SEC. 16.111. FRANCHISES.
§ 16.111
The Board of Supervisors can grant franchises (licenses to use public rights-of-way or public places) through competitive bidding to provide customer services, and each franchise must have a termination date no later than 25 years from when it takes effect.
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors can give permission to companies to use public streets and spaces to provide services to customers. These permissions are called franchises. The Board must choose the company through a competitive bidding process (not just hand-pick one). Every franchise must have an end date, and that date cannot be more than 25 years away from when the franchise starts.
- Complex:The section uses nested legal terms ('renewal, extension, transfer or amendment') and assumes familiarity with what a 'franchise' means in municipal law, which differs from common usage.
- Controversial:Franchise grants involve public resources and competitive selection, which can be contested based on transparency, environmental impact, or equity concerns.
AI-generated · claude-haiku-4-5 · informational only, not legal advice.
Official text
The Board of Supervisors shall have the power by ordinance to grant to any person, firm or corporation, any franchise, including any renewal, extension, transfer or amendment thereof, for the use of any public right-of- way or public place within the boundaries of the City for the purpose of providing services to customers. Franchises may be granted only by a competitive process. Each franchise shall contain a specific and definite termination date which shall not be more than 25 years after its first effective date.