San Francisco Aims for Expand Inclusionary Housing Mandate

San Francisco is poised to expand a required inclusion of affordable housing units in new residential developments.

According to a San Francisco Examiner report, the city’s Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 to move forward with an inclusionary housing requirement. However, this move is predicated on the approval by voters in June of Proposition C, an amendment to the city charter that gives the board new authority to unilaterally enact this type of mandate—currently, the creation of such a mandate would require voter approval.

San Francisco has a 12 percent inclusionary housing mandate, but the new police would require an additional one percent on residential development projects filed in 2013. Projects filed in 2014 would require an additional 1.5 percent, and 2.5 percent if filed in 2015.

“The market should be accountable to building more affordable and middle income housing and not just luxury housing,” said Supervisor Jane Kim, who teamed with Supervisor Aaron Peskin in advocating this charter change.