Supervisor Alan Wong’s Legislation to Ease Housing Conversions in Existing Buildings Passes Committee

SAN FRANCISCO – Supervisor Alan Wong’s legislation to lower minimum ceiling-height requirements in existing buildings passed the Land Use and Transportation Committee today, advancing a practical reform intended to make it easier to legalize existing living spaces and create housing within San Francisco’s older buildings.

The ordinance would reduce the minimum ceiling height for habitable rooms in existing buildings to seven feet and set the minimum for other rooms at six feet eight inches. The legislation now moves to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration.

“A few inches of ceiling height can stand between a homeowner and the opportunity to turn existing space into housing,” said Supervisor Alan Wong. “We should make it easier for people to create homes within the buildings we already have. This legislation removes a practical barrier while preserving the health and safety requirements that protect residents.”

San Francisco’s older homes include ground floors, basements and other underused spaces whose dimensions can make housing conversions difficult under current local requirements. Meeting those ceiling-height requirements may require costly structural work, even when a space could otherwise be suitable for residential use.

Katherine Roberts shared her experience navigating the process of trying to legalize lower-level units in her home.

“I have units that are safe, with light, air, and exits, and located near transit, but I am not legally allowed to rent them,” said Katherine Roberts. “To comply with current rules, I was told it could require major excavation and reconstruction, with costs reaching into the hundreds of thousands or more. I want to be a responsible housing provider, but the process makes that nearly impossible.”

San Francisco’s housing strategy must include making better use of the buildings already standing. For homeowners considering an accessory dwelling unit or legalizing an existing in-law unit, structural alterations to gain a few inches of ceiling height can make a project financially unworkable. Reducing that barrier can make smaller housing projects more feasible and give more homeowners a practical way to contribute to the City’s housing supply.

District 4 resident Mike Nohr emphasized the broader effects on homeowners and neighborhoods across the city.

“Across San Francisco, many homeowners are not renting out existing units because of the cost and complexity of bringing them into compliance,” said Mike Nohr. “This is especially challenging for seniors who rely on rental income to stay in their homes. Allowing flexibility for small differences in ceiling height would help unlock housing that already exists.”

By bringing the Housing Code’s ceiling-height requirements for existing buildings into alignment with the state residential standard, the legislation aims to give property owners greater flexibility to adapt existing spaces for housing. Projects would still need to meet other applicable permitting, building and habitability requirements.

The committee approved amendments clarifying that the seven-foot standard for habitable rooms applies to existing buildings. The amendments also update the ordinance’s title to reflect that scope, following review and recommendations from the Code Advisory Committee and Building Inspection Commission.

“Addressing our housing shortage means pursuing opportunities at every scale, including within our own neighborhoods,” Wong said. “Helping homeowners make better use of existing space is one concrete step we can take now to support more housing.”

The legislation, File No. 260623, will go before the full Board of Supervisors for consideration in the coming weeks.