Land Use Committee backs amended plan to extend residential fire alarm upgrade deadline, continues ordinance for one week

The Land Use and Transportation Committee on April 26 approved minor amendments and voted to continue consideration of an ordinance that would extend the deadline for required residential fire alarm system upgrades from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2023.

Supervisor Mirna Bellegarde, chair of the committee, called the item and introduced staff and department witnesses. Andy Mullen, staff for the bill’s sponsor, said the change is an administrative extension to accommodate scheduling delays and health concerns during the COVID‑19 pandemic, noting that installers are “pretty overwhelmed and unable to schedule in a timely fashion.” Lieutenant Richard Brown of the San Francisco Fire Department described the amendment as an administrative code change and said he was available to answer technical questions.

Sponsor Supervisor Aaron Peskin introduced three minor amendments that would, in part, tie the compliance trigger to completion of work under a building permit when construction costs equal or exceed $99,000, or to the July 1, 2023 date, whichever occurs first. Peskin said the threshold is intended to limit displacement and better align compliance obligations with typical renovation projects.

During public comment, a succession of apartment owners and managers supported the two‑year extension and the proposed $99,000 threshold, saying tenant health concerns, contractor backlogs and turnover have delayed upgrades. Michelle, an apartment owner, said the extension “will help us plan and complete the work without disrupting our tenants now.” By contrast, Anastasia Yovanopoulos of the San Francisco Tenants Union urged a shorter, one‑year extension, calling the upgrades life‑safety work and warning against prolonging risk.

Following public comment, Supervisor Peskin moved the amendments. The clerk called the roll; Supervisors Peskin, Dean Preston and Mirna Bellegarde recorded aye votes and the amendments were adopted. Peskin then moved to continue the item one week as amended; the committee again voted unanimously to continue the ordinance for further processing.

Next steps: the ordinance returns to committee next week with the adopted amendments and a one‑week continuance on the record.