%20(1200%20x%20237%20px)%20(300%20x%2059%20px).webp)
San Francisco is betting big on density. The city’s Board of Supervisors approved the so-called “Family Zoning” plan, a sweeping rewrite of zoning rules that opens the door for taller and more compact housing across neighborhoods long dominated by low-density housing. The vote came after months of heated debate, reflecting tension between housing demand, neighborhood character, and political pressure under state mandates.
Under the plan, roughly 96,000 parcels will see zoning changes. In areas along transit corridors or commercial strips, buildings could rise by two to four stories more than before. Some zones near high-capacity corridors may even be eligible for high-rises. Supporters frame the change as desperately needed. The city must create tens of thousands of homes by 2031, and without new zoning, the risk wasn’t just housing scarcity: it was losing local control over development entirely.
But not everyone cheers. Many longtime residents worry about displacement, changing neighborhood feel, and whether infrastructure can keep up. Critics note that while the plan rezones a lot of land, actual construction depends on developer appetite, meaning the promised housing boost might underdeliver.
For planners and policymakers, this is a big moment. The “Family Zoning” plan recasts zoning as a lever for equity and housing access, at least in transit-served, central areas. It’s a test case for whether shifting rules can meet real needs, while balancing place identity, affordability, and growth pressures.