1. Street Food in San Francisco
Policies,
Pitfalls & Possibilities
First Annual Street Food Conference
August 23, 2010

2. Bureaucratic Smorgasbord
 Police Department
 Department of Public Health
 Fire Department
 Planning Department
 Department of Public Works
 Municipal Transportation Agency

4. Two Main Regulatory Tracks
1. Public Property [SFPD Lead Agency]
 Streets
 Sidewalks
2. Private Property
 Typical parcels (e.g. vacant lots, etc)
 Parkland
 Plazas

5. Streets and Sidewalks
San Francisco Police Department
1. Proximity to schools
2. Pushcarts can’t move
3. “Like” food restrictions
4. Cart size limits

6. Private Property
Planning Dept. / Dept. of Public Health
 Typical Zoning Controls
e.g. those that apply to permanent land uses;
no special treatment

8. Context for Street Food Regulation
street food
benefits
residential commercial
protectionism protectionism

9. Commercial Protectionism
assumptions
1. street vendors are in competition with bricks-
and-mortar restaurants
2. zero benefit to commercial clustering /
no critical mass

11. street food
benefits
residential commercial
protectionism protectionism

12. Pro p o se d M FF
If the site is zoned P If the site is zoned NC, MUD, C, M, or PDR:
Is a building involved, or Is a building involved, or
when in any other zoning district
Is it on-premises more than 6 days/week, or Is it on-premises more than 3 days/week, or
Is it within 50’ of an R District? Is it open beyond any principally permitted hours?
no yes
Is the zoning district subject to the
notification requirements of Section 312?
no yes
Does the MFF:
- involve more than 225 square feet of lot area, or
- is it located within 50’ of an R District?
no yes
Subject to Conventional Regulation
Approvable with Neighborhood Notice
C, M, PDR Districts: generally permitted OTC
Approvable OTC NC, MUD’s: process and permissiveness varies
Required filings and approximate costs:
R Districts: not permitted
3rd party notification materials preparation ($200)
Required filings and approximate costs: CCSF notice mailing cost ($300)
Renewable 1-year ‘temporary use’ permit ($400) Required filings and approximate costs:
Building Permit ($600)
Building Permit ($600)
‘temporary use’ permit ($400; first year fee waived)
if required by zoning: CU ($1,400) notification ($500)
Interm ittent Use Perm anent Use

13. Draft Proposed Regulations
Private Property
over-the-counter approval if:
 less than 250 sf per parcel
 doesn’t involve a building
 on-site 3 days per week or fewer

14. Draft Proposed Regulations
Private Property
More detailed review if:
 Multiple vendors on a given parcel
 Within 50’ of a residential district
Current controls apply if:
 On-site vending for more than 3 days/week

15. Draft Proposed Regulations
Streets and Sidewalks
1. DPW becomes lead agency;
Police no longer have a role
2. “Like” foods to be rationalized

17. Street Food in San Francisco
Policies,
Pitfalls & Possibilities

18. Yes, we still make things right here in San Francisco.
SFMade's mission is to build and support a vibrant manufacturing
sector in San Francisco that sustains companies producing locally
made products, encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, and
creates employment opportunities for a diverse local workforce.
Kate Sofis
Founding Executive Director
kate@sfmade.org
www.sfmade.org

19. Mobile Vendor
Economic Policy
Larry Bain
Let’s Be Frank

26. Mobile Vendor
Economic Policy
Matt Cohen
SF Cart Project

27. Why I Got Into This…

28. Structural Demands

29. Where to Locate?

30. How Much Should a Cart Cost?

31. Know What This Is?

32. SF Vendors

33. Off the Grid: Fort Mason
Center

34. Food Available

35. Getting Creative;
Entrepreneurial Notes

36. Where From Here?

37. Places for More Info
• www.sfcartproject.com
• www.offthegridsf.com
• Follow me at twitter.com/sfcarts
• matt@offthegridsf.com