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Planning Commission clears code changes to make childcare easier to site across San Francisco
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously recommended an ordinance to simplify childcare definitions, expand where childcare can be located, exempt facilities from neighborhood notification, and allow limited shared open space in mixed-use developments — aiming to address a shortage of care for infants and toddlers.
The San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously on May 18 to recommend a Planning Code amendment intended to speed and expand where licensed childcare can open in the city.
Sheila Nicholas of the Planning Department told commissioners the package consolidates five conflicting local definitions into one state-consistent definition, makes childcare principally permitted in most zoning districts (with five industrial exceptions), removes duplicative neighborhood-notification fees for childcare, and allows childcare and residential uses in mixed-use developments to share designated open space during weekday hours. Nicholas said the changes respond to “23,000 children ages 0–2 and roughly 3,400 childcare spots,” meaning only about 15 percent of infants have a licensed spot.
Advocates who work with low-income families and providers testified in favor of the changes. Lanine Umali of Compass Family Services said the amendments would help homeless and at-risk families access “critical childcare services” that support housing stability. Christina Malawenda, executive director of Mission Kids, described repeated, costly efforts to identify affordable sites and urged the commission to reduce conditional-use barriers. Elizabeth Winograd of the Low Income Investment Fund urged the commission to consider zoning and permitting as levers to expand the supply of licensed centers and homes.
During deliberations commissioners emphasized long wait lists, the high costs and uncertainty created by conditional-use reviews (the staff memo said such approvals can extend 8–18 months), and the way open-space and ground-floor requirements currently prevent many potential in‑building sites from accommodating care. Commissioner Johnson moved to adopt the department’s recommendation; the motion passed 7–0.
The ordinance recommended by the commission would next go to the Board of Supervisors for consideration and final action. Staff and the department’s Office of Early Care and Education will be involved in implementation and clarification of operational rules such as fire and state licensing requirements. The commission recorded that neighborhood concerns about noise and traffic remain governed by existing environmental review and drop-off/pickup management requirements.
