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San Francisco’s Family Housing Opportunity Special Use District – Formulated for Failure?
September 20th, 2023
Contributor: Andrew R. Catterall
A bill sponsored by Supervisors Myrna Melgar and Joel Engardio, creates a citywide “Family Housing Opportunity Special Use District” (SUD). The bill passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors on July 25, 2023 and is expected to be signed by M…
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Categories: Land Use, Permits and Appeals
Eminent Domain: When Government Has the Right to Take Your Property
June 21st, 2023
Contributor: Emily L. Brough
San Francisco Enacts Harsh New Penalties for Code Violators
May 8th, 2023
Categories: Land Use, Permits and Appeals
San Francisco’s Commercial Vacancy Tax: Have You Reported?
April 25th, 2023
Contributor: Andrew R. Catterall
The last day of February marks the end of the first reporting period for San Francisco’s new Commercial Vacancy Tax. The tax was approved in March of 2020 by more than 70% of San Francisco voters, and is codified in Article 29 of the San Francisco…
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Categories: Land Use, Permits and Appeals
The “Builder’s Remedy” May Bring Relief to Bay Area Housing Developers Starting February 1
January 12th, 2023
The Housing Accountability Act (HAA) limits the ability of a local government to deny housing development projects so long as the project complies with all applicable, objective general plan and zoning standards. However, the HAA also contains a pote…
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Categories: Land Use, Permits and Appeals
Should San Francisco Developers Ready Themselves for the Builder’s Remedy?
December 5th, 2022
San Francisco is facing an upcoming deadline to submit its new Housing Element to the state by January 31, 2023. If it fails to meet this deadline, savvy developers may be at the ready to submit projects under the “builder’s remedy” on February…
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Categories: Land Use, Permits and Appeals
San Francisco and Berkeley’s Proposed “Empty Homes Tax” on Vacant Residential Units
September 7th, 2022
Contributor: Emily L. Brough
This November, San Francisco and Berkeley voters will see the “Empty Homes Tax” initiatives (EHTs) on the ballot for consideration. If passed, the EHTs would impose a substantial tax on each person that maintains a “vacant” “residential uni…
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Categories: Land Use, Permits and Appeals
The Time to Permit Your “Intermediate Length Occupancy” Unit is Now
June 27th, 2022
With relatively little fanfare, two years ago the Board of Supervisors adopted strict new rules to regulate ‘Intermediate Length Occupancy’ (ILO) units. An ILO unit is defined as a dwelling unit that is rented for more than 30 days but less than…
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Categories: Land Use, Permits and Appeals
Understanding San Francisco’s Property Code Enforcement Process
June 27th, 2022
Many San Francisco property owners are rightfully concerned when City agencies contact them about potential violations at their property. The enforcement process is confusing, and many enforcement notices threaten monetary penalties (or worse). Enfor…
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Did Senate Bill 8 Impact the Definition of “Housing Development Project” Under the Housing Accountability Act?
March 23rd, 2022
Contributor: Emily L. Brough
The California Legislature passed Senate Bill 8 (“SB 8”) in 2021, which was intended to add further protections to California’s Planning and Zoning laws to increase the supply of housing. While SB 8 accomplished that by clarifying and strengthe…
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Categories: Land Use, Permits and Appeals