Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting July 21, 2025: Noncomplying Structures Ordinance
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Land Use and Transportation Committee Regular Meeting – July 21, 2025
The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on July 21, 2025, at 9:45 AM (scheduled start time). The meeting, chaired by Supervisor Mirna Melgar and joined by Vice Chair Cheyenne Chen and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, considered a single substantive agenda item: an ordinance amending the Planning and Building Codes to address noncomplying, unpermitted, and accessory structures.
Discussion Items
- Item 250284 – Noncomplying, Unpermitted, and Accessory Structures Ordinance: Supervisor Joel Lingardio, the legislation sponsor, presented four non‑substantive amendments requested by Planning staff and approved as to form. The amendments clarified: (1) that detached structures may not include sleeping quarters or full kitchens but may include bathrooms and wet bars; (2) that fire‑rated walls are among permitted additions; (3) relocation requirements for noncomplying structures within a required yard (new location must be equally or further set back from the nearest property line); and (4) striking a section (188.1C) entirely. Deputy City Attorney Brad Russell confirmed the amendments were not substantive.
- Committee members expressed support. Vice Chair Chen stated she was supportive of the effort to clarify and reduce barriers for property owners navigating the permitting process.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted unanimously (3‑0) to adopt the amendments as read.
- The committee also voted unanimously (3‑0) to recommend the amended ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors as a committee report with a positive recommendation. The item is expected to be considered by the Board on July 22, 2025, and is scheduled to appear on the Board’s September 2, 2025 agenda unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the July 21st, 2025 regular meeting of the Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I'm Supervisor Mirna Melgar, Chair of the Committee, joined by Vice Chair Supervisor Cheyenne Chen and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood. The committee clerk today is Mr. John Carroll. And I would also like to acknowledge Sus and us at SFGov TV for staffing this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Please ensure that you've silenced your cell phones and other electronic devices you've brought with you into the chamber today. If you have any documents to be included as part of any of today's files, you can submit them to me. Public comment will be taken on each item on today's agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak along your right hand side. Alternatively, you may send your written public comment to the committee in one of two of the following ways. You can send your written public comment to me at J-O-H-N period C-A-R-R-O-L-L at SFGOV.org. Or you can send your written public comment via U.S. Post to our office in City Hall. The address is one Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit, place room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of September 2nd, 2025, unless otherwise stated. And that's a lookout, Madam Chair. Thank you so much. Mr. Clerk, please call item number one. Agenda item number one is an ordinance amending the planning code to provide conditions for repair and relocation of existing non-complying structures within required yards to grant unpermitted residential structures within yards that were constructed before 2003, non-complying status, and allow accessory structures up to 10 feet in height and 120 square feet within required yards. It amends the building code to exempt accessory structures of up to 120 square feet from building permits and affirms the CEQ department's secret determination and makes findings of consistency with the general plan and planning code section 302. And also this item is on our agenda as a committee report, and it may be sent to the Board of Supervisors for consideration tomorrow, July 22nd, 2025. Thank you so much. Uh Mr. Clerk. We are now joined by Supervisor Joel Lingardio, the sponsor of this legislation, who has amendments that he'd like to read into the record and talk about. Welcome, Mr. Ngardio. Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair Melgar, Supervisors Chen and Mahmood. Thank you for the opportunity to revisit this item. On June 30th, I had the opportunity to discuss a series of proposed amendments requested by planning staff, which had not been approved as to form. Those four amendments, which are not substantive amendments, are ready today. So I'd like to read those into the record. The first amendment starts on page three, beginning on line eight. Amend the first sentence to read. One or more detached structures, which may not include sleeping quarters or full kitchens, but may include bathrooms and wet bars. The second amendment is on page four, line 10. Add the following language at the end of the first sentence, including but not limited to the addition or construction of fire-rated walls. The next sentence on the same page on lines 10 through 12 should be amended to read. A non-complying structure that is located within a required yard may be relocated within the yard if the structure's new location is equally or further set back from the nearest property line than the original location. Lastly, on page five, lines eight through twelve. Strike this 188.1C entirely.
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