Storefront Improvement Program
The Storefront Improvement Program (SIP) was created in 1986 and is designed to enhance and revitalize older commercial
neighborhoods throughout the City of San Diego. As part of a comprehensive approach to small business assistance and neighborhood
revitalization, the City of San Diego will rebate small businesses or property owners as an incentive for them to improve their
storefronts consistent with design standards for their commercial areas.
The Storefront Improvement Program stimulates private investment and customer patronage in the City's commercial districts by
focusing on revitalizing building façades visible to customers, neighboring merchants, and residents.
The goals of the Storefront Improvement Program are to:
- Work in partnership with the private sector to stimulate private investment in the City's commercial neighborhoods
- Generate additional revitalization by focusing the investment on visible improvements
- Beautify the districts so that they positively reflect on neighboring residential areas
- Increase business by generally making the district more attractive
In doing so, the City has instituted some basic design parameters, which include:
- Respect for the original features of the building including the use of color and suitable materials
- Limiting additional signage by incorporating it into the building's design
- Use of suitable landscaping that will aid in the preservation of community scale and character
The City of San Diego offers three different rebate options through the SIP:
- Standard Projects: rebates the applicant for one-third of the construction costs up to a maximum of $5,000.
- Historic Projects: rebates the applicant for one-half of the construction costs up to a maximum of $7,500. To qualify for the historic rebate incentive, the subject property must be designated by the City's Historic Resources Board as a historic structure and either classified as a contributing structure to a historic district or included on a locally defined historic building inventory. Furthermore, improvements must be consistent with the historical character of the property.
- Multiple Tenant Building Projects: rebates property owners with a commercial building that leases to multiple small business tenants up to a maximum of $10,000. Large office buildings in excess of 80,000-square-feet are excluded from the program.
The Storefront Improvement Program will accept applications from small businesses (with 12 or fewer employees) and property owners who lease space to small businesses. All applicants must possess a valid City of San Diego Business Tax Certificate.
The City's Office of Small Business administers the program and selects projects that provide the greatest public benefit to commercial districts in need of revitalization. Each application is subject to review for eligibility. The SIP Program Manager considers one or all of the factors listed below:
- Current condition of the building/façade
- Complements City's public improvement strategies
- Community need/demand for change
- Neighborhood code compliance issues
- Conformity to community design guidelines
- Creative value of the project
National franchises, large office buildings in excess of 80,000-square-feet, residential rental buildings (apartments), home-based businesses, government owned and occupied buildings, churches and other religious institutions.
Example Renderings
The following are examples of Storefront Improvement Program Renderings:
The purpose of the Council Policy is to establish guidelines and procedures regarding the application process,
selection process, design process, reimbursement process and fees associated with the administration of the SIP.
For more information about the Storefront Improvement Program procedures or to learn more about the application process,
please contact the Storefront Improvement Program at (619) 236-6460.
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