Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Seismic Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission approves fee waiver to encourage seismic upgrades for soft‑story buildings
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously approved an ordinance, introduced by Mayor Newsom, to waive Planning Department fees for seismic strengthening of soft‑story wood‑frame buildings and streamline review; DBI warned such work can trigger other code requirements and staff pledged coordination and incentives for property owners.
The San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve an ordinance introduced by Mayor Gavin Newsom that waives planning fees for seismic strengthening work on soft‑story wood‑frame buildings and clarifies administrative processing.
Tara Sullivan of the Planning Department told commissioners the bill, first introduced last July and revisited this month, is intended to encourage voluntary seismic upgrades while setting clear administrative procedures. "All of the planning fee permit review fees associated with the review of seismic upgrades to soft story wood frame buildings will be waived," Sullivan said, and staff has worked with the Department of Building Inspection to ensure the permit process separates seismic work from unrelated remodeling.
The measure relies on an administrative DBI bulletin (referred to in the hearing as AB 94) that defines which components qualify as "soft‑story" work and which are exempt from fees. "This legislation accomplishes its goals, and we recommend approval of it," Sullivan told the commission.
Vivian Day, director of the Department of Building Inspection, cautioned commissioners that seismic work sometimes triggers other code requirements such as accessibility upgrades. "Yes — it could trigger some ADA issues," Day said, adding that the departments intend to offer concurrent permits and incentives to minimize cost burdens to property owners.
Commissioners emphasized outreach and technical assistance to help owners complete seismic retrofits without unexpected costs. The measure passed on a unanimous vote.
The ordinance is intended to speed voluntary retrofit work on ground‑floor soft‑story conditions and clarify department roles; it directs planning staff and DBI to adopt the administrative procedures described at the hearing and to coordinate on outreach and incentives. Next steps include implementing the administrative guidance and publicizing the fee waiver to property owners and contractors.
