Preservation Design Standards
Effective April 1, 2025, the Preservation Design Standards will apply to all projects involving additions and modifications to existing historic buildings. This new requirement applies specifically to Category A and A* properties that are protected under the Housing Accountability Act.
This document provides objective standards that are applicable to projects involving additions and modifications of historic buildings in San Francisco that are also subject to the Housing Accountability Act (HAA). HAA-eligible projects are generally those that construct two or more dwelling units (including Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs), or mixed-use developments that are at least two-thirds residential. HAA-eligible projects must comply with all adopted objective design standards as well as the objective standards of the Planning Code. Projects that are not HAA-eligible are not subject to these standards. These objective standards involve no personal or subjective judgment and are publicly available and verifiable by reference.
The Preservation Design Standards chapter of the San Francisco Design Standards was adopted by the Planning Commission on March 20, 2025.
