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Ordinance#251072Killed
In plain English

The ordinance aimed to create a program to encourage housing development in San Francisco by modifying zoning laws, adjusting height limits, and changing parking requirements. It also included provisions for displaced businesses and made various technical amendments to the Planning Code, but it has been killed and will not be enacted.

Ordinance amending the Planning Code to: 1) create the Housing Choice-San Francisco Program to incent housing development through a local bonus program and by adopting a Housing Sustainability District, 2) modify height and bulk limits to provide for additional capacity in well-resourced neighborhoods, and to allow additional height and bulk for projects using the local bonus program, 3) require only buildings taller than 85 feet in certain Districts to reduce ground level wind currents, 4) make conforming changes to the RH (Residential, House), RM (Residential, Mixed), and RC (Residential-Commercial) District zoning tables to reflect the changes to density controls, and parking requirements made in this ordinance, 5) create the RTO-C (Residential Transit Oriented-Commercial) District, 6) implement the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Transit-Oriented Communities Policy by making changes to parking requirements, minimum residential densities, and minimum office intensities, and requiring maximum dwelling unit sizes, 7) revise off-street parking and curb cut obligations citywide, 8) create the Non-contiguous San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Sites Special Use District, 9) permit businesses displaced by new construction to relocate without a conditional use authorization and waive development impact fees for those businesses, 10) make technical amendments to the Code to implement the above changes, 11) make conforming changes to zoning tables in various Districts, including the Neighborhood Commercial District and Mixed Use Districts, prohibit Lot mergers on Lots with Category A historic resources, subject to certain preservation obligations, and 13) reduce usable open space and bicycle parking requirements for senior housing; amending the Business and Tax Regulations Code regarding the Board of Appeals’ review of permits in the Housing Choice Program Housing Sustainability District; also, amending the Local Coastal Program to implement the Housing Choice-San Francisco Program and other associated changes in the City’s Coastal Zone, and directing the Planning Director to transmit the ordinance to the Coastal Commission upon enactment; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; making findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1; and making public necessity, convenience, and welfare findings under Planning Code, Section 302.

Introduced: Oct 20, 2025
Final action:
Official record ↗

How it got here

The Family Zoning Plan originated from San Francisco's need to comply with state housing mandates and address the housing crisis by increasing density in well-resourced neighborhoods.

1
Certification of Housing Element EIRNovember 17, 2022
San Francisco Planning Commission

The Planning Commission certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the 2022 Housing Element, which outlined the city's housing needs and strategies.

Leg Ver2
2
Adoption of Housing ElementJanuary 31, 2023
San Francisco Board of Supervisors

The Board adopted the 2022 Housing Element, confirming the certification of the Housing Element EIR and making necessary environmental findings.

Leg Ver2
3
Publication of EIR AddendumSeptember 3, 2025
San Francisco Planning Department

An addendum to the Housing Element EIR was published, concluding that no further environmental review was required for the Family Zoning Plan.

Leg Ver2
4
Recommendation for Family Zoning PlanSeptember 11, 2025
San Francisco Planning Commission

The Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval of the Family Zoning Plan with modifications.

PC Transmittal 091825
5
Hearing on Family Zoning PlanOctober 20, 2025
Land Use and Transportation Committee

The committee held a hearing to discuss the Family Zoning Plan and proposed amendments, continuing the legislative process.

Hearing Notice 100325
6
Approval with ModificationsNovember 20, 2025
San Francisco Planning Commission

The Planning Commission adopted findings and recommended modifications to the Family Zoning Plan, emphasizing the need for historic preservation.

PC Transmittal 112525
7
Tabling of Family Zoning PlanDecember 1, 2025
Land Use and Transportation Committee

The committee tabled the Family Zoning Plan, indicating further discussion and potential revisions before moving forward.

Action history

Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record

Related / predecessor legislation
↑ from
Ordinance#250700Passed

The ordinance changes zoning classifications for various properties in San Francisco to support the Family Zoning Plan, allowing for more residential and commercial development in specific areas. It also updates height limits and designations for properties in the Coastal Zone and includes findings related to environmental quality and city planning policies.

Introduced Sep 30, 2025Final action Dec 12, 2025Danny Sauter, Bilal Mahmood, Matt Dorsey
↑ from
Ordinance#250701Passed

The ordinance creates the Housing Choice-San Francisco Program to encourage housing development and modifies zoning regulations to increase building height and density in certain neighborhoods. It also includes provisions for parking requirements, business relocation, and protections for historic buildings, among other changes.

Introduced Sep 30, 2025Final action Dec 12, 2025
↑ from
Ordinance#250966Passed

This ordinance updates various city planning elements to support the Family Housing Zoning Program, which includes changes to building heights, density, and design guidelines. It also amends the Local Coastal Program to align with these housing initiatives and requires the Planning Director to send the ordinance to the Coastal Commission.

Introduced Sep 30, 2025Final action Dec 12, 2025
↑ from
Ordinance#251071Killed

The ordinance aimed to change zoning classifications for various properties in San Francisco to promote family housing and commercial use, while also adjusting height limits and designating certain areas for transportation agency use. It was ultimately rejected and is no longer in effect.

Introduced Oct 20, 2025Danny Sauter, Bilal Mahmood, Matt Dorsey
↑ from
Ordinance#251073Killed

The ordinance aimed to create a program to encourage housing development in San Francisco by modifying zoning laws, increasing building heights in certain neighborhoods, and changing parking requirements. It also included provisions for displaced businesses and adjustments to various planning codes, but it has been killed and will not be enacted.

Introduced Oct 20, 2025
Legislation that followed from this
↓ led to
Ordinance#250966Passed

This ordinance updates various city planning elements to support the Family Housing Zoning Program, which includes changes to building heights, density, and design guidelines. It also amends the Local Coastal Program to align with these housing initiatives and requires the Planning Director to send the ordinance to the Coastal Commission.

Introduced Sep 30, 2025Final action Dec 12, 2025
↓ led to
Ordinance#250700Passed

The ordinance changes zoning classifications for various properties in San Francisco to support the Family Zoning Plan, allowing for more residential and commercial development in specific areas. It also updates height limits and designations for properties in the Coastal Zone and includes findings related to environmental quality and city planning policies.

Introduced Sep 30, 2025Final action Dec 12, 2025Danny Sauter, Bilal Mahmood, Matt Dorsey
↓ led to
Ordinance#250701Passed

The ordinance creates the Housing Choice-San Francisco Program to encourage housing development and modifies zoning regulations to increase building height and density in certain neighborhoods. It also includes provisions for parking requirements, business relocation, and protections for historic buildings, among other changes.

Introduced Sep 30, 2025Final action Dec 12, 2025
↓ led to
Ordinance#251071Killed

The ordinance aimed to change zoning classifications for various properties in San Francisco to promote family housing and commercial use, while also adjusting height limits and designating certain areas for transportation agency use. It was ultimately rejected and is no longer in effect.

Introduced Oct 20, 2025Danny Sauter, Bilal Mahmood, Matt Dorsey
↓ led to
Ordinance#251073Killed

The ordinance aimed to create a program to encourage housing development in San Francisco by modifying zoning laws, increasing building heights in certain neighborhoods, and changing parking requirements. It also included provisions for displaced businesses and adjustments to various planning codes, but it has been killed and will not be enacted.

Introduced Oct 20, 2025
Document trail
PDF ↗
Index of Planning Code Amendments
SF Planning Department
PDF ↗
Referral CEQA PC 070325
Environmental review (CEQA)
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
Referral CEQA PC 080725
Environmental review (CEQA)
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
HPC Ltr 090925
Historic Preservation Commission
PDF ↗
CEQA Det 091125
Environmental review (CEQA)
PDF ↗
PC Transmittal 091825
Departmental transmittal
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PLN Substitute Summary 093025
SF Planning Department
PDF ↗
FEIR Transmittal 101625
Departmental transmittal
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PLN Present 102025
SF Planning Department
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
Leg Dig Ver2
Official legislation text
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PLN Memo 110325
SF Planning Department
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PC Transmittal 112525
Departmental transmittal
PDF ↗
PDF ↗
PLN Memo 112625
SF Planning Department
PDF ↗

How they voted

TABLED
Land Use and Transportation Committee · Dec 1, 2025Pass
2-1
AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING NEW TITLE
Land Use and Transportation Committee · Oct 20, 2025Pass
3-0
CONTINUED AS AMENDED
Land Use and Transportation Committee · Oct 20, 2025Pass
3-0

Legislative journey

Land Use and Transportation CommitteeOct 20, 2025
CONTINUED AS AMENDEDPass
AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING NEW TITLEPass
DUPLICATED AS AMENDED
Planning CommissionNov 25, 2025
·RESPONSE RECEIVED
Land Use and Transportation CommitteeDec 1, 2025
TABLEDPass