All Posts

Ground-floor family rooms, wet bars, and extra bedrooms are getting extra scrutiny in San Francisco! With Ordinance 240803 in full effect, the Planning Department is digging deep into permit records, sales history, and rental listings to uncover unauthorized units. Removing a unit is virtually off the table, making legalization the main path forward. Read our full post for key insights on navigating UDU reviews, planning ahead, and keeping project delays at bay.

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.

This ordinance would require project applicants to disclose the presence of any unauthorized dwelling units and would impose steep penalties to parties found to have submitted misleading plans.

If approved, this ordinance would penalize design professionals for failure to report illegal dwelling units.