CIT Y AND COUNT Y OF SAN FRANC ISCO
Department uf Public Wade;
O RD ER NO. 162,240
TABLES AND CHAIRS IN PUBLIC SlDBWALK OR ROADWAY AREAS.
1. PURPOSE: Article S.2 of the Public Works Code establishes regulations for placing
tables and chairs in public sidewa lks and roadwa y areas . This Department
of Public Works (DPW) Order provides detailed implementation
guidelines.
II. APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS:
A. The application process is summarized lu the following flow chart:
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B.
Requ ests to place tables and chairs in public sidewal ks sha ll
include the following:
I. An applicatio n stating the name of tbe applicant, the name and address of
the business establi shment. the number of and the epprcxi rnate area to be
occ upied by the tables, chairs and diverter s, end the days and hours that the
sidewalk area is 10 be occu pied.
2. A full y dimensioned space layout plan thai indicates the placement of all
tables, chairs, divert en, tra shcans and the locati o n of the business entrance.
The plan must also Indicate the pro pert y line. the width of the sidewalk,
any existing sidewal k obs truc tions such as parking meters and trees, the
location of any curb ramps, lire exits/ fire escapes, and the exact width of
the pedestrian clear zone (S ee Figure O ne below) . The applicant must also
indicate the type of divert er pro posed including all dimensions and
materials.
3.
NOTE ' Tables and chairs in a ROADWAY area will be required to
follow an add itional permit procedure not covered in this Ord er. St reet
closure permits are issued by the Department of Parking and Traffic
and must be approved prior to obtaining approval from DPW far the
placement a f the tables and chairs.
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FIL",NCI SCO
Depa rtment or Public Works
ORDER NO . 162,240
C. If the applica tion meets all design guidelines set forth in this Order:
1. Applica nt shall post a copy of the pub lic notice in II. readily visible place
on the frontage of the applying establishment
a) IfDPW receives no o bjections, applicatio n is app roved
(Refer to step C 2) .
b) IfDPW receives objections , a DPW public hearing will be
scheduled.
2. Applicant subm its proof of insurance lind a mon thly fee of$3.00 per seat,
with a minimum annual fcc ofS l OO and a maximum annual fee 0[S360
(Fees are due and payable om: year in advance.)
3. DP W issues permit.
4. Upon appr ova l of the application and issuance of the perm it, the permitt ee
shall display a copy of the approved sidewalk/street-use plan on their
bus iness establishment while occupying said sidewalk/street area Wllh
tables and cha irs,
D. If applicatio n does nOl meet guid elines set fort h in this Order :
I . Applicant may revise plans in orde r 10 meet guidelines.
2. Applicant may request an exception 10 said guidelines.
The except ion wilt be reviewed by the Interdepanmental
Staff Cc rnmiuee on Tra ffic and Trnnsponation (lSCOTT).
3. If an exception is gran ted by (SCQIT, refer to Pa ragraph ·C· .
Ste ps 1, 2 & J .
4. lfan exceptio n is not granted by ISCQTT , DPW WI ll deny the permit.
5. IfDPW den ies permit, app lican t may appeal denial 10 Boa rd of Permil
Appeal s,
Ill. DESIGN GUIDELINES .
A. The sidewalk cafe must be located in the sidewalk are a fro nting the applicant's
business at the prop erty line.
B.
TI~e
size of the sidew alk cafe will be determined by the fo llowing factor s: the
width of the sidewalk . the level of existing o r anticipated peak hour
pedestrian congestion , and the exist ing neighbo rhoo d character. A minimum
of six feet of pedesrna n clearance (free of all obs tacles for a clear path of
travel) must be maintained on the sidewal k at all times. It is the
responsibility of the permittee 10 keep this sidewalk pedest rian zone clear
(Figure One).
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FI GURE ONE; Sidewalk Zones.
FIGURE TW O; Co met Clear Zone
C ITY AND COUN TY OF SAN FRANC ISCO
Departmen t of Publ ic \Vorl(s
ORDER NO. L62,H O
C.
~ id ewa l k
cates may no t intrude on pedestrian "clear zones" at corn ers
(Figure Two). Sidewalk cafes must abo not interfere with curb ramps or
driveways.
D
No element of the proposed installation may interfere with access to any
building. Thi s includ es all path s o f tra vel or exiting. No elem ent ca n be
belo w a fire escape.
E. AIl sidewalk cafe elements must co nfo rm to the rules and regulations
outlined in the California. Building Code, Title 24, and the provisions of
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
F. T he permittee must provide at least one durable trashean within the
sidewalk cafe zo ne as per Article 5.1, Sectio n 173 o f the Pub lic Work s Co de.
(P lease indicate loca tion oftrasbce n on space layo ut plan.)
G . All installation s mu st have I divert er I I eac h end to dem arcate the sidewalk
cafe zo ne and to gu ide pedestrians away from it. Th e depth o ithe divener will
de termine the dept h of the sidewalk cafe . No part of any tab le or chair may
exte nd beyo nd the depth of the diverte r. It is the respo nsIbility o f the
permittee to ensure rhat all aCllvity stays wit hin the approved area .
H . Div eners must co nfo rm to the following design gu idelines .
I . Divert ers must be flush with the building edge 3.[ an angle of 90 degrees
o r mo re (curved and/or circula r elements are encouraged). (Figure T hree)
2 . Div erters must be stu rdy and stable. They must have sufficient we igh l
so that they ca nnot tip over or be blown over .
J . A ttach ments to the sidew alk arc nOI allowed .
4. Diveners mUS I be atleast JO· high to prevent tripping haza rds.
Plantings higher tha n 30- are stro ngly encouraged.
5. D iverters mus t be so lid within 24- of the ground .
is . Divert ers must be a t" a cont rasting color so tbat they are clearly visible 10
the visually impai red.
7. Free-s ta nding fenc es are not allo wed .
S. Divert era may not have any pro trudi ng legs or supp o rts .
9. Diveners must be maintained and ke pt free o rtin er and a llier Jebns .
10. Div ert ers must be kept free o f advenising.
11. Plantings must remain with in the plant er edge envelope as illun rared in
Figur e Four.
12. Dlv erters mu st conform to the dimensio nal guidelines as shown in
Fig ure Four.
_ _ t
I~ 2'M"
12· Min.
FIGURE T HRE E: Sidewalk Ca fe layou t
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
Department of Pu blic Works
O RD ER NO. 162,240
I
: + - - PlanterEdge
I
Envelope
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3' MIX.
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27'M~
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12· Msx. - l
AJtemale A
A1tamma B
FIGURE FOU R: Diverter Dimensions
tv.
MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES :
A Tables, chairs, divcrters and custom ers shall be confined to the are a sho wn on
the plan subrniued by the permittee.
B. Food trays DC cart s, receptectes for dirty dishes, Irays or carts for linen and
utensils. and cooking appliances shall not be placed or stored on any ponion of
the sidewalk or road way area of a public street.
C. Allt ables, chairs and diverters shall be promptl y removed fcom the area at the
end of each busine ss day at the hour stipulated in the permit.
D. The per mittee shall maintain the tables, chelrs, divenera and permitted area in
a clean condition at all times.
CIT Y A ND COUNT Y OF SAN FRANCISCO
Dep art ment of Pub lic 'Y orks
ORDER NO. 162,240
E. The permittee shaU keep the sidewalk/roadway area, not occupied by tables,
chairs and dlven era, free of obstructions at all times.
F. The sidewalk or roadway area shall nOI be pain ed, landscaped or altered
In .ny w.y without prior written ' ppm", of
DI'~bIiC Works.
,
n E. Cribbs
Director of Public Works
. n:t:~.~
~ Denise M. Brady, Chief
Bureau of St reet-U se and Mapping
APPROVED:
LliJ.. ~ .J--¥llaly
Ii. Troyan
De puty Director, Public Services
Djstribull0n
Retu rn to B S M IQ N Elsner. Room 350 City Hall (j.Sjgned)
Outside B S M
Department Files (2 )
DPT - H. Quan
DPW-DA C - R. Skaff
Inside B S M
Robert Horn
Frank Casey
DCP - J. PurvislE. Rose
SFPD - Permit Section
850 Bryant St reer-Rm. 45 8
San Francisco, CA 94 10)
NE :dl
APPROVED: lULY 7, 1993
JOHN E. CRIBBS, DIRECTOR
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRA NCI SCO
Depa r tm ent of Pub lic 'Y orks
ORDER NO. 162,240
E. The permittee shaUkeep the sidewalk/roadway area, not occupied by tables,
chairs and dlven ers, free of obstructions at all times.
F. The sidewalk or roadway area shall nOI be pain ed, landscaped or altered
in . ny w. y without prier written ' ppm", of
o;'~ bIiC Works.
,
n E. Cribbs
Director of Public Works
. (t\r~.~
~ Denise M. Brady, Chief
Bureau of Street-Use and Mapping
APPROVED:
LttJ.. ~ .J.--
d.
../italy Troyan
Deputy Director, Public Services
Distribution
Return to B S M
tQ
N Elsner RoollJ 350 City Hall (J . Signedl
Outsid e B S M
Department Files (2)
DPT - H. Quan
Inside B S M
Robert Horn
Frank Casey
DPW-DAC - R. Skaff
OCP - J. Purvis/E. Rose
SFPD - Permit Section
850 Bryant Street-Rm. 458
San Francisco, CA 94 10)
NE :dl
APPROVED: JULY ?, 1993
JOHN E. CRIBBS, DIRECTOR