On February 10th, the San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend its approval (with modifications) of two proposed ordinances that could bring big changes for Group Housing citywide. In mid-December 2021, Supervisor Peskin introduced two ordinances at the Board of Supervisors. The first (Board File No. 211299, “Planning Code – Group Housing Definition”), which […]
This past Monday, the Land Use and Transportation Committee unanimously voted to recommend a new scaled-back version of Supervisor Mandelman’s proposed Large Residence Legislation (the “Legislation”) that could greatly affect a large number of homeowners in central San Francisco neighborhoods. As we reported in prior updates on October 4th, July 29th, and March 31st of […]
In 2016, the San Francisco Building Code (“Code”) was amended to require that the façades of certain buildings of five or more stories be inspected periodically by a licensed architect or engineer and that a Façade Inspection and Maintenance Report (“Report”) be submitted to the owner and the Department of Building Inspection (“DBI”). The Code […]
Real estate developers often require agreements from neighboring property owners to coordinate logistical issues during construction. This is particularly true for infill projects in dense urban neighborhoods, where structures are frequently built to the property line and adjacent to existing buildings. Developers are well-served by considering the logistical needs of their projects during the entitlement […]
This month, the California Second District Court of Appeal (“Court”) stopped short of prohibiting a common interest development owners association (“Association”) from recovering a portion of surplus proceeds following a nonjudicial foreclosure sale of an Association member’s townhome (“Unit”) where the Association had a recorded financial interest in the Unit. In Cruz v. Valerio Townhomes […]
As I previously reported, Oakland is in the process of updating its Planning Code regulations pertaining to accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”). On December 21, 2021, the Oakland City Council heard and passed on first reading legislation amending Oakland’s ADU controls (the, “Legislation”). The proposed amendments encourage ADU production by reducing barriers through the adoption of […]
The Code Advisory Committee of the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (“Building Department”) held a discussion with the public and with Building Department officials on December 8, 2021 to discuss concerns about the impact of suspending Information Sheet EG-02, which allowed a local equivalency for Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings (EEROs), opening into a […]
On November 30, 2021, Supervisor Ahsha Safai introduced legislation that would allow up to four units on lots zoned RH-1(D), RH-1, and RH-2 with the addition of affordable housing for moderate-income families. This competes with Supervisor Rafael Mandelman’s fourplex legislation, which would allow up to four units in all RH zones without any affordability requirement. […]
The Board of Supervisors (“Board”) recently issued two unusual denials of large housing projects – the projects would have provided over 800 dwelling units, over 130 of which were affordable. In an even more unusual move, last week the California Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) informed San Francisco officials that the City may […]
On Thursday, November 18, 2021, the San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve legislation proposed by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to allow four units on any residential lot, as well as up to six units on corner lots, in “RH” zones. Supervisor Mandelman’s proposal—actually two pieces of legislation—only proposes minor changes […]
