to garden and the ability of gardeners to sell what they grow in the city. The proposed ordinance is an important step forward in addressing both of these issues.
Today, there are certain zones of the city where gardens are not allowed. The proposal would make it clear that gardens less than one acre in size would be welcome throughout the city. They would be classified as “Neighborhood Agriculture.” Gardens one acre or larger would, in most parts of the city, have to go through a special permitting process called “conditional use” to be approved. These larger gardens would be classified as “Urban Industrial Agriculture.”
The proposal would also change the law so that gardeners could sell what they grow from their gardens.
What is not addressed in the zoning proposal?
The zoning proposal does not address issues such as the regulations regarding animal husbandry, rooftop gardens, or cultivation of medicinal marijuana. The SFUAA believes that many of these issues are important and should be revisited in the future, but supports the Planning Department and Mayor’s decision to keep the focus of this zoning proposal narrow.
Will the proposal affect my backyard garden?
The proposal does not change any of the regulations regarding backyards gardens that produce food for personal use. Backyard gardens that produce food for sale or consumption by people not living on the site, however, would have to follow the guidelines of the proposal.
Will the proposal affect the way my community garden currently operates?
Any gardens that are currently permitted will be able to continue operating as they currently do. Existing gardens that want to begin selling produce will have to apply for a change of use permit from the Planning Department. Gardens established after the passage of the law will have to follow the “physical and operational standards” included in the proposal.
What are the physical and operational standards for gardens in the proposal as currently drafted?
- Compost areas must be setback at least 3 feet from property lines;
- If the farmed area is enclosed by fencing, the fencing must be wood fencing or ornamental fencing as defined by Planning Code Section 102.32;
- Use of mechanized farm equipment is generally prohibited in residential districts; provided, however, that during the initial preparation of the land heavy equipment may be used to prepare the land for agriculture use. Landscaping equipment designed for household use shall be permitted;
- Farm equipment shall be enclosed or otherwise screened from sight;
- Sale of food and/or horticultural products from the use may occur between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.;
- The sales of processed or value added goods is prohibited.
NOTE: The SFUAA is seeking amendments to remove the fencing requirement (2) and the restriction on selling value-added goods (6). Please see our advocacy toolkit at the top of this page for ways you can help.
Where can I find the full text of the proposal?
The full text is available for download in .pdf form here.
How can I help?
Ways to help include sending letters to the planning commissioners, signing our online petition, showing your support at a public hearing, and spreading the word. For details of how to get involved, please check out our advocacy toolkit at the top of this page.
How can I find out more information?
Contact SFUAA co-coordinator Eli Zigas at ezigas@cultivate-sf.org.
Urban Agriculture Alliance Applauds Introduction of Proposed Urban Agriculture Zoning Changes
New regulations would open more land to community gardens and help city farms be economically viable, but amendments are needed
“The Planning Department’s proposal is a great step forward, but some of the draft provisions could hinder the expansion of gardening that the City wants to encourage,” said Eli Zigas, co-coordinator of the San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance (SFUAA). “Community gardens and urban farms operate on slim budgets and expensive fencing requirements and permitting fees can prevent a garden project from breaking ground. We encourage the Planning Commission to ensure that community groups and city farmers across San Francisco can afford to start gardens and urban agriculture projects in their neighborhoods.”
Advocates are specifically calling on the Planning Commission to amend the proposed ordinance to reduce its costs. The proposal requires that any fencing around a garden site must be either wooden or ornamental fencing. The addition of significant start-up costs to meet this requirement could deter a project from turning a vacant lot into a vibrant new greenspace or a project that would provide a source of fresh, nutritious food in a neighborhood lacking access to good produce options. Similarly, the Planning Department’s existing “change of use” fee structure would require urban agriculture projects to pay more than $300 before they could begin any work. The SFUAA encourages the Planning Commission to remove any mention of a fencing requirement and waive the change of use fees for urban agriculture.
With this legislation, San Francisco will be the first major American city to modify its zoning to encourage the sale of produce from urban gardens and farms. Similar legislation to allow for on-site sales of city-grown produce became law this year in both Seattle and Kansas City and a proposal is currently being considered in Berkeley.
For city farmers starting small businesses, being able to sell what you grow is critical. Little City Gardens, which cultivates a three-quarter acre garden in the Mission Terrace neighborhood, cannot sell any of the greens or herbs it grows because of restrictions in the current zoning code. “This proposal is crucial for the success of commercial urban farming in San Francisco,” said Little City Garden’s co-owner Caitlyn Galloway. “We want to demonstrate the viability of market gardening here in San Francisco, but we can’t do that until we’re allowed to sell what we grow. And we can’t sell from our farm until this proposal passes.”
For San Francisco to truly position itself at the leading edge of urban agriculture, the SFUAA urges the Planning Commission to amend the proposal to allow gardens and farms to pool together their harvest and also allow them to sell value-added products made from their produce.
“As it’s written now, the proposal would allow an urban farmer to sell their strawberries on the farm, but not their strawberry jam,” Zigas explained. “Expanding the proposal to allow for on-site sales of value-added products as well as produce from multiple sites would help small urban farms make the most of their harvest and make San Francisco’s policy an innovative model for the rest of the country.”
The positive impact of the proposal would stretch beyond creating new greenspace and supporting new urban farming businesses. “This zoning legislation is crucial for the health of San Francisco. Urban farming and community gardens not only provide residents with access to healthy non-toxic produce, but they help engage people in personal nutrition and can improve the health of the entire community. It’s easy for people to become removed from our food sources and those who produce our food," said Dana Perls, community organizer with Pesticide Watch. "This proposal offers San Franciscans more spaces to produce their own food. With the SFUAA’s proposed amendments, the new zoning code will be an investment in healthy communities.”
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The San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance (SFUAA) seeks to increase the amount of food grown within San Francisco and promote greater access to and consumption of that food through advocacy, education, and grassroots action. We pursue our mission by leveraging the strengths of our members, building bonds with other organizations and government agencies, and promoting healthy food cultures.
More information on the San Franc
| SFUAA Zoning Press Release - December 15, 2010 |
