Dwelling Unit Removal - Merger, Conversion or Demolition Supplemental

Effective January 1, 2020, and further amended in 2021, “The Housing Crisis Act of 2019,” (HCA) establishes through Government Code Section 66300 (d)1 a statewide “housing emergency” until January 1, 2030. During the housing emergency:

• the Housing Crisis Act suspends certain restrictions on the development of new housing and expedites the permitting of housing;
• the Housing Crisis Act prohibits the demolition of housing. Dwelling unit merger and conversion procedures will not be impacted and continue to require the Planning Commission to grant a Conditional Use Authorization;
• cities and localities in urban areas, such as San Francisco, are generally prohibited from rezoning or imposing new development standards that would reduce the capacity for housing or adopting new design standards that are not objective;
• the loss of existing housing units (through demolition) is only permitted if the same number of units are created as part of the same development project.