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Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary) in South San Francisco

South San Francisco's own rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text for every value.

Each rule below links to the section of the South San Francisco Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What South San Francisco's code says

South San Francisco code What South San Francisco's code adds
How long units stay affordable
  • Affordability lasts 55 years.
    Applies: Applies to rental units.
    § 20.380.006 · code text
    Inclusionary units which are rental units shall be made available and rented to the designated income group at an affordable rent for 55 years from the date of a final certificate of occupancy for the project.
  • Affordability lasts 55 years.
    Applies: Applies to for-sale units.
    § 20.380.006 · code text
    Inclusionary units which are for-sale units shall remain affordable for a term of 55 years from the date of a final certificate of occupancy for the inclusionary unit, and a resale restriction containing such affordability term shall be filed and recorded as a restriction on those individual lots, units or projects which are designated as inclusionary for-sale units.
Exemptions
  • Existing residences altered, improved, restored, repaired, expanded or extended are exempt, if units do not increase.
    § 20.380.003 · code text
    Existing residences which are altered, improved, restored, repaired, expanded or extended, provided that the number of dwelling units is not increased, except that this chapter shall pertain to the subdivision of land for the conversion of apartments to condominiums or condominiums to apartments;
  • Replacements are exempt if the old one was removed within 2 years before permit approval and units do not increase.
    § 20.380.003 · code text
    The construction of a new residential structure which replaces a residential structure that was destroyed or demolished within two years prior to the approval of a Building Permit for the new residential structure, provided that the number of dwelling units is not increased from the number of dwelling units of the previously destroyed or demolished residential structure;
  • Accessory dwelling units not built to meet inclusionary requirements, and developed under the city's ADU rules, are exempt.
    § 20.380.003 · code text
    Accessory dwelling units not constructed to fulfill inclusionary housing requirements and developed in accordance with Section 20.350.003 ("Accessory Dwelling Units");
Fee instead of units
  • The City Council sets the fee by resolution from time to time.
    § 20.380.011 · code text
    The in-lieu fee to be paid for each inclusionary dwelling unit shall be determined by resolution of the City as approved by the City Council from time to time.
Projects it applies to
  • The rule applies to projects of 5 or more dwelling units.
    § 20.380.003 · code text
    This chapter shall apply to all residential market-rate dwelling units resulting from new construction of for-sale and rental residential developments consisting of five or more dwelling units, as well as the conversion of apartments to condominiums or condominiums to apartments.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Does South San Francisco require affordable units in new housing?

South San Francisco's code: Affordability lasts 55 years. (Applies to rental units.) (§ 20.380.006); Affordability lasts 55 years. (Applies to for-sale units.) (§ 20.380.006).

General information, not legal advice.

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