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Planning Commission backs ‘Better Roofs’ ordinance allowing green‑roof alternative to solar requirement
Summary
The San Francisco Planning Commission voted 5–0 to recommend approval of the Better Roofs Ordinance, which would require most new buildings to install rooftop solar on 15% of rooftop area or use living (green) roofs at a 2:1 square‑foot tradeoff as an alternative. Staff cited ARUP lifecycle work and interagency benefits for stormwater and heat‑island reduction.
The San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Better Roofs Ordinance on Sept. 15, advancing a policy that requires most new buildings to install solar on at least 15% of their rooftop area or, alternatively, to provide living (green) roofs at a 2:1 ratio (two square feet of living roof for each square foot of solar not installed).
Planning staff and an adviser from Supervisor Scott Wiener’s office described the proposal as the second phase of the city’s rooftop sustainability effort. The earlier ordinance requires solar or solar‑ready…
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