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The state legislature has been BUSY this year. To help you stay on top of all the new bills, we’ve grouped them together into categories to help simplify your reviews. Next up in our series of legislative updates, here are all the bills proposed that don’t fall into a specific category, but cover a wide range of topics.

Spring is the right time to inspect, document, and get an arborist's eyes on every tree on your property. Our latest post: what to ask for, what to skip, and the SF-specific quirks (yes, including pollarded ficus) most generic advice gets wrong.

When was the last time your building's windows got a proper clean? If the answer is "uhh," this one's for you. We're breaking down why spring is the right time, what a good vendor visit should actually include, and the small-but-expensive things most managers miss (we’re looking at you, weep holes).

A clogged gutter isn't a gutter problem. It's a roof problem, a siding problem, a foundation problem, and eventually an "interior water damage" problem. Spring is one of the best times all year to get ahead of it. Our latest post: when to book, what a real cleaning visit should include, and which Bay Area vendor we'd put on the job.

Ever heard of "single-stair" buildings? If not, you're not alone. Until recently, this was inside-baseball among architects and housing advocates - the kind of thing that came up at conferences and stayed there. But there's now real legislation in play to expand which buildings get the single-stair treatment, and correspondingly lower costs.

The state legislature has been BUSY this year. To help you stay on top of all the new bills, we’ve grouped them together into categories to help simplify your reviews. Next up in our series of legislative updates, here are all the bills proposed that impact insurance.

The state legislature has been BUSY this year. To help you stay on top of all the new bills, we’ve grouped them together into categories to help simplify your reviews. Next up in our series of legislative updates, here are all the bills proposed that impact property sales.

The state legislature has been BUSY this year. To help you stay on top of all the new bills, we’ve grouped them together into categories to help simplify your reviews. This first summary relates to wildfire legislation.

California bill AB 1738 would require cities and counties to offer homeowners the option to request remote/virtual inspections for certain permitted work. This proposed bill, which would act as a way to free up inspector capacity, is being reviewed by the Committee on Local Government.⁠

As part of Mayor Lurie’s ongoing PermitSF efforts, a new series of permits can now be applied for and approved online. Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler Permits are two of the most recent additions, along with instant permits to replace doors, siding, and windows when replacing in-kind.

After last year’s building code change, fire sprinkler requirements were tightened. Now, even small projects must use the highest-level system. As of 2026, this applies to all projects (even those already submitted). The result? Hidden costs stack up, adding $35K+ to small projects.

California may be saying goodbye to on-site resident managers.⁠ A new bill, AB 1771, would remove the long-standing rule requiring buildings with 16+ units to have a live-in manager (something unique to the state).⁠

Spring in San Francisco is one of the best times of year to own or manage property here, and a little proactive effort now means a smooth, stress-free summer ahead. From irrigation startups to HVAC tune-ups, SF and Oakland properties each have their own seasonal rhythms. We break down what to prioritize and when.

A dry winter doesn't mean your property is in the clear, it could just mean the damage hasn't shown itself yet. Roof issues, drainage problems, and pest pressure can all be quietly building, waiting for next season to make themselves known.

San Francisco's permitting process has been a nightmare for decades. Mayor Lurie's PermitSF initiative is one year in, and a lot has actually changed.

SF just loosened zoning rules in North Beach, Nob Hill, and Jackson Square with Ordinance 250682. It’s a move aimed at filling vacant storefronts and bringing more life back to these key commercial areas.

We all know housing projects that stall before they even start: upfront costs are a big part of the story.⁠ SF’s latest fee tweaks are aimed at reducing early cash pain (deferrals) while still protecting affordability goals (tradeoffs like rent control).⁠

With recently approved Ordinances 251100 and 251101, SF is putting two tiny Mission Dolores pockets, Chula-Abbey and Alert Alley, into a preservation bubble. If you own or manage property nearby, expect more historic review and more “ask Planning first” for street-visible work.

SF Ordinances 240803 / 250798 (effective Oct 5, 2025) added real teeth to Unauthorized Dwelling Unit (UDU) rules. UDUs have technically been on the books for a while, but enforcement has been… inconsistent. Going forward, if you file a Planning Development Application or propose work that could reduce or merge residential space, the City is much more likely to take a close look.

Water damage is stressful. Insurance claims don’t have to make it worse. We put together a quick guide on how insurance actually works with water damage and mold: why pricing changes, why documentation matters, and why fast mitigation makes such a difference (especially in older Bay Area buildings).

Plumbing emergencies rarely come out of nowhere, and planning smart updates can help head them off. We put together a short piece on why Bay Area buildings are hitting a plumbing tipping point, why issues feel sudden when they finally surface, and what proactive planning actually looks like (without ripping everything out all at once).

Storm drains don’t filter - they’re basically express lanes to the Bay. That’s why Oakland’s Business Stormwater Program has strict rules. If your business leaks, drips, washes, stores, dumps, or sprays anything outdoors, you’re probably on the city’s stormwater radar.

Oakland’s vacancy tax is one of those programs you may have heard of, but don’t fully understand. What counts as “vacant”? Who actually has to pay? And what about the dozens(!!) of exemptions? In this blog, we’ve unpacked Measure W for you.

Oakland owners and managers: if a building becomes vacant, goes into default, or enters foreclosure, the City has a whole set of rules that apply, and the fines aren’t small. To keep things clear (and sane), we broke down the entire program - what triggers registration, what the City expects, and how to avoid expensive missteps.