ANNOUNCEMENTS

Extension of Accessible Business Entrance Program Compliance Deadlines Effective May 22, the compliance deadlines for the Accessible Business Entrance (ABE) Program have been extended. Property owners will now have until September 1, 2020 to complete their compliance checklist and until September 1, 2021 to obtain the building permits required to make their business entrance fully accessible to persons with disabilities (see table below for the full compliance schedule).

HELPFUL INFORMATION & FORMS

For Property Owners & Tenants For Design Professionals & CASp Learn about Finance Options Frequently Asked Questions Resources Forms and Guidelines: Information Sheet DA-17 Authorization of Agent Form Pre-Sreening Form Category Checklist Compliance Form Waiver Form  Technical Specifications Guidelines  Amended Ordinance 102-18 Information Sheet DA-20: Building Permit for the ABE Program Request for Time Extension Form Property Map Information Information Sheet G-03: Assigning Street Addresses Unreasonable Hardship Request Form Technical Infeasbility Request Form

CONTACT US This program is administered and managed by the Department of Building Inspection (DBI). DBI, in collaboration with SF Planning, Public Works and the Office of Small Business are working together to assist owners in complying with this Program.  Department of Building Inspection 49 South Van Ness Avenue, 2nd Floor Telephone: (628) 652-3704 Email: dbi.businessentrance@sfgov.org www.sfdbi.org/businessentrance   SF Planning - Storefront Changes Telephone: (628) 652-7600 www.sfplanning.org Public Works - Public Sidewalk Changes Telephone: (628) 271-2000 www.sfpublicworks.org Office of Small Business - Assistance for Small Business Telephone: (415) 554-6134 www.sfosb.org Sign up here to receive email notifications and updates about the Accessible Business Entrance Program.

ATTENTION PROPERTY OWNERS:
DBI staff is continuing to process forms it has received since September. Due to the large volume of inquiries and submittals we've received, there is a delay in processing forms and responding to inquiries. If you have sent in one of the three forms by email or mail since September, please disregard this notice. You will receive confirmation from DBI once your form has been processed.

If you own a building that is residential; have live/work unit; or commercial condo not located on the ground floor of the building, please submit a Pre-Screening Form to dbi.businessentrance@sfgov.org to exempt your address from the Program.

 

The Accessible Business Entrance (ABE) program helps property owners comply with state and federal accessibility laws and helps people with disabilities gain greater access to goods and services offered by San Francisco businesses. Passed in 2016, Ordinance No. 51-16 requires existing buildings with a place of “public accommodation” to have all primary entrances accessible for people with disabilities. If your building and/or business serves the public, this program may apply to you. Property owners are responsible for complying with this ordinance.

A place of Public Accommodation* is generally a business where the public will enter the building to obtain goods and services, such as:

Banks Health Clubs Offices Restaurants Theaters

Daycare Centers Hotels Repair Shops Retail Stores and more...

How to Comply with the Ordinance 

STEP ONE: 

Determine which one of the three forms you will need to submit to DBI: Pre-Screening Form, Waiver or Category Checklist Compliance Form. If you submit a Pre-Screening or Waiver form, you will have complied with the Program's requirements and no additional action is required.

Prior to submittal, visit https://sfplanninggis.org/pim/ to verify your address exists in the City Records. If the address does not appear in City Records, a new address needs to be created. View Information Sheet G-03 Assigning Street Address for more information.

STEP TWO: 

If your property is not exempt or waived, have a licensed architect, licensed engineer, or Certified Access Specialist (CASp) review and complete the Category Checklist Compliance Form. Submit your completed form to DBI by the compliance date according to your property's compliance category. 

STEP THREE:

File application for any required permits by the compliance date according to your property's compliance category.
Note: For properties that fall under compliance category 2, 3 or 4, please consult with Planning and/or Public Works prior to submitting your checklist. 

STEP FOUR:

Obtain required building permit(s) by the compliance date according to your property's compliance category. Complete permitted work and schedule inspections to receive a Certificate of Final Completion per permit requirements. 

BUILDING CATEGORIES

Buildings will either be exempt, waived or fall into one of four categories. Compliance steps will be required based on which category the building falls under. 

Category I        Building entrance has no steps and is compliant
                          with the requirements of the ordinance. 

Category II       Building entrance has no steps, but there are
                          barriers such as non-compliant hardware, door
                          opening clear width, lack of maneuvering space
                          and sloped landings not exceeding 2% (1:48).

Category III      Building entrance has one step.
Category IV      Building entrance with more than one step and/or

                          other major barriers.

 

EXEMPTIONS

Four building types are exempt, which include:

1. Newly constructed buildings with a building permit application (Form #1/2) filed on or after January 1, 2002.
2. Religious organizations.
3. "Bona fide" private clubs.
4. Facilities which are not a place of public accommodation.

If you are uncertain whether you are a “Public Accommodation” or if you are exempt, please complete the Pre-Screening Form prior to hiring a design professional or Certified Access Specialist (CASp).

WAIVERS

There are four types of permit work that qualify for a waiver under this program:

1. The building or portion thereof was constructed or altered under a permit application filed on or after 7/1/92, and prior to 1/1/02, and DBI gave final approval of the accessible entry work under the construction permit or alteration permits.
2. Permit was issued that demonstrates all primary entries and accessible entrance routes comply with the 1998 California Building Code or a later SF Building Code.
3. The building is within the scope of Chapter 4D of the Existing Building Code, which mandates earthquake retrofit of certain existing Wood-Frame Buildings, and the owner elected to comply with the requirements prior to the Program's compliance deadlines.
4. The building or portion thereof was altered, or is proposed to be altered, under a permit application filed on or after the effective date of the Program and the owner elected to comply with the requirements prior to the Program's compliance deadlines.

 

COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE 

Category	Category Description	Submit compliance checklist and specify compliance option	File application for required building permit(s)	Obtain required building permit(s)
Category I	In Compliance	September 1, 2020	N/A	N/A
Category II	No Steps but barriers	September 1, 2020	December 1, 2020	September 1, 2021
Category III	One Step with other barriers	September 1, 2020	December 1, 2020	September 1, 2021
Category IV	1+ Steps with other barriers	September 1, 2020	December 1, 2020	September 1, 2021

For Property Owners and Tenants	For Design Professionals and CASp
Finance Options	Resources
Frequently Asked Questions