SEC. 4.121. BUILDING INSPECTION COMMISSION.
§ 4.121
San Francisco's Building Inspection Commission is a seven-member body appointed by the Mayor and Board President (subject to Board approval) that oversees the Department of Building Inspection and enforcement of the city's building, housing, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing codes. The Commission sets standards for safe buildings, ensures heat and hot water enforcement and disability access compliance, holds public hearings on code amendments, and can reverse or modify certain Department permit decisions.
A seven-member commission watches over the city's Building Inspection Department to make sure buildings are safe and meet code requirements. Four members are chosen by the Mayor and three by the Board President, with a goal to include people with engineering, architecture, or tenant-advocacy experience. The Board of Supervisors must approve all appointments. The Commission makes sure buildings meet safety standards, that landlords provide heat and hot water to tenants, and that buildings follow disability access laws. It holds public hearings when building codes are changed and can overturn certain decisions made by the Department. Commission members are volunteers who don't get paid.
- Complex:The section combines multiple governance roles (appointment process, oversight duties, appeals jurisdiction, and rule-making authority) with cross-references to other Charter sections and Building Code provisions, making it lengthy and multi-layered.
- Controversial:The composition and appointment authority of the Commission, along with its power to reverse Department determinations and enforce tenant protections, may attract public debate regarding regulatory balance and enforcement priorities.
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Official text
The Building Inspection Commission shall consist of seven members nominated and appointed pursuant to this Section 4.121 and with an emphasis on seeking to include members concerned with tenant safety and habitability issues. Four members shall be nominated by the Mayor for a term of two years. Three members shall be nominated by the President of the Board of Supervisors for a term of two years. Two of the four Mayoral appointments shall each have one or more of the following qualifications: be an active, formerly active, or retired structural engineer, architect, or residential builder. One of the three Board President appointments shall have one or more of the following qualifications: be a residential tenant or work or have worked for a non-profit housing organization.
Each nomination of the Mayor and the President of the Board of Supervisors is subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors, and shall be the subject of a public hearing and vote within 60 days. If the Board fails to act on the nomination within 60 days of the date the nomination is transmitted to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, the nominee shall be deemed approved. The appointment shall become effective on the date the Board adopts a motion approving the nomination or after 60 days of the date the nomination is transmitted to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. Members may be removed by the appointing officer only pursuant to Section 15.105. Vacancies occurring in the offices of members, shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the appointment process specified in this paragraph.
The Building Inspection Commission shall have responsibility for oversight of the Department of Building Inspection, which shall have responsibility for the enforcement, administration, and interpretation of the San Francisco Housing, Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Codes, except where this Charter specifically grants that power to another department.
The Commission shall oversee the inspection and regulation of additions, alterations, and repairs in all buildings and structures covered by the San Francisco Housing, Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Codes. However, nothing in this Section 4.121 shall diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Planning Commission or Department over changes of use or occupancy under the Planning Code. The Commission shall ensure the provision of minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property, and the public welfare by regulating and controlling the safe use of such buildings and structures. The Commission shall ensure the vigorous enforcement of City laws mandating the provision of heat and hot water to residential tenants. The Commission shall also ensure the enforcement of local, state, and federal disability access laws. The Commission shall exercise all the powers and duties of boards and commissions set forth in Sections 4.102, 4.103, and 4.104, and may take other actions as prescribed by ordinance. The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.
The Commission shall adopt rules and regulations consistent with fulfilling its responsibilities under this Charter. The Commission shall also adopt rules and regulations governing Commission meetings and also adopt requirements for notification and mailing for Commission business. The Commission shall hold public hearings on all proposed amendments to the San Francisco Building Code, Electrical Code, Housing Code, Plumbing Code, and Mechanical Code.
The Commission shall constitute the Abatement Appeals Board, and shall assume all powers granted to this entity under this Charter and the San Francisco Building Code. The Commission shall appoint and may remove at its pleasure members of the Board of Examiners, Access Appeals Commission, and Code Advisory Committee, all of which shall have the powers and duties to the extent set forth in the San Francisco Building Code.
The Commission may reverse, affirm, or modify determinations made by the Department of Building Inspection on all permits required for a final certificate of completion. The Commission’s jurisdiction under this paragraph, however, shall not extend to permits appealable to the Planning Commission or Board of Appeals. Appeals of decisions within the Commission’s jurisdiction must be filed with the Commission within fifteen days of the challenged determination. The Commission’s action shall be final.
(Amended by Proposition B, Approved 6/7/2022)