San Francisco launches 'Shared Spaces Program' to support neighborhood activity and local businesses

San Francisco's 'Shared Spaces Program' is intended to support neighborhoods by providing additional public space for local business activities. The program will allow neighborhood businesses to share a portion of the public right-of-way, such as sidewalks, full or partial streets, or other nearby public spaces like parks and plazas for restaurant pick-up and other neighborhood retail activity. The program will allow individual businesses or local merchant associations to apply for a no-cost, expedited permit to share the sidewalk or parking lane for business purposes. Examples include restaurant pick-up services, beverage sales, and general retail that are eligible to operate under the City’s Health Order. Once restaurant dining is allowed under San Francisco’s Public Health Order, the public right-of-way could be used for outdoor restaurant seating.