Artist Certification Service

For several housing projects in the City of San Francisco, ArtHouse provides artist certification to buyers of units restricted to artists. These buildings also have income limitations that are administered by the Mayors Office of housing.

Listings for for-sale below market housing, included artist restrict housing, are advertised on the City of San Francisco's web site.

We've posted excerpts of the pertinent City of San Francisco Planning codes.

Legal Requirements

Each Live/work unit shall be used as a work space for an authorized arts activity by at least one of the adults living there.

At least one occupant of each live/work unit, whether occupying the unit as an owner or tenant shall hold and maintain a valid and active San Francisco Business License, registered for the project location. The Business License shall authorize an arts activity as defined in Planning Code Section 102.2.

The ArtHouse Program of California Lawyers for the Arts will certify that buyers meet these requirements. The City will handle income certifications. Re-sales will be subject to the same requirements.

San Francisco Planning Code Definition Section 102.2

Arts activities shall include performance, exhibition (except exhibition of films), rehearsal, production, post-production and schools of any of the following: Dance, music, dramatic art, film, video, graphic art, painting, drawing, sculpture, small-scale glass works, ceramics, textiles, woodworking, photography, custom-made jewelry or apparel, and other visual, performance and sound arts and crafts. It shall include commercial arts and art-related business service uses including, but not limited to recording and editing services, small-scale film and video developing and printing; titling; video and film libraries; special effects production; fashion and photo stylists; production, sale and rental of theatrical wardrobes; and studio property production and rental companies.

Screening Process

Buyers will be evaluated to determine that they are currently engaged in an arts-related work activity. Applicants will submit the following documentation:

Artist statement describing your development as an artist, professional goals and why a commercial space is necessary for these endeavors.

Professional resume pertinent to an arts-related activity as defined in Planning Code Section 102.2; including educational background, professional training, work experience directly related to the arts-activity, public exhibitions and/or performances, reviews, etc.

Documentation of a body of work appropriate to the particular art form, completed in the last 5 years, in the form of slides, videos, etc.

Evidence of commercial business or professional activity to distinguish an intended profession from a hobby, i.e. business license, past Schedule C tax returns, etc. (Similar to IRS hobby guidelines)

An interview may be required usually including a review of the portfolio of the applicant.

Applicants pay a fee for the certification to ArtHouse at the time that the application is submitted.

Webmaster: Josie Porter