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Building Inspection Commission backs ordinance to align accessory-structure permit rules with state code
Summary
The commission voted unanimously to recommend Board of Supervisors File No. 250,284, which would align San Francisco's permit exemption for small accessory structures with the California Building Code by allowing accessory structures up to 120 square feet without a building permit.
The San Francisco Building Inspection Commission on May 21 voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve File No. 250,284, an ordinance to align local rules with the California Building Code for small accessory structures.
Legislative affairs manager Tate Hanna told the commission the California Building Code exempts 1-story accessory structures with floor area of 120 square feet or less from permit requirements. San Francisco's local amendment currently reduces that allowance to 100 square feet of projected roof area, which, Hanna said, prohibits some prefabricated storage sheds that comply with state rules. File No. 250,284 would revert the local amendment to the state standard (120 square feet by floor area) and make related planning-code adjustments for nonconforming accessory structures constructed before Feb. 2003. The Code Advisory Committee reviewed the ordinance on May 14 and recommended approval; DBI staff recommended approval as well.
Commissioners asked about the timing of San Francisco's local amendment; staff said the state provision allowing 120 square feet has been in place for several code cycles (at least since the 2019 code) and the local amendment had been in place "for a number of years." Commissioner Newman moved the commission's recommendation; Commissioner Calamucci seconded. The motion to recommend File No. 250,284 to the Board of Supervisors passed on a unanimous roll-call vote (Chavez, Calamucci, Ming, Newman, Williams "yes").
The ordinance, as described by staff, would also (1) revert San Francisco's use of projected roof area back to floor area for the exemption, and (2) amend related planning-code provisions to allow repair and replacement of nonconforming accessory structures constructed before Feb. 2003 and allow limited accessory structures within required setbacks and unusable open space. Staff said the change intends to create consistency with state rules and reduce permitting friction for small, prefabricated storage structures that meet state code.
No public comment was recorded on the motion. The commission's recommendation will be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors for further legislative consideration.
