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Commission hears enforcement report: multiple venues cited or closed over sound and permit violations
Summary
Deputy Director Azevedo reported 52 sound complaints since the last hearing and reviewed enforcement actions at Mars Bar, Orbit Room, Neck of the Woods, Cafe Envy, Don Pesto's, Scopa Divino and Curio, including DPH closures, notices of violation and a citation for exceeding permitted entertainment hours.
Deputy Director Azevedo told commissioners the enforcement team received 52 sound complaints since the last hearing and reviewed several recent cases.
Mars Bar: an inspector responding to a complaint found an indoor gathering playing music in violation of jam-permit and health-order rules; Department of Public Health issued a closure order and the business subsequently came into compliance and reopened.
Orbit Room: an off-site jam permit operating outdoors in a vacant lot drew neighbor complaints; inspectors worked with the owner and property manager to mitigate expected sound and the business is now operating within its permit.
Neck of the Woods: the venue applied for and received a shared-spaces permit and will be issued a jam permit; a sound test is being scheduled.
Cafe Envy: inspectors documented large outdoor crowds (estimated 200'300 people); SFPD responded and DPH issued a closure order; the venue received a notice of violation of its jam permit.
Don Pesto's: found operating outside approved hours (amplified sound/entertainment limited to six hours/day); the business was cited after repeated complaints.
Scopa Divino: repeated neighbor complaints were recorded but staff measurements during an inspection found the venue in compliance with its jam permit; the owner has taken mitigation steps including moving band location and logging sound levels.
Curio: staff worked with the venue during sound checks and may set a new, lower sound limit administratively.
Commissioners sought clarity about how and when specific sound limits are set. Staff said the standard language sets ambient-level expectations measured at roughly 50 feet but that limits are adjusted depending on sensitive receptors, complaint history and site-specific conditions. Staff described a case-by-case approach and said repeated compliance visits can be scaled back, though the commission can request reconditioning of a permit if desired.
Azevedo said inspectors Sabino and Fiorentino have been active in field responses and that enforcement aims to balance business viability and neighborhood impacts.
