Homeowners0:55 video
What the Family Zoning Plan changed
San Francisco homeowners on the west and north sides: the Family Zoning Plan took effect Jan. 12, 2026. Here’s what changed.
In writing
San Francisco’s Family Zoning Plan took effect Jan. 12, 2026. On California, Balboa, Geary, Taraval and Judah, it allows mid-rise housing, about 6 to 8 stories, with taller buildings generally at the biggest intersections and busiest transit.
On the blocks off those streets, the height mostly stays the same, but more homes can fit on a lot. Under the city’s optional Housing Choice-SF program, a corner lot, or a lot of 8,000 square feet or more, can go up to 65 feet, even where the mapped height is lower.
The plan is law, and two lawsuits challenge it: a CEQA challenge led by Neighborhoods United SF, and a housing-capacity challenge led by pro-housing groups including California Housing Defense Fund and YIMBY Law. The pro-housing groups’ suit has its first hearing on the merits on Nov. 18.
Before you buy or sell, check the address on the city’s Family Zoning map, linked at sfplanning.org/sf-family-zoning-plan. This is general information, not advice on a particular parcel.
The transcript
Word for word, as narrated in the video.
San Francisco homeowners on the west and north sides: the Family Zoning Plan took effect Jan. 12. Here’s what changed.
On California, Balboa, Geary, Taraval and Judah, the plan allows mid-rise housing, about 6 to 8 stories. Taller buildings generally go at the biggest intersections and the busiest transit.
On the blocks off those streets, the height mostly stays the same, but more homes can fit on a lot. Under the city’s Housing Choice program, a corner lot, or one of 8,000 square feet or more, can go up to 65 feet.
The plan is law, and two lawsuits challenge it. One has its first hearing on the merits on Nov. 18. Before you buy or sell, check the address on the city’s Family Zoning map.
Sources
Where each date and figure comes from.
- SF Planning, Family Zoning Plan
- SF Planning, Director Bulletin No. 11, Housing Choice-SF (updated Sept. 10, 2026)
- Ordinances 243-25, 244-25 and 245-25, effective Jan. 12, 2026
- SPUR, street names (Jan. 28, 2026)
- Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass, lawsuits and hearing date (Sept. 2, 2026)
Images in the video
Geary Boulevard looking east from 34th Avenue: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Aerial view across the Sunset District: Drngogo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The illustrated map of San Francisco and the height diagrams are illustrations, not to scale.
