San Francisco’s outdoor parklets became fixtures on the city's streets during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They'll have the chance to remain that way.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved legislation to make the city’s "Shared Spaces" program permanent, but with some modifications.
Supervisor Ahsha Safaí introduced a pair of amendments, one of which allows businesses to close the parklets between midnight and 7 a.m. The other directs the Planning Department to manage the program, as it did throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. A previous version of the legislation gave that responsibility to the Department of Public Works.
Both amendments passed, the former by a 7-4 vote. All four of the supervisors Mayor London Breed’s office listed as co-sponsors – Safaí, Rafael Mandelman, Catherine Stefani and Matt Haney – voted in favor of the overnight closure amendment.
"By taking the necessary steps to make Shared Spaces permanent, we are providing another lifeline for local businesses to thrive and creating a clear path forward towards rebuilding our economy as San Francisco recovers from COVID-19," Breed said in a statement.
The mayor's office said in a release businesses can apply for a permit on a sidewalk or a parking space through an online portal, and the city will not collect any permit fees until next June.
Small businesses are exempt from any fees for nearly two years, while chain retail establishments aren’t eligible to defer or waive any fees.
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