Mayor London N. Breed's push to eliminate fees for outdoor entertainment permits has been given the green light by the Board of Supervisors. This decision is a clear message to the city's bustling nightlife and entertainment sectors that the tunes will keep on playing as businesses can continue to feature live music and entertainment without the burden of permit fees, as reported by sf.gov. The waiving of these fees was part of a set of entertainment permit modernization reforms that Mayor Breed sponsored.

A piece of legislation that many say is music to their ears seeks to provide a financial encore for nightlife venues and performers who turned to open-air stages during the pandemic through a program dubbed "Just Add Music" (JAM). Permit fees, which typically hit wallets at $562 or $792, are now out of the picture for those who had a JAM permit and for fresh applicants navigating the permit process for the first time. Mayor Breed's office earmarked funds through the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to cover the fee waivers. "San Francisco's nightlife and vibrant entertainment scene are part of what makes San Francisco so unique, and we are committed to making it as easy and affordable as possible for businesses to host local musicians and entertainers," Mayor Breed stated, according to sf.gov.

The passage of this ordinance isn't just about dropping fees. It represents a broader effort to simplify the bureaucratic maze that business owners face when seeking entertainment permits. The legislation's bouquet of reforms includes axing needless referrals and hearings, trimming red tape in the permit process for areas like billiard parlors and arcades, and widening the scope for where businesses can snag Limited Live Performance (LLP) permits. A particular boon for historical businesses nestled in SoMa is the recent zoning changes that now let them apply for these entertainment permits, with the initiative also nudging policymakers towards further zoning reforms citywide.

In sync with the new law, the Entertainment Commission has started waiving fees and processing refunds for businesses that have already footed the bill since January. "With the goal of encouraging and sustaining entertainment and cultural activity across all neighborhoods, this legislation comes at a critical moment as our businesses and artists continue to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic," noted Maggie Weiland, Executive Director of the Entertainment Commission, in a statement described by sf.gov. Jennifer Corwin, owner of Tia Margarita Restaurant, conveyed her gratitude, "When the city offered a JAM permit to play music outside, I couldn’t install speakers fast enough."

Mayor Breed's office also heralded the SF Live Initiative, a concert series slated to start in 2024, showcasing live performances at outdoor parks and plazas around the city. Funded through a $2.5 million allocation from the California State Legislature, led by City Attorney David Chiu when he was an Assemblymember, SF Live aims to pump up the volume on neighborhood vitality and the city’s economic recovery through the arts. Prospective venues can visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development’s website to learn more about joining the lineup.