San Francisco County Municipal Code Ch. 9 Greenhouse Gas

ACTION PLANS Sec. 900. Findings and Purpose. Sec. 901. Definitions. Sec. 902. Climate Action Goals. Sec. 903. Future Climate Action Goals. Sec. 904. Climate Action Plan. Sec. 905. City Department Roles and Responsibilities. Sec. 906. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting. Sec. 907. Miscellaneous. Sec. 908. Implementation of All-Electric Building Standard.

SEC. 900. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. The Board of Supervisors finds that: (a) In 2016, the Paris Climate Agreement committed national governments to pursue efforts to limit temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a special report on the impacts of global warming and the need to significantly reduce global Greenhouse as1 emissions well before 2030 to reduce the most detrimental impacts to ecosystems and to human health. (b) In 2018, the United States’ Fourth National Climate Assessment made clear that climate change will wreak havoc across the United States, and that the current pace and scale of national climate action are not sufficient to avert substantial damage to the environment, human health, and economy. According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Climate and Health Adaptation Framework (2017), the direct and indirect impacts of climate change will disproportionately affect San Francisco communities least able to prepare for, cope with, and recover from those impacts. Those communities include communities of color, low income communities, and other vulnerable populations. (c) San Francisco, the Bay Area, and the State of California are already suffering the effects of climate change, and those effects will worsen. According to the 2023 San Francisco Extreme Heat Vulnerability Assessment, beginning in 2035, San Francisco will experience

between two and eight times more days of extreme heat compared to 1960-1990 conditions. The State’s most recent Climate Change Assessment (2019), projects that sea levels in San Francisco may rise by as much as 66 inches by 2100 and that the Bay Area faces heightened wildfire risk and increasing water stress, both of which compound existing social and environmental vulnerabilities. Statewide, the Assessment concludes that more frequent and severe droughts, extreme heat events, and ecosystem disruptions are collectively endangering agriculture, biodiversity, and public health. (d) At the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit, San Francisco committed to meet the Paris Agreement by achieving a net zero city by 2050. The City joined in a Climate Equity Pledge to ensure that the City’s 2020 Climate Action Strategy update achieves the dual goals of advancing racial equity and decreasing carbon emissions. (e) Meaningful climate solutions require increasing supplies of high-quality, affordable housing for individuals at all income levels and located near local and regional transit service. These solutions also require well-coordinated land use and transportation planning and investments to support efficient travel modes such as transit, walking, and biking to reduce vehicle miles traveled and associated emissions. (f) In 2019, the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted Resolution No. 160-19, declaring a climate emergency in San Francisco and requesting immediate action to address the climate crisis, limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and eliminate Greenhouse Gas emissions. (g) In 2021, the Board of Supervisors updated this Chapter 9 of the Environment Code, setting a goal for San Francisco to reach net- zero emissions by 2040. (h) In 2022, the IPCC published the Sixth Assessment Report containing the best available climate science. The report found that Greenhouse Gas emissions from human activities have caused global warming, that global temperatures have reached 1.1 degree Celsius above those of pre-industrial times, and that emissions continue to increase and pose multiple hazards. (i) In 2024, the Department of the Environment published its latest Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions inventory, based on data from 2022, which found that San Francisco’s two largest emissions sources are the transportation (45%) and building (44%) sectors, indicating that prioritizing these two sectors for policy action and investment will have the greatest impact on reducing emissions. (Added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; amended by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) CODIFICATION NOTE

So in Ord. 59-26. SEC. 901. DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this Chapter 9, the following terms shall have the following meanings: “Carbon Removal” means the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through either nature-based approaches or technological methods to safely and securely store the carbon dioxide over the long term. “Circular Economy” means improving how goods, food, services, and materials are designed, used, and reused to end waste and conserve natural resources in a regenerative manner that strengthens the environment, communities, and the economy. A Circular Economy ensures that benefits are distributed equitably; basic human needs are met with dignity; and residents, businesses, and government are more resilient to climate and economic shocks. “Climate Action Plan” means the document required under Section 904 of this Chapter 9 outlining the specific actions the City will endeavor to take to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and offset negative climate impacts. “Climate Budgeting” means the process to systematically integrate climate considerations into the City’s financial planning and align City resources with the Climate Action Plan to ensure sustainability and climate resiliency are embedded across all levels of City government. “Consumption-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions” means all the Greenhouse Gas emissions associated with producing, transporting, using, and disposing of products and services consumed by a particular community or entity in a given time period, including emissions generated outside the boundaries of the community or the geographic area where the entity is located. “Greenhouse Gas” means any of the following gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. “Hazards and Climate Resilience Plan” means the plan prepared by the Office of Resilience and Capital Planning to increase the resilience of all components that keep the City functioning: buildings, infrastructure, utilities, transportation, communication systems, and the people who live and work in San Francisco. “Net Zero Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions” means Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions after first eliminating emissions from fossil fuels and other sources, and then, for each ton of emissions that cannot be eliminated, removing a ton of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere. “Residual Emissions” means any carbon dioxide or other Greenhouse Gas emissions remaining after all technically and economically

feasible mitigation measures have been implemented. “Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions” means all of the Greenhouse Gas emissions generated within the geographic boundaries of the City in a given time period. “Sequestering” means removing Residual Emissions from the atmosphere. (Added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; amended by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) SEC. 902. CLIMATE ACTION GOALS. (a) The City adopts the following targets for reducing San Francisco Greenhouse Gas emissions: (1) By 2030, a reduction in Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions of at least 61% compared to 1990 levels; (2) By 2040, achievement of Net Zero Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions by reducing such emissions compared to 1990 levels and Sequestering any Residual Emissions; and (3) By 2050, a reduction in Consumption-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions to 10 mtCO2e per household or less, equivalent to an 80% reduction compared to 1990 levels. (b) In order to meet the emissions reduction targets set out in subsection (a), the City shall pursue the following climate action goals: (1) Energy Supply. Continue to offer 100% renewable electricity and/or Greenhouse Gas-free electricity to all; by 2030, ensure all residents and businesses use 100% renewable and/or Greenhouse Gas-free electricity; and, by 2040, transition all energy uses Citywide to 100% renewable and/or Greenhouse Gas-free sources; (2) Buildings Operations. By 2030, reduce building emissions by 20% from 2020 levels by decarbonizing the equivalent of 18,000 buildings, and by 2040, reduce building emissions completely so that all buildings are zero emission; (3) Transportation. By 2030, achieve a 25% reduction in per-capita vehicle miles traveled and by 2040, achieve a 30% reduction relative to 2019 levels by supporting policies that enable new housing in locations close to schools, jobs, and other essential goods and services, reducing the need for longer trips, and by implementing strategies that increase the use of transit, walking, and biking; by 2030, ensure that at least 25% of cars and small trucks registered in San Francisco are zero emission, and by 2035, ensure at least 25% of large trucks and other heavier duty vehicles are zero emission; and, by 2040, ensure all cars and small trucks are zero emission; (4) Housing and Land Use. By 2030, plan for 82,000 new housing units, including at least 36,000 in well-resourced neighborhoods, prioritizing affordability, transit-oriented development, and increased density along major transit corridors; (5) Circular Economy. By 2030, attain a reduction in the generation of solid waste of at least 15% below 2015 levels and a reduction in the amount of solid waste disposed of by incineration or deposit in landfill of at least 50% below 2015 levels; and by 2035, reach a 40% net reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions from building materials compared to the 2026 industry average baseline established by the State; (6) Healthy Ecosystems. By 2030, ensure that 30-40% of San Francisco’s land area is permeable, with at least 30% of the land area being biodiverse greenspace; by 2040, ensure every San Franciscan lives within a 10-minute walk from nature; and, by 2040, plant enough trees to achieve a net increase of 30,000 trees for a total of 155,000 street trees, thereby completing the street tree network and enhancing a healthy urban forest; and (7) Water Supply. Maximize water use efficiency to keep indoor and outdoor residential water use under the State’s 2030 standard for indoor residential water use of 42 gallons per capita per day; and enhance the resilience of San Francisco’s water supply by 2045 by increasing local water sources to include 2.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of recycled water, and 4 mgd of groundwater, and by exploring additional new water supplies, while maintaining the Hetch Hetchy gravity-driven water delivery system. (c) All climate action goals set out in subsection (b) shall also include the complementary goals of advancing racial and social equity, protecting public health (including the health needs of vulnerable populations), increasing community resilience, and fostering a more just economy. (Added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; amended by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) SEC. 903. FUTURE CLIMATE ACTION GOALS. The City shall pursue the following future climate action goals: (a) Research, explore, and identify best practices for Carbon Removal that could allow the City to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide equivalent to San Francisco’s residual Greenhouse Gas emissions; and

(b) Research, establish, and implement Climate Budgeting that integrates the City’s climate goals, specified in Section 902 of this Chapter 9, with budgeting, policy, and decision-making processes. (Added by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) (Former Sec. 903 added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; repealed by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021) SEC. 904. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. (a) By December 31, 2026, the Department of the Environment shall prepare and submit for the Mayor’s approval an updated Climate Action Plan (CAP) which shall do all of the following: (1) Align with the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and with the emissions reduction targets established in Section 902 of this Chapter 9. (2) Incorporate an equity framework that addresses historic racial and social inequities; prioritizes social, economic, and environmental benefits derived from implementing the CAP; and ensures an equitable distribution of those benefits. This framework shall consider: (A) The engagement and prioritization of those who are most impacted by climate change and have historically had the least influence in decision-making processes, including low-income communities of color and other impacted populations; (B) Climate and health benefits, especially targeted to populations and communities disproportionately impacted by climate changes; (C) Burdens and/or unintended consequences of related actions, especially for low-income communities of color and other vulnerable populations; and (D) Social interventions needed to secure workers’ rights and livelihoods when economies are shifting to a Circular Economy, collectively referred to as a “just transition” framework, and other impacts on workforce and job opportunities. (3) Identify and leverage synergies, where feasible, with the City’s existing or proposed climate adaptation and mitigation measures set out in the Hazards and Climate Resilience Plan. (4) Include, but not be limited to, the following elements: energy supply; building operations; transportation; housing and land use; Circular Economy; healthy ecosystems; and water supply. (5) Identify strategies and/or make recommendations to achieve emissions reduction targets for all elements and identify parties responsible for implementation. (b) The Department of the Environment shall update the Climate Action Plan every five years. (Added by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) (Former Sec. 904 added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; repealed by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021) SEC. 905. CITY DEPARTMENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. (a) The Department of the Environment shall be the lead agency for developing and publicizing the Climate Action Plan, including updates. The Department: (1) Shall, in coordination with implementing departments, lead the development of strategies, key performance indicators, and equity metrics; (2) Shall maintain a publicly accessible dashboard updated at least once a year, reporting on Greenhouse Gas emissions, indicators, and climate action progress; (3) Shall coordinate an interagency effort with the City Administrator’s Office, Department of Building Inspection, Department of Public Health, Department of Public Works, Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, Municipal Transportation Agency, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Office of Resilience and Capital Planning, Planning Department, Port of San Francisco, San Francisco International Airport, Public Utilities Commission, Recreation and Park Department, and other relevant City agencies, as well as the County Transportation Authority, to develop and adopt updates to the CAP; and (4) May adopt rules and regulations related to the administration of this Chapter 9. (b) All City departments shall: (1) Ensure all department-level decisions and commitments are consistent with the CAP and this Chapter 9;

(2) Attend convenings hosted by the Mayor’s Office at least twice a year to review progress towards the goals outlined in the CAP, identify barriers, identify potential solutions, and advance cross-departmental collaboration; (3) Provide data, information, and feedback requested by the Department of the Environment to develop, implement, report about, and evaluate the CAP; (4) Report to the Department of the Environment on key performance indicators related to climate and equity outcomes, including equity metrics designed to measure progress towards the CAP’s climate and environmental justice objectives; and, (5) Support community engagement efforts for the CAP. (Added by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026 (Former Sec. 905 added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; repealed by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021) SEC. 906. MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND REPORTING. (a) The City shall demonstrate its long-term commitment to reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions and advancing racial and social equity by measuring and reporting emissions, tracking key performance indicators and equity metrics, and monitoring the City’s progress on meeting its climate action goals and commitments. (b) The Department of the Environment shall, with assistance from relevant City agencies: (1) Measure and monitor Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions, including municipal emissions, using best available global protocols for preparing Citywide Greenhouse Gas emission inventories. (2) Measure production and consumption emissions using best available global methodologies for preparing consumption-based emission inventories. (3) Evaluate Sector-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions against set targets, document production and consumption emissions, and produce a Greenhouse Gas emissions report. (4) Continue the monitoring and reporting process for the implementation of the CAP that: (A) Tracks key performance indicators and equity metrics for strategies to help monitor their progress and implementation; (B) Reports progress against the Paris Agreement and its goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. (5) Request and receive data from City departments starting August of every year to support: (A) The Greenhouse Gas emissions inventory. City departments may be asked to provide data and verify emission estimates and assumptions and review resulting reports; (B) Monitoring and reporting of CAP implementation. City departments may be asked to provide data on key performance indicators on climate and equity related to adopted strategies and actions; and (6) Coordinate with other City agencies to monitor, track, and report on climate action progress to local, state, national, and global partners. (7) Issue an annual progress report and provide formal presentations to the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors at the midpoint and conclusion of each five-year Climate Action Plan period. (Added as Sec. 907 by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; redesignated and amended by Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) (Former Sec. 906 added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; repealed by Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) SEC. 907. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the Ordinance. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of this Ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional. (b) No Conflict With Federal Or State Law. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be interpreted or applied so as to create any requirement, power or duty in conflict with any Federal or State law. Any Greenhouse Gas reduction activities adopted and implemented under this Ordinance are intended to be complementary and nonduplicative of measures required or to be adopted by any State or Federal agency under State or Federal law. Nothing in this Ordinance shall relieve any person, entity, including any City Department or City Official of compliance with other applicable Federal, State, or local laws or regulations, including Federal or State air and water quality

requirements, and other requirements for protecting public health or the environment. (c) Undertaking For The General Welfare. In undertaking the implementation of this Ordinance, the City is assuming an undertaking only to promote the general welfare. It is not assuming, nor is it imposing on its officer and employees, an obligation for breach of which it is liable in money damages to any person who claims that such breach proximately caused injury. (Added as Sec. 908 by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; redesignated and amended by Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) (Former Sec. 907 added by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021; redesignated as Sec. 906 and amended by Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) (Former Sec. 907 added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; repealed by Ord. 117-21, File No. 210563, App. 8/4/2021, Eff. 9/4/2021) SEC. 908. IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL-ELECTRIC BUILDING STANDARD. (a) The Department of Environment (“Department”) shall coordinate with the Department of Building Inspection in implementation of the All-Electric building requirement in Section 106A.1.17 of the Building Code, and shall provide technical assistance to support San Francisco residents, workers, and businesses through the transition to building electrification. (b) The Department shall hold at least one public meeting annually to discuss the annual report from the Department of Building Inspection detailing the status of applications for permits to construct new Mixed-Fuel Buildings pursuant to an exception to Building Code Section 106A.1.17. (Added as Sec. 909 by Ord. 237-20, File No. 200701, App. 11/25/2020, Eff. 12/26/2020; redesignated and amended by Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) (Former Sec. 908 added by Ord. 81-08, File No. 071294, App. 5/13/2008; redesignated as Sec. 907 and amended by Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026) SEC. 909. [REDESIGNATED.] (Added by Ord. 237-20, File No. 200701, App. 11/25/2020, Eff. 12/26/2020; redesignated as Sec. 908 and amended by Ord. 59-26, File No. 260177, App. 4/16/2026, Eff. 5/17/2026)