New Law Streamlines San Francisco's Approval Process for Housing

San Francisco is taking steps to streamline its notoriously slow permitting process. On Dec. 15, San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed signed Housing Constraints Legislation as part of her Housing for All strategy, which intends to fundamentally change how San Francisco approves and builds housing.

Research released in October showed San Francisco has California's longest timelines for getting projects through permitting from submittal to construction—an average of 523 days compared with 385 days for the next slowest jurisdiction in the state. The new law will loosen some zoning regulations and reduce wait times for housing construction permits in the city, United Press International reports.

In order to meet its housing need, California Gov. Gavin Newsom says San Francisco must add 10,259 units of housing, including 5,825 affordable homes, each year through 2031.

The law is also partially an effort to prevent a so-called "builder's remedy," a provision that allows the state to compel a city to allow developers to build so long as they meet certain requirements.

Breed said the law is "a huge victory for all those fighting for more housing in San Francisco."

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