On March 25, 2025, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that permits tourist hotels and motels to serve as Interim Housing without this use being classified as an abandonment of the property’s hotel or motel zoning use. The ordinance also amends the Building Code to maintain existing occupancy classifications and permits these interim housing uses without reclassifying the buildings. Additionally, it revises Appendix P to remove the restriction requiring emergency housing to be located on City-owned or City-leased land. The ordinance is intended to increase the city’s capacity to respond to homelessness and emergency housing needs by using existing hospitality infrastructure. The legislation was deemed consistent with the General Plan and Planning Code Section 101.1, and it was determined to meet public necessity and welfare under Section 302.
This decision allows San Francisco to rapidly expand temporary housing availability using hotels and motels, which is vital for addressing homelessness and emergency housing demands without regulatory delays.