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San Francisco Family Zoning faces lawsuits from both sides
The rezoning, tied to California’s requirement to plan for about 36,200 homes by 2031, was adopted ahead of a Jan. 31, 2026 deadline but does not on its own approve projects.
San Francisco adopted permanent Family Zoning changes before a Jan. 31, 2026 deadline, aiming to meet a state-required housing capacity target by 2031. The city moved to allow higher density in neighborhood areas that previously barred it, with the package raising height limits and increasing housing capacity in designated commercial corridors and transit routes.
HousingWire reports that developers are beginning to file projects using the local rezoning alongside state density-bonus laws passed over the past three years to expand housing supply. The city’s requirement is tied to about 36,200 additional homes by 2031, which also feeds into San Francisco’s 82,069-home Regional Housing Needs Allocation target.
Both pro-housing and anti upzoning groups have filed lawsuits contesting the Family Zoning changes. Pro-housing advocates say the local zoning did not go far enough, while opponents argue the city went too far.
The rezoning package does not approve projects by itself, but it expands what developers can seek under local rules and creates a broader local base for state density bonuses, which can add units and streamline approvals. Housing-supply advocates described it as a long-delayed opening for more apartment construction, and SPUR highlighted how it would expand dense housing opportunities, particularly on the west side.