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Board approves new limited live-performance permit tier for small cafes with local time-limit amendments
Summary
The Board passed an ordinance (first reading) creating a lower-cost 'limited live performance' permit aimed at cafes and small restaurants, with district-specific time restrictions and a neighborhood opt-in notice system added as amendments.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Aug. 2 passed on its first reading an ordinance creating a new limited live-performance permit tier intended to make it more affordable for cafes and small restaurants to host live music. The ordinance, as amended, sets a lower application fee and includes district-specific restrictions and a resident opt-in notice system.
Supervisor Mercarimi, the ordinance’s author, said the permit aims to empower small businesses to comply affordably with city regulations and expand performance opportunities for musicians. “For the smaller venues, now by us creating a permit at a cost of about $389 puts them in range of being able to do something that for once is able to say we're able to say, we're doing something good here, by being more business friendly,” Mercarimi said during his presentation.
Supervisors offered several amendments during debate. President Chu and Supervisor Farrell proposed and won geographically targeted limits on the hours allowed under the permit in certain neighborhood corridors. Chu sought to limit an automatic extension of allowed performance hours in North Beach and Polk Street to 10 p.m. rather than 11 p.m., pending a one-year review. Supervisors Farrell and Mercarimi offered and won similar 10 p.m. limits for the Union and Chestnut commercial corridors in Mercarimi’s district. Farrell also successfully added an opt-in notice system so residents who want advance notice of permit applications can receive them.
Supervisor Weiner and others said the measure would help small businesses and performance artists. Some supervisors noted the Entertainment Commission may need additional resources to enforce the new tier and said they would pursue funding in future budget cycles.
On roll call, the board approved the ordinance as amended in first reading; the clerk announced 11 ayes. The ordinance retains most existing rules and conditions applied to larger venues while adding a lower-cost permit tier (author’s earlier remarks referenced a $389 application fee). The ordinance will return for a subsequent reading as required by the city’s legislative procedure.
