Effective April 2, 2018:

The Department no longer accepts Environmental Evaluation Applications (EEA) concurrently with a PPA application. This is intended to reduce project review times by providing for a better alignment of key planning considerations with the environmental review process. Once a PPA response letter has been issued, an EEA may be submitted along with a Project Application at any time. Along with a more focused PPA response letter, this will enable Planning to respond to sponsors within 60 days, rather than the current 90-day response time. Please note that projects that submitted a PPA application prior to April 2 will still be subject to the 90-day timeframe.  
Also effective April 2, the project types for which a PPA is required have also changed.
A PPA is required for the following project types:

1. Creation of 10 or more dwelling units;
2. Creation or expansion of any Group Housing use; and/or
3. Construction of a new non-residential building or addition of 10,000 square feet or more.

PPAs are no longerrequired for changes of use of greater than 25,000 square feet or for construction and expansions of school uses.

The PPA application is available on our website.

The PPA process is a preliminary step that evaluates moderate to large projects before development applications are filed. It provides sponsors with feedback and procedural instructions and allows staff to coordinate at the beginning of the development process. The PPA application is not a development application, and a PPA letter is not a development approval or denial.

For more information, please contact:
Jacob Bintliff, Principal Planner
Jacob.Bintliff@sfgov.org
(415) 575-9170