San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California

Population: 884,363
Type of Requirement: Ordinance

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Contact Information

Physical Address:
San Francisco Arts Commission
401 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 325
San Francisco, CA 94102

Main Contact:
Susan Pontious, Director of Public Art and Civic Art Collection
Email  Susan| 415.252.2241

Program Summary

The Code establishes that the following projects are subject to a mandatory public art requirement:

  • All construction or addition of floor area in excess of twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet to an existing building in a C-3 District; and
  • All non-residential construction or addition of floor area in excess of twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet in the following districts:
    • RH-DTR, TB-DTR, SB-DTR, SLI, SLR, SSO, C-M, and UMU Districts;
    • Properties zoned MUG, MOU, or MUR that are north of Division/Duboce, 13th Streets; and
    • All Parcels zoned C-S except for those on Blocks 4991 and

Residential development projects may satisfy the requirement by installing on-site public art with a value of at least one percent (1%) of the construction cost or by installing on-site public art with a value less than one percent (1%) of the construction cost and contributing the balance to the Public Artwork Trust Fund. Alternatively, developers may contribute an in-lieu fee of one percent (1%) of construction cost to the Public Artwork Trust Fund.

Non-residential development projects may satisfy the requirement by installing on-site public art. Where the project has public open space at least fifteen hundred (1,500) but less than three thousand (3,000) square feet, the value shall be at least one percent (1%) of the construction costs, not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00). Where the project has public open space at least three thousand (3,000) square feet, the value shall be one percent (1%) of the construction cost, not to exceed seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00).

View Ordinance

Ethereal Bodies 8 (2015). By Cliff Garten. San Francisco Arts Commission Collection. Courtesy: Jeremy Green