San Francisco Supervisors Pass Landmark Housing Bill: 2025-Zoning+ Accelerates Development Near Transit
San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Board of Supervisors today gave its final approval to Ordinance 2025-Zoning+, a pivotal and highly debated piece of legislation designed to significantly speed up the creation of high-density housing units throughout the city. The ordinance, which passed on a decisive 8-3 vote, represents a major shift in the city’s approach to zoning and development approvals, specifically targeting areas identified as ideal locations for growth due to their proximity to public transportation.
Ordinance 2025-Zoning+: Details and Intent
Ordinance 2025-Zoning+ focuses its impact on a specific geographical zone: parcels located within a half-mile radius of major transit hubs. This primarily includes stations served by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and Muni (San Francisco Municipal Railway) lines, encompassing a significant portion of the city’s urban core and key neighborhood centers. The core mechanism of the bill is the streamlining of the approval process for qualifying housing projects within these transit-adjacent areas.
Under the new ordinance, housing developments that meet specific criteria will be exempt from certain discretionary reviews that have historically added substantial time and complexity to the permitting process. This exemption is contingent upon projects meeting a crucial requirement: they must include at least 15% affordable units. This provision is intended to ensure that the acceleration of market-rate housing is accompanied by the development of homes accessible to lower and middle-income residents, addressing concerns about equitable growth.
The stated objective of Ordinance 2025-Zoning+ is to directly confront San Francisco’s persistent and severe housing shortage. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and encouraging denser development near transit, proponents argue the city can increase housing supply more rapidly, potentially stabilizing or even lowering housing costs over the long term and reducing commute times and associated carbon emissions by placing residents closer to transit options.
A City Divided: Opposition and Advocacy
The path to the ordinance’s passage was marked by intense debate and strong opinions from various community groups. Facing significant opposition, primarily from neighborhood preservation groups, the bill became a focal point for discussions about the future character and infrastructure capacity of San Francisco.
Opponents raised concerns centered on the potential strain on existing public infrastructure. They argued that rapid, dense development without commensurate investment in water supply, sewage systems, public schools, and transportation networks could overwhelm city services and degrade the quality of life for current residents. Concerns were also vocalized regarding the potential alteration of neighborhood character, particularly in areas with a history of lower-density housing or unique architectural styles. Critics questioned whether the expedited process would sufficiently allow for community input and environmental review, processes they view as essential for responsible urban planning.
Conversely, housing advocates lauded the ordinance as a necessary and critical step. They have long argued that San Francisco’s restrictive zoning laws and lengthy approval processes are major contributors to the housing crisis, driving up costs and exacerbating inequality. Advocates highlighted the urgency of the situation, pointing to rising homelessness and the exodus of residents unable to afford living in the city. They emphasized that leveraging transit corridors for housing is a smart growth strategy, promoting sustainability and equity by providing housing options for a wider range of income levels in well-connected areas. The inclusion of the 15% affordable units requirement was particularly praised by these groups as a vital component ensuring the bill contributes to affordable housing goals, not just market-rate development.
The Vote and Future Implementation
The debate within the Board of Supervisors reflected the broader city-wide split. Following hours of public comment and deliberation among the supervisors, the final vote was cast, resulting in an 8-3 approval. This margin indicates strong support among a majority of the board members, who ultimately sided with the arguments emphasizing the need for urgent action on housing supply.
With the Board’s approval secured, the ordinance now moves to the Mayor’s office. Mayor Emily Chen is expected to sign the bill into law sometime next week, a move widely anticipated given her administration’s stated commitment to addressing the housing crisis. Once signed, Ordinance 2025-Zoning+ is scheduled to take effect 30 days later. This period allows city agencies to prepare for the implementation of the new streamlined processes and provides developers with clarity on the new regulations.
Looking Ahead
The passage of Ordinance 2025-Zoning+ marks a significant legislative victory for housing proponents in San Francisco. While not a panacea for the city’s complex housing challenges, it represents one of the most ambitious attempts in recent history to accelerate development in strategically important locations. The impacts of this ordinance will be closely watched by residents, developers, and urban planners alike as San Francisco navigates the path toward accommodating growth while preserving livability and character.
