Supervisors Safai and Melgar advance housing permit reform to streamline approval process

The San Francisco County Board of Supervisors held a meeting on July 4, 2025, focusing on significant reforms to the site permit review process, which has been criticized for its inefficiency. Jake Price, representing the Housing Action Coalition, expressed gratitude towards Supervisors Melgar and Safai for their efforts to improve the permitting system, highlighting the current process as "very broken."

Supervisor Safai emphasized the urgency of the housing crisis, noting that the average wait time for a full building permit is nearly two years, and over two years for single-family homes. He stated that the proposed legislation aims to reduce these wait times by 6 to 18 months, which he described as a "medium step" towards streamlining the process.

The meeting also included discussions on amendments to the legislation, specifically regarding the simultaneous review of electronically submitted projects and slope protection measures. The board agreed to continue the item for one week to further refine the proposals and ensure all amendments are included.

Overall, the meeting underscored the board's commitment to addressing the housing crisis by improving the efficiency of the permitting process, with plans for continued discussions and refinements in the coming weeks.