The second major part of the General Plan consists of the Area Plans, which apply the policies of the various elements to particular sections of the City. Area Plans cover the following parts of San Francisco:

Central Waterfront; 

Chinatown;

Civic Center;

Downtown;

Northeastern Waterfront;

Rincon Hill;

South Bayshore;

South of Market;

Van Ness Avenue; and

Western Shoreline.

The General Plan is not a static document — The City’s Planning Commission may recommend amendments, which then are presented to the Board of Supervisors for approval. You’ll find amendment history noted throughout the various sections.

The San Francisco Planning Department offers the full text of the General Plan online, as well as the whole range of supporting documents and reports. You might want to take the time to review the Area Plan that affects your neighborhood. If you think that the policies outlined for your community should be modified, call your supervisor or the Planning Commission at (415) 558-6377 to find out how you might get involved in proposing an amendment. Also be sure to read through the Planning Department’s Citywide Policy Planning, which includes current neighborhood programs, plans and initiatives.