San Francisco Climate Action Plan2026 plan · progress dashboard

Taking action across sectors · 4 of 7

Housing and Land Use

Planning for housing is key to climate action. When people live close to jobs, services, and public transit, they drive less. This reduces climate-polluting emissions in the city and region.

Housing and land use are fundamentally important to the city as they not only determine travel behavior, they determine whether existing residents and their children can afford to live here, and how attractive the city is to new workers and their employers.

Plan chapter begins on page 63 of the published PDF.

Goals

  1. By 2030By 2030, plan for 82,000 new housing units, including not less than 36,000 in well-resourced neighborhoods, prioritizing affordability, transit-oriented development, and increased density along major transit corridors.

Accomplishments so far

Strategies and actions

4 strategies, 19 actions. Departments listed on an action lead its implementation.

Strategy 1 · 4 actions · 2 indicators

Expand housing opportunities throughout the city for diverse households, to meet RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) Housing Element goals.

  1. 1-1

    By 2026, adopt zoning changes that expand housing capacity by at least 36,200 units to meet the current RHNA cycle requirements and allow for multifamily housing growth in well-resourced neighborhoods. Planning

    By 2026

  2. 1-2

    By 2030, continue to explore land acquisitions and analysis of public land for affordable housing based on timing and financial feasibility, with a target of building 500-2,000 affordable units within that time. Planning, MOHCD

    By 2030

  3. 1-3

    By 2030, advocate for regional funding for affordable housing production, as well as from federal, state, and local sources including general obligation bonds, general fund allocations (budget permitting), and bonds. MAYOR'S OFFICE, SUPERVISORS

    By 2030

  4. 1-4

    Over the next 2 RHNA cycles, 2022-2038, produce at least 25% of permanently affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households in well-resourced neighborhoods. MOHCD

    By 2038

Racial and Social Equity ReviewWhat the equity review said about this strategy

Equity impacts

Intentional programs and policies are necessary to ensure that EJ communities can benefit from increased economic activity and workforce development tied to expanded housing. Longterm affordability in new and existing housing, wrap-around services, and household costs should be considered. EJ communities need to have input into where affordable housing will be built, what resources will be necessary and accessible, and making sure that housing isn’t the only thing making these neighborhoods “accessible,”—all while not unduly delaying housing development. Housing projects should be thoughtfully and intentionally placed. EJ communities are most vulnerable to displacement and impact in the aftermath of natural disasters.

Recommendations

  • Support MBEs (minority business enterprises) to mitigate negative impacts of housing expansion.
  • Support/increase training and development of constructionrelated workforce, specifically targeting EJ communities.
  • Prioritize measures to keep rent affordable in new housing to mitigate displacement and follow RHNA implementation.
  • Tools like rent control are effective methods in combating displacement from gentrification, and more may be possible to expand protection to other buildings.
  • Long-term affordability considerations are needed. New affordable housing should also look to include wrap-around services, whenever possible.
  • Engage in similar community engagement with other actions as with 1-1, especially with unhoused individuals.
  • Define how the impact on increasing capacity and knowledge is being measured and maintained.
  • Continue to co-develop and distribute workshop content within EJ communities.
  • Consider place-based cultural needs when creating new affordable housing projects, such as access to multilingual schooling, multiethnic grocers, and culturally significant activities and arts.
  • Engagement and outreach should help make new housing known and accessible to the most vulnerable groups.
  • Consider prioritizing new affordable housing developments close to green spaces, or seek to add new green spaces in EJ communities. Use best practices to increase community resilience and ensure amenities support EJ communities.

Partly reflected in the final plan. HL-1-4 commits 25% of permanently affordable housing to well-resourced neighborhoods; HL-3 carries tenant services.

Source: 2026 Climate Action Plan, Appendix C. Adoption status is our reading of the final text, pending SFE confirmation.

Strategy 2 · 5 actions

Improve the financial feasibility of housing construction to meet RHNA goals, particularly housing affordable to low-and moderate-income households.

No indicator yet for this strategy. See how progress is measured.

  1. 2-1

    By 2028, advocate for state regulation to lower insurance costs for construction and building operations. Planning

    By 2028

  2. 2-2

    By 2030, implement the One City Action Plan and Affordable Housing Leadership Council recommendations to align and improve City agencies' approval, permitting, and inspection processes, cut costs and speed housing development. PERMIT CENTER, DBI

    By 2030

  3. 2-3

    By 2030, improve permit processes and agency coordination to support large housing development projects to move 20% of entitled units into construction. Planning

    By 2030

  4. 2-4

    By 2027, in accordance with the State Fire Marshall's findings, advance efforts to reform local building code to allow for single staircases in multi-family buildings which will improve housing feasibility and encourage infill development. Planning

    By 2027

  5. 2-5

    By 2030, revise codes and regulations to facilitate the use of new materials (e.g., cross-laminated timber) and new technology (e.g., modular housing) to lower costs and increase resource efficiency of construction. Planning, DBI

    By 2030

Racial and Social Equity ReviewWhat the equity review said about this strategy

Equity impacts

It is necessary to encourage development in EJ communities that serves their diverse needs. Making housing development more affordable should also prioritize the needs and input of EJ communities. Reducing housing development costs could encourage development of low to moderate income housing and indirectly support workforce development.

Recommendations

  • If feasible, write in training and development of the construction-related workforce, through union apprenticeships, first-source hiring requirements, or other programs to support and strengthen strategy.
  • Consider an action that directly focuses on supporting low and moderate-income housing development, and/or mixed-income development.
  • Also consider what actions can directly target encouraging housing in EJ communities that serves multi-income levels.
  • Ensure that there are proper avenues to solicit the community's input and ways to incorporate and protect the interests and needs of those communities.

Not traceable in the final text. No workforce or EJ-specific language appears in final HL-2 actions.

Source: 2026 Climate Action Plan, Appendix C. Adoption status is our reading of the final text, pending SFE confirmation.

Strategy 3 · 3 actions · 1 indicator

Invest in housing preservation, rehabilitation, and tenant services to stabilize low- and moderate- income residents, prevent displacement from the City, and improve housing quality.

  1. 3-1

    By 2030, provide funding to acquire and rehabilitate at least 200 units of existing, affordable multi-family housing, including improving energy efficiency and indoor air quality. MOHCD

    By 2030

  2. 3-2

    By 2030, provide tenant services (such as right to counsel, tenant education, and the right to return) to prevent displacement for at least 5,000 households. MOHCD

    By 2030

  3. 3-3

    By 2026, codify and clarify existing tenant protections in local law. Planning

    By 2026

Racial and Social Equity ReviewWhat the equity review said about this strategy

Equity impacts

Tenant services that meet the needs of EJ communities is crucial and important to support economic prosperity and opportunity. Otherwise, displacement always has the potential to occur if not carefully considered and mitigated. Equitable tenant protection resources and programs should be considered, especially in EJ communities. Preserving and rehabilitating affordable housing and tenant services can support improved physical and mental health, community resilience, and make quality of life more sustainable and rooted.

Recommendations

  • Ensure current and future tenant services meet the changing needs of EJ communities, specifically targeting ways to benefit from a changing workforce and financial literacy, such as the use/benefits of rent-control.
  • Consider pathways to home ownership and equitable accessibility to household necessities that affect overall affordability and displacement.
  • Investigate ways to provide pathways to affordable home ownership instead of renting.
  • Consider incorporating a commitment to expand community knowledge of tenant services and protection through education focused on low-income/ BIPOC/ vulnerable populations.
  • Prioritize action 3-3 to codify tenant protection laws and include support for living healthier lifestyles as part of tenant services.
  • Seek ways to educate tenants on ways to become more resilient and sustainable in their daily life practices.

Partly reflected in the final plan. HL-3-2 commits tenant services to 5,000 households; HL-3-3 codifies tenant protections by 2026.

Source: 2026 Climate Action Plan, Appendix C. Adoption status is our reading of the final text, pending SFE confirmation.

Strategy 4 · 7 actions · 2 indicators

Make complete neighborhoods where new and existing residents can safely and conveniently get to work and meet their daily needs without needing to drive.

  1. 4-1

    By 2030, increase diversity of land uses by supporting the development of underutilized land into high density housing, employment, and neighborhood-serving uses. Planning

    By 2030

  2. 4-2

    By 2026, expand and allow community-serving uses, such as retail, restaurants, and personal services on commercial and transit corridors within primarily residential areas. Planning

    By 2026

  3. 4-3

    By 2026, update zoning and other policies citywide to promote transit-oriented development and demonstrate compliance with MTC's Transit-Oriented Communities policy. Planning

    By 2026

  4. 4-4

    By 2030, grow the number of residents Downtown through targeted land use policies and by reducing City-driven development costs for new housing development and commercial-to-residential adaptive reuse. OEWD, Planning

    By 2030

  5. 4-5

    By 2030, increase the number of academic institutions and students residing in Downtown through targeted attraction efforts and supporting real estate strategies. OEWD, Planning

    By 2030

  6. 4-6

    By 2030, transform Downtown's public realm to serve its future as a mixed-use neighborhood, by improving outdoor spaces that serve all of its users—from workers, to shoppers, to residents—through projects like the Powell Street Improvement Project and recreational spaces in the East Cut and Embarcadero Park. OEWD, SFPW, RPD

    By 2030

  7. 4-7

    By 2030, activate and improve three public spaces or existing rights-of-way through community-based programs like Groundplay, Shared Spaces, or Cities Connecting Children to Nature, focusing on Priority Equity Geographies. Planning

    By 2030

Racial and Social Equity ReviewWhat the equity review said about this strategy

Equity impacts

EJ communities are often less connected or live further from employment, making it more challenging to commute to work or run daily tasks without a car. They also face many barriers to adopting a less car-dependent lifestyle that needs community input and empowerment to help address. Concerns must be noted that improvements to public spaces, transit, sidewalks, and bike lanes could lead to increased housing prices.

Recommendations

  • Target improvements in EJ communities, which often face greater barriers to adopting a car-free lifestyle, limiting their access to the economic benefits of a car-free lifestyle.
  • Ensure necessary land-use improvements are prioritized in EJ communities so they may benefit first from the changes to implementing the strategy.
  • Collaborate with and consider the feedback of community members for a more participatory strategy implementation.
  • Consider additional areas of improvement in the context of land use and development like environmentally adaptive green spaces and roadways, rain gardens in parks, green roofs on newly constructed buildings, high efficiency heating and cooling, community water features, etc.
  • Consider building more free, safe, and public third spaces in new and existing housing developments to enhance mixed-use neighborhood design and community resilience.
  • Create a plan for getting unhoused people into safe, sustainable, long-term housing, and expand services for them.
  • Any community improvements and investments in EJ communities should be complemented with housing stability and tenant supports and protections.
  • Land use policies should be co-developed with the community to mitigate negative consequences and improve community wellbeing.

Partly reflected in the final plan. HL-4-7 focuses public-space activation on Priority Equity Geographies.

Source: 2026 Climate Action Plan, Appendix C. Adoption status is our reading of the final text, pending SFE confirmation.