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Ordinance#250926Passed
In plain English

The ordinance requires property owners to replace any residential units they demolish and provides relocation assistance to affected tenants, especially those with lower incomes. It also establishes stricter conditions for demolition permits and enhances tenant protections against harassment and improper buyout agreements.

Ordinance amending the Planning Code to 1) require property owners seeking to demolish residential units to replace all units that are being demolished; 2) prohibit demolition permits for five years if a tenant vacated a unit in the building to be demolished due to harassment or under an improper buyout agreement, subject to certain conditions; 3) require relocation assistance to affected occupants of units being demolished and to former occupants of those units who vacated due to certain buyout agreements, owner move-ins, pursuant to the Ellis Act, or due to serious and imminent hazards, with additional assistance and protections for lower-income tenants; 4) modify the Planning Code definition of demolition; 5) modify the conditional use criteria that apply to projects to demolish residential units; amending the Administrative Code to 6) require landlords to provide additional relocation assistance to lower-income tenants who are being required to vacate temporarily due to capital improvements or rehabilitation work; 7) update the standards and procedures for hearings related to tenant harassment; 8) require additional disclosures in buyout agreements; 9) require an additional disclosure in notice of intent to withdraw units under the Ellis Act; 10) making various non-substantive changes and clarifications; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; making public necessity, convenience, and welfare findings under Planning Code, Section 302; and making findings of consistency with the General Plan and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1.

How it got here

The legislation originated from the need to enhance tenant protections in San Francisco, particularly in response to the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (SB 330).

1
Introduction of OrdinanceSeptember 2025
Supervisor Chyanne Chen

Supervisor Chen introduced the proposed ordinance to amend the Planning and Administrative Codes to strengthen tenant protections related to residential demolitions and renovations.

Legistar action history
2
CEQA DeterminationOctober 3, 2025
Planning Department

The Planning Department determined that the actions contemplated in the ordinance comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

CEQA Determination document
3
Planning Commission ApprovalNovember 6, 2025
Planning Commission

The Planning Commission adopted findings that the actions contemplated in the ordinance are consistent with the City’s General Plan and eight priority policies.

Planning Commission Transmittal
4
Committee AmendmentsNovember 17, 2025
Land Use and Transportation Committee

The Land Use and Transportation Committee reviewed and amended the ordinance, expanding tenant protections and defining 'existing occupants' to include those displaced by the Ellis Act.

Comm Pkt 111725
5
Further AmendmentsDecember 1, 2025
Land Use and Transportation Committee

The Committee made additional amendments to the Planning Code definitions and conditional use criteria for demolitions.

Comm Pkt 120125
6
Final AmendmentsDecember 8, 2025
Land Use and Transportation Committee

The Committee finalized amendments to the ordinance, including prohibiting demolition permits for five years under certain conditions.

Leg Ver5
7
Mayor's ApprovalJanuary 8, 2026
Mayor

The Mayor approved the ordinance, finalizing the legislative process.

Legistar action history

Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record

Document trail
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Leg Dig Ver1
Official legislation text
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Referral CEQA PC 091825
Environmental review (CEQA)
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CEQA Det 100325
Environmental review (CEQA)
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Leg Dig Ver2
Official legislation text
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PC Transmittal 111325
Departmental transmittal
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PLN Present 111725
SF Planning Department
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Leg Dig Ver3
Official legislation text
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Leg Dig Ver4
Official legislation text
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Leg Dig Ver5
Official legislation text
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How they voted

RECOMMENDED AS COMMITTEE REPORT
Land Use and Transportation Committee Β· Dec 15, 2025Pass
3-0
AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING NEW TITLE
Land Use and Transportation Committee Β· Dec 8, 2025Pass
3-0
CONTINUED AS AMENDED
Land Use and Transportation Committee Β· Dec 8, 2025Pass
3-0
AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING NEW TITLE
Land Use and Transportation Committee Β· Dec 1, 2025Pass
3-0
CONTINUED AS AMENDED
Land Use and Transportation Committee Β· Dec 1, 2025Pass
3-0

Legislative journey

PresidentSep 9, 2025
β†’ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE
Clerk of the BoardSep 18, 2025
β†’REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT
Planning DepartmentOct 3, 2025
Β·RESPONSE RECEIVED
PresidentOct 7, 2025
β†’SUBSTITUTED AND ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE
Planning CommissionNov 13, 2025
Β·RESPONSE RECEIVED
Land Use and Transportation CommitteeDec 1, 2025 – Dec 15, 2025
β†·CONTINUED AS AMENDEDPass
✎AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING NEW TITLEPass
β†·CONTINUED AS AMENDEDPass
✎AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING NEW TITLEPass
Β·DUPLICATED
βœ“RECOMMENDED AS COMMITTEE REPORTPass
Board of SupervisorsDec 16, 2025 – Jan 6, 2026
βœ“PASSED, ON FIRST READINGPass
βœ“FINALLY PASSEDPass
MayorJan 8, 2026
βœ“APPROVED