The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave unanimous initial approval to legislation creating a new, cheaper permit that would allow cafes and restaurants to host live music.
The “limited live performance” permits would be available to businesses whose primary function is not the presentation of live performances, and would cost $385 with an annual $139 renewal fee–well under the $2,000-plus cost of a normal entertainment permit.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who introduced the legislation, said that about 700 cafes and restaurants in the city would be eligible for the permit.
Mirkarimi said the new permit “can help dispel any notion” that San Francisco is not as inviting to musicians as other cities like New York or Austin, Texas.
Performances would have to end by 10 p.m., although after a year of holding the permit, businesses would be eligible to extend performances to 11 p.m.
Before the legislation was approved, Board President David Chiu and Supervisor Mark Farrell proposed amendments to exclude businesses in certain high-density neighborhoods–such as North Beach, Polk Street, Union Street and Chestnut Street–from the 11 p.m. performance extension.
Farrell also proposed an amendment creating an opt-in notice system in which residents could sign up to be notified when an application for the permit is submitted in their neighborhood.
Before Tuesday’s vote, Mirkarimi hosted a rally outside City Hall with music by the group Jazz Mafia. The board is expected to give final approval to the legislation after its August recess.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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