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Board OKs citywide rules to expand in‑law and accessory dwelling units; one vote opposed
Summary
Supervisors voted to approve a revamped ordinance allowing expanded accessory dwelling units (ADUs) citywide, with limits in small buildings; the version carried on first reading with a 10–1 roll call vote.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors moved to expand the city's rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by approving a revised ordinance on July 19 that removes district‑by‑district limits and allows more ADUs citywide under specified caps.
Supporters said the change will help produce more housing quickly by allowing ADUs in more buildings and simplifying approval paths. Supervisor Scott Wiener, who championed ADU pilots in his district, joined other supervisors in negotiating a compromise that removes per‑district zoning limits and sets size and eligibility constraints for smaller buildings.
Under the ordinance as amended on the floor, buildings with five or more units may add an unlimited number of ADUs; buildings of four units or fewer may add a maximum of one ADU. The ordinance does not change existing protections for tenants and includes exclusions for buildings with recent no‑fault evictions. The board also agreed to a short follow‑up review: the planning department will report back with data on ADU sizes and pipeline units within 15 months so the board can consider whether square‑footage minimums should be adjusted.
Supervisor Mark Farrell, who helped shepherd the compromise through the budget and rules process, praised the collaboration among supervisors and noted the ordinance had attracted input from planning staff and neighborhood groups. Supervisor Scott Wiener said the change builds on years of prior pilot programs and is intended to expand housing options throughout the city.
On roll call the measure passed its first reading on July 19, with a vote of 10 ayes and 1 no (Supervisor Yee opposed). The board used a coin flip to decide which of two similar drafts would advance; the winning version will return for second reading in a subsequent meeting.
What this means: The ordinance opens a near‑term pathway to add relatively small units across many neighborhoods, while preserving specific tenant protections, seismic retrofit incentives and a requirement that ADUs not be used for short‑term rentals. The planning department is expected to report back with pipeline data to inform possible adjustments.
