DBI reports facade‑inspection schedule and outreach for older San Francisco buildings

DBI staff provided a status update on the Façade Improvement Program, which requires exterior inspections of buildings that are older than 1998 and five stories or higher.

The staff presentation outlined the program's 10‑year inspection cycle and said the program currently covers roughly 1,450 buildings in San Francisco. Inspections must be carried out by a California‑licensed engineer or architect who submits a report for DBI review; once approved the report clears the building for the next 10 years.

DBI staff reviewed the program's schedule by building 'vintage' (pre‑1910 through later vintages) and noted exemptions for historic buildings and properties permitted after 1997, which generally do not require a facade inspection for 30 years. Staff said that buildings that have recently completed a comprehensive facade inspection are exempt for 10 years from the filing date of that inspection.

For the current compliance cycle, DBI said it sent multiple mailings to building owners ahead of deadlines and plans to send about 10 notices during 2022 to remind owners of upcoming inspection requirements. Staff said the goal is to help building owners and operators meet deadlines and to keep façades safe and maintained as part of earthquake‑safety efforts.

Commissioners thanked staff for the update and noted the program's role in downtown and older building preservation. DBI did not propose any programmatic changes at this meeting; the item was informational.