Legislation

Legislation and Ballot Measures and Campaigns

Tenant Enforcement of Habitability Requirements
Ordinance amending the Housing Code to authorize occupants of residential dwelling units to sue to enforce the prohibition on substandard housing conditions.

Sponsor: Melgar

Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12492680&GUID=D7133A1A-3874-4F15-87F1-11419AD5A4DA

Status: Pending

SFAA Letter on Tenant Enforcement of Habitability Requirements

Lithium-Ion Batteries in Powered Mobility Devices
Ordinance amending the Fire Code to provide fire protection standards for the charging and storage of lithium-ion batteries used in powered mobility devices (such as electric bikes, scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards), prohibit use of damaged lithium-ion batteries in such devices, prohibit use of lithium-ion batteries assembled or reconditioned using cells removed from used batteries in such devices, and require the Fire Department to conduct an informational campaign.

Sponsor: Peskin

SFFD Presentation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12502901&GUID=3DD8BFF8-E6E3-49C3-92D4-1BE4CCC7EE8F

Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12629357&GUID=701CBE70-8D91-41A9-8871-14B7ADA8EB0B

Status: Passed

Supplemental Inspections for Tall Buildings
Ordinance amending the Existing Building Code to require buildings with 15 or more stories to conduct and submit supplemental inspection reports that will focus on windows and exterior glass surfaces to identify any defective or damaged materials that may cause glass failure; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Sponsor: Peskin

Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6401294&GUID=FC77540A-36D6-4624-A13F-EEB5A67EB108

Status: Passed

Building Operations Task Force (Building Electrification/Decarbonization)
The Building Operations Task Force (BOTF) is being created to provide input on the implementation of the Building Operations section of San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan. This includes:

• understanding opportunities, challenges, and solutions for moving into a low-carbon future.

• providing feedback on policy proposals related to building performance and electrification.

• ensuring that any recommendations improve health, economic, equity, and resilience outcomes.

• increasing stakeholder knowledge, capacity, and opportunities to decarbonize buildings.

Building Operations Task Force (BOTF) Overview

BOTF Documents

BOTF Meeting Notes

BOTF Presentation Slides

Concrete Building Safety Program (Seismic Retrofitting of Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings)
The City of San Francisco is developing a new earthquake retrofit program to identify and strengthen vulnerable concrete buildings. Throughout 2023, CCSF convened a Working Group of internal and external partners to provide guidance and feedback to City staff on the development of the Concrete Building Safety Program.

The Working Group:

Helped the City understand the concerns of stakeholders from vulnerable communities
Provided useful recommendations for program policy & design that support programmatic goals
Helped ensure program products have a high level of usability among the general public
Will support the program goals at public meetings or participate in other forms of community education and outreach

October 2022 CBSP Meeting Documents

November 2022 CBSP Meeting Documents

January 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

February 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

April 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

June 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

August 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

September 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

Tenant Organizing
Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to require residential landlords to allow tenant organizing activities to occur in common areas of the building; require certain residential landlords to recognize duly-established tenant associations, confer in good faith with said associations, and attend some of their meetings upon request; and provide that a landlord’s failure to allow organizing activities or comply with their obligations as to tenant associations may support a petition for a rent reduction.

Sponsor: Aaron Peskin, Connie Chan

Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10514976&GUID=1E551549-F00F-493B-B2DB-4C5CFBB8880C

Status: Passed

Residential Vacancy Tax
Ordinance amending the Business and Tax Regulations Code and Administrative Code to impose an excise tax on owners keeping certain residential units vacant, to fund rental subsidies and the acquisition, rehabilitation, and operation of affordable housing; increasing the City's appropriations limit by the amount collected under the tax for four years from November 8, 2022; and affirming the Planning Department's determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Sponsor: Ballot Measure Initiative

Legal Text: https://sfelections.sfgov.org/sites/default/files/20220207_ExciseTax.pdf

Status: Approved by voters on November 8, 2022 election; SFAA has filed a lawsuit against the Residential Vacancy Tax. On 12/20/23, the SFAA Superior Court ruled that the lawsuit may proceed.

Automatic Sprinkler Requirements for Existing High-Rise Buildings
Ordinance amending the Fire Code to require automatic sprinkler systems in existing high-rise buildings; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Sponsor: Aaron Peskin

Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10401536&GUID=5078C726-EF52-4FA2-B519-5BAA5F599780

Status: Passed

Tenant Opportunity to Cure; Eviction Protections
Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to require landlords pursuing certain types of evictions to first provide their tenants 10 days written notice and an opportunity to cure, unless the eviction is based on an imminent health or safety issue or the non-payment of COVID-19 rental debt; and making findings that the eviction protections in the Rent Ordinance are more protective than those found in State law pursuant to California Civil Code, Section 1946.2.

Sponsor: Dean Preston

Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10341833&GUID=9C9CB71D-1B0B-437B-AD4D-B7DE38F69604

Status: Passed; SFAA successfully sued to overturn this ordinance in part.

Fire Alarm Sleeping Area Upgrade FAQ'S
https://sf-fire.org/files/2023-06/Fire%20Alarm%20%28Sleeping%20Area%29%20Upgrade%20FAQ%20For%20Website%20Edited%2006202023.pdf