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Commission approves private‑school seismic evaluation ordinance and matching administrative bulletin
Summary
The Building Inspection Commission unanimously approved an ordinance amendment and Administrative Bulletin (AB109) requiring licensed structural evaluations of existing private elementary and secondary schools, with a uniform life‑safety evaluation, a voluntary‑retrofit 20‑year exemption, and interagency coordination to ease permitting.
The Building Inspection Commission voted unanimously to approve two items requiring seismic evaluations for existing private elementary and secondary schools: an administrative bulletin (AB109) on seismic evaluation procedures and an amendment to the San Francisco Building Code to require licensed structural‑engineer evaluations.
Patrick Goedelini, director of earthquake safety and chief resilience officer, told commissioners the current package streamlines requirements to a consistent life‑safety evaluation for all schools, extends a voluntary‑retrofit exemption from 15 to 20 years for schools that retrofit voluntarily, and adds interagency guidance to help private schools navigate planning, fire and DBI permitting. He described an interagency working group and outreach with the Archdiocese and the Coalition to Strengthen Schools.
Goedelini also said DBI and the controller’s office are finalizing a public‑financing option: roughly 330 applications were in the pipeline seeking about $27 million in public financing to support retrofit work, and DBI is selecting a turnkey partner to administer the program.
Commissioners discussed public outreach materials and the signage that will be used to notify property owners ahead of enforcement actions. No public comments were made on items 4 and 5. Commissioner Walker moved to approve items 4 and 5, the motion was seconded, and a roll call vote recorded unanimous approval by President McCarthy; Vice President Moore; Commissioners Clinch, Lee, McCray, Melgar and Walker.
The approved administrative bulletin and ordinance will be used alongside the interagency working group to provide private schools with single‑point contacts in planning, fire and DBI and to offer technical and financing resources during the multi‑year evaluation and retrofit period.
Implementation details and publication of the administrative bulletin will follow ministerial edits and a final proofreading before public release.
