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Board president’s all‑electric major‑renovation ordinance advanced with affordable‑housing waivers and timeline changes
Summary
The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted 3–0 July 28 to forward amended legislation that would require major renovations to install all‑electric systems, while adding phased timelines, exemptions and a streamlined waiver process for affordable housing and certain commercial uses.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted 3–0 July 28 to advance an ordinance introduced by Board President Rafael Mandelmann that would require buildings undergoing major renovations to install all‑electric systems, with specified exemptions, phased timelines for certain affordable housing projects and an expedited waiver process.
Mandelmann described the measure as an incremental expansion of San Francisco’s 2020 all‑electric new‑construction code, targeted at projects where work approaches the scope of new construction and includes major mechanical and structural system replacement. Sponsor amendments that the committee adopted and forwarded to the full board include: a postponed effective date of July 1, 2026; a delayed full implementation timeline for 100% affordable housing projects to July 1, 2027 with a phased waiver pathway through January 1, 2031; and explicit exemptions for certain commercial food‑service (B and F occupancies) and recent major system replacements. The sponsor also asked that steam systems fed from off‑site electric generation be allowed for space conditioning, water heating, laundry equipment and cooking appliances.
Cindy Comerford and other San Francisco Environment Department staff presented cost and health analyses. They and several public commenters emphasized indoor-air quality benefits and long‑term cost savings when electrification is completed at the time of major renovations rather than retrofitted later. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s forthcoming rules phasing out gas furnaces and gas water heaters starting in 2027 were cited as complementary regional steps.
Affordable‑housing developers and advocates spoke at length. Mission Housing Development’s Lawan Ramsey and Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation’s Jesse Rollins said electrification is an important goal but urged predictable waiver criteria and funding to avoid delayed rehabs or projects becoming financially infeasible; they asked for clear off‑ramps and financial support for work needed to keep existing affordable units habitable. Sponsors responded that a streamlined waiver process routed through the Municipal Green Building Task Force and an extended implementation timeline for affordable projects were intended as mitigation. Several health and climate organizations, SPUR and technical consultants urged rapid adoption, noting demonstrated cost efficiencies for electrification during major renovations and public‑health benefits tied to reduced NOx and indoor pollution.
After adopting the sponsor amendments the committee duplicated the file for additional follow‑up work and continued the duplicate to the call of the chair; the amended primary file will be transmitted as a committee report to the full board for first reading July 29, 2025.
