Committee delays all-electric building-code vote after industry and technical concerns

The Land Use & Transportation Committee took up an ordinance to amend the building code to require new construction to be all-electric and to add environmental-code provisions for public hearings on implementation. Vice Chair Supervisor Safae opened the discussion by flagging two areas of further work: sidewalk vaults and an exemption window proposed for restaurants. He said the ordinance's one-year exemption for new construction could be a "deal killer" for restaurants and that the building department needs further technical work, while noting the city must balance climate goals with economic realities and sector-specific concerns.

Public commenters included climate-coalition representatives urging swift adoption and cautioning against broad extensions of restaurant exemptions. Daniel Tahara (Climate Emergency Coalition) said additional restaurant exemptions were unnecessary and raised equity and air-quality concerns for projects in already-burdened neighborhoods. Sarah Green Weld (350 San Francisco) said climate "isn't going to wait" and urged the committee to dispatch the ordinance where possible. Other callers, including Paul Wormer and local commenters, asked for more comprehensive planning for electrical distribution, noting San Francisco's grid and building characteristics present challenges to electrification—especially regarding sidewalk vault infrastructure and primary-versus-secondary distribution questions.

Vice Chair Safae said he would continue conversations with the building department, the restaurant industry and environmental stakeholders and moved to continue the item to the call of the chair. The committee approved the continuation by roll call (three ayes). The item was not finalized and will be resumed after technical and industry consultations.