Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
San Francisco Building Inspection Commission Codes § 304.3 Provisions for All Compliance Methods
San Francisco Building Inspection Commission Codes · 2026-08 edition · updated 2026-10-23 · San Francisco
Cite as: San Francisco Building Inspection Commission Codes § 304.3 · Text as of 2026-10-23
304.3.2 Revise item 2 as follows:¶
304.3.2 Reduced seismic criteria. Where required, seismic evaluation or design shall comply with one of the following methodologies, which shall not be applied in combination with each other:
- Except where these requirements are triggered by Section 503.11 or 805.2.1, applicable chapters of Appendix A of this code, for structures or portions of structures specified in Items 2.1 through 2.4 subject to the limitations of the respective chapter.
304 Add the following sections:
304.4 Minimum Lateral Force for Existing Buildings.
304.4.1 General. This section is applicable to existing buildings when invoked by SFEBC Section 503 or Chapters 6 through 9. This section may be used as a standard for voluntary upgrades.
An existing building or structure which has been brought into compliance with the lateral force resistance requirements of the San Francisco Building Code in effect on or after the dates shown in Table 304.4.1 shall be deemed to comply with this section except when a vertical extension or other alterations are to be made which would increase the mass or reduce the seismic resistance capacity of the building or structure. Where multiple building types apply, the later applicable date shall be used. Where none of the building types apply, compliance shall be at the discretion of the Director. Building type definitions are given in ASCE 41, Table 3-1.
TABLE 304.4.1 – DATES REQUIRED TO DEMONSTRATE BUILDING COMPLIANCE
| Building Type | Date of Compliance | Model Code (for reference) |
|---|---|---|
| Building Type | Date of Compliance | Model Code (for reference) |
| Wood Frame, wood shear panels (Types W1 & W2) | 1/1/1984 | UBC 1976 |
| Wood Frame, wood shear panels (Type W1A) | 7/1/1999 | UBC 1997 |
| Floor areas greater than 3,000 ft2 per level | ||
| Steel moment-resisting frame (Types S1 & S1a) | 12/28/1995 | UBC 1994 |
| Steel concentrically braced frame (Types S2 & S2a) | 7/1/1999 | UBC 1997 |
| Steel eccentrically braced frame (Types S2 & S2a) | 1/1/1990 | UBC 1988 |
| Buckling-restrained braced frame (Types S2 & S2a) | 1/1/2008 | IBC 2006 |
| Light metal frame (Type S3) | 1/1/2008 | IBC 2006 |
| Steel frame w/ concrete shear walls (Type S4) | 12/28/1995 | UBC 1994 |
| Steel plate shear wall (Type S6) | 1/1/2008 | IBC 2006 |
| Reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame (Type C1) | 7/1/1999 | UBC 1997 |
| Reinforced concrete shear walls (Types C2 & C2a) | 7/1/1999 | UBC 1997 |
| Tilt-up concrete (Types PC1 & PC1a) | 7/1/1999 | UBC 1997 |
| Precast concrete frame (Types PC2 & PC2a) | 1/1/2008 | IBC 2006 |
| Reinforced masonry (Type RM1) | 7/1/1999 | UBC 1997 |
| Flexible diaphragms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reinforced masonry (Type RM2) | 12/28/1995 | UBC 1994 |
| Stiff diaphragms | ||
| Seismic isolation or passive dissipation | 7/1/1992 | UBC 1991 |
304.4.2 Wind forces. Buildings and structures shall be capable of resisting wind forces as prescribed in San Francisco Building Code Section 1609.
304.4.3 Seismic forces. Buildings and structures shall comply with the reduced seismic forces, as defined in Section 304.3.2. The building separation limitations of Section ASCE 7-16 Section 12.12.3 need not be considered.
When upper floors are exempted from compliance by Section 503.11 or 805.2.1, the lateral forces generated by their masses shall be included in the analysis and design of the lateral force resisting systems for the strengthened floor. Such forces may be applied to the floor level immediately above the topmost strengthened floor and distributed in that floor in a manner consistent with the construction and layout of the exempted floor.
304.5 Non-structural alterations. Whenever alteration work in a building or structure involves substantial changes to elements such as walls, partitions or ceilings, on 2/3 or more of the number of stories excluding basements, the building or structure as a whole shall comply with Section 304.4. The term “substantial change” means the addition, removal, repair or modification of such elements. All such work included in alteration permits issued within two years of the date of a permit application shall be included in the determination of whether the application is proposing substantial change to the building or structure.
Removal and replacement of interior gypboard or plaster in Type V (wood framed) R3 occupancy (one or two residential units) is not to be considered as “Substantial Change”.
The replacement gypboard must be 5/8" Type X with 5d cooler nails @ 4 inches on center or equivalent screws.
SECTION 307 – SMOKE ALARMS, FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS, AND OPEN ATTICS
307.1 Revise this section as follows:
307.1 Smoke Alarms. [ ← ]
The arrow represents the location of language that has been deleted by San Francisco from the applicable California Code.
When the valuation of an addition, alteration, or repair to a Group R Occupancy exceeds $1,000 and a permit is required, or when one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in an existing Group R Occupancy, smoke alarms shall be installed in accordance with San Francisco Building Code Section 907.
Exception: Repairs to the exterior surfaces of a Group R Occupancy are exempt from the requirements of this section.
307 Add the following sections:
307.2 Fire alarm systems. For all buildings that are required to have a fire alarm system under this Code, the Fire Code, the Housing Code, or any other law, the building owner shall upgrade the fire alarm system, if necessary, to comply with the sound level requirement for sleeping areas set forth in Section 18.4.5.1 of NFPA 72, as amended from time to time, upon either (a) completion of work under a building permit with a cost of construction of $99,000 or more, (b) July 1, 2023, whichever occurs first.
Exception. This subsection 307.2 shall not apply to mandatory seismic strengthening alterations being performed pursuant to Chapter 5E of this Code, or to transient Hotels within the Residential Group R-1 Occupancy Classification of Section 310.2 of the Building Code.
307.3 Open, accessible attics. When performing additions, alterations, or repairs in Group R-2 occupancies of six units or more under a building permit with a cost of construction of $50,000 or more, fire blocks, draftstops, or fire safing insulation (approved noncombustible material used as a fire barrier) shall be installed in open attics of 30 inches in height or greater that are accessible from other than an occupied residential unit.
Exception. This requirement shall not apply to mandatory seismic strengthening alterations being performed pursuant to Chapter 5E of this Code.
SECTION 314 – EXISTING HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS [SFM]
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