There are a variety of projects that are part of the Love Our Neighborhoods program. Application requirements depend on the project’s size, location and complexity.  

 

Tier 1

The smallest Love Our Neighborhoods projects are those located in front of a single property and occupy a portion of the public right of way. These Tier 1 projects include benches, planters and little libraries. Any property owner or their authorized agent can register this sort of project free of charge by self-certifying that it follows Love Our Neighborhoods program regulations.
 

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Tier 2

For projects that are larger and incorporate more significant parts of the public right of way – including murals on retaining walls, bridges or sidewalks; most tiled staircases; commemorative plaques; string lighting and minor landscape projects – the applicant must be an established community organization, a nonprofit, community benefit district or merchants’ association. These are Tier 2 projects and have a one-time Public Works fee of $518, plus an additional $11 Board of Appeals fee. They may be subject to additional review, approval or fees from other City departments.  
 

 

Tier 3

Projects that require the most coordination and highest level of review – which include string lights hung across a commercial corridor, certain tiled staircases, construction of new stairways or retaining walls, sculptures, pedestrian-scale lighting, major landscape infrastructures and multi-amenity designs – are Tier 3 projects. Applicants must be an established community organization, a nonprofit, community benefit district or merchants’ association. Tier 3 projects have a one-time Public Works fee of $1,037, plus an additional $11 Board of Appeals fee. These projects may be subject to additional review, approval or fees from other City departments, including the San Francisco Arts Commission, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the San Francisco Fire Department, the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection, San Francisco Planning and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.