Commission approves temporary awning and business‑sign amnesty for small businesses

The Planning Commission on June 1 approved a temporary amnesty ordinance to allow many San Francisco small businesses to regularize unpermitted awnings and certain business signs without paying enforcement penalties and, in many cases, without paying planning or DBI permit fees.

Katie Tang of the Office of Small Business described the program as an effort to reduce pressure on businesses that received complaints earlier in the year: “We really wanted to address this through an awning amnesty program,” she said, outlining a program that waives planning fees for qualifying awnings if applications are submitted before June 1, 2024 and creates a streamlined DBI review pathway.

Key features

Under staff recommendations the amnesty applies to business awnings and business signs installed prior to the ordinance’s effective date; certain technical limits apply (for example, signs that do not meet building code safety standards remain ineligible). Staff proposed removing the five‑year lookback in favor of allowing all qualifying business signs and awnings that existed as of the ordinance introduction date to participate. DBI cautioned planning commissioners that sign reviews can require structural plans and staff time; DBI estimated about $250,000 in sign permit fee revenue in a typical year and expressed concern about fully waiving all sign fees.

The commission approved the staff‑recommended modifications and motion to move the ordinance forward; the vote was unanimous, 6‑0.

What happens next

If adopted by the Board of Supervisors, the program would run through June 1, 2024. DBI and planning staff said they will maintain safety review where necessary and the city will provide a simpler application template to help owners comply without professional drawings in many cases.