Code Streamlining Committee

Why the code needs review

Over time, San Francisco’s Building Code has expanded to include hundreds of local amendments. While many of these amendments reflect the city's unique safety needs, others are outdated, repetitive, or difficult to interpret, which can lead to confusion and cause delays in the permitting process.

Streamlining the code will help eliminate unnecessary barriers and improve the overall customer experience for property owners, design professionals, and contractors.

Creating the committee

To address challenges in the permitting process caused by outdated or overly complex building code amendments, the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) created the Code Streamlining Committee as part of the PermitSF initiative.

The committee was established to take a fresh look at the local code and recommend improvements that support a more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly permitting experience.

The review process

The committee is reviewing every local amendment added to the San Francisco Building Code and Existing Building Code, section by section. Each amendment is being evaluated to determine whether it should be removed, revised, relocated, or kept as-is.

The review is led by four senior DBI staff members: a principal engineer, a structural engineer, a Certified Access Specialist, and a senior building inspector.

Amendments are flagged for change if they:

• Are outdated or no longer apply.
• Don’t contribute meaningful to health or safety.
• Appear in the wrong section of the code.
• Create confusion or delays during permitting.

Progress so far

So far, the committee has identified hundreds of local amendments for possible revision. Roughly half of those amendments are now under an additional review by teams across DBI, including staff from plan review, inspections, and code enforcement.

Once the internal staff review is complete, the committee will share its recommendations with DBI leadership and the PermitSF team.

Next steps

Stakeholder Outreach

After the internal review phase, the committee will begin to gather input from key stakeholders, including:

• Construction and trade associations.
• Labor organizations.
• Neighborhood groups.
• Supervisors’ offices.

Legislation Drafting

Based on this feedback, DBI will work with the City Attorney’s Office to draft legislation that incorporates the recommended changes and aligns with the 2025 code adoption cycle.

Public Hearings

The proposed updates will then move through public hearings with the Code Advisory Committee, Building Inspection Commission, Land Use and Transportation Committee, and Board of Supervisors.

The public will have opportunities to provide input at each stage of the process.

Questions or feedback?

If you have any questions or feedback about the Code Streamlining Committee and our work, send us an email at DBI.CodeRevision@sfgov.org.