What is a Community Benefit District (CBD)?
A CBD is a locally established special property-tax assessment district managed by a non-profit, public benefit corporation and created by interested property and/or small business owners who share common needs and a common vision.
The revenue generated by these additional assessments is dedicated entirely to funding special services above and beyond what the City already provides within the boundaries of the CBD. These revenues can be used to support any activities that the CBD members agree upon. Other CBDs in San Francisco engage in activities that include:
• Branding, marketing and promotion of the district to businesses, brokers and outside residents
• Maintaining a Web site that promotes the neighborhoods
• Augmenting City cleaning and greening services and beautification
• Providing additional safety and community support services
• Organizing and funding community festivals and fairs
How Do We Form a CBD?
A CBD is created through a two-step voting process by property owners and businesses, public hearings and a vote at the Board of Supervisors. To start levying assessments on parcels, a final scope of services, budget, boundaries and assessment formula must be approved by both a majority of responding property owners and the Board of Supervisors.
Read more about the process of creating a CBD and our timeline.
Why A CBD?
Other neighborhoods in San Francisco and around the country have improved their neighborhoods by creating CBDs. Today, there are more than 2,000 CBDs or equivalents supporting community development around the U.S. and Canada. In San Francisco, neighborhoods or interest groups that already have functioning, successful CBDs include:
• Nob Hill (www.sfnobhillcbd.org)
• The Tenderloin (www.nom-tlcbd.org/)
• Fisherman’s Wharf (www.visitfishermanswharf.com)
• Central Market CBD (www.central-market.org)
• Castro / Upper Market (www.castrocbd.org)
