San Francisco considering changes to building code that requires tree planting

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco supervisors are considering a change to a building code that currently requires people to plant a tree when working on new construction.

Money may not grow on trees, but in San Francisco trees are costing developers a lot of money.

“If we can make the little things go away then all the larger projects and the more significant issues can all be dealt with by all the regulatory agencies,” said Lev Weisbach a San Francisco architect.

Turns out the city’s building code that requires the planting of trees when working on new construction has killed or impacted many real estate projects. Weisbach has felt it.

MORE: Here’s a look inside SF’s urban forest plan as it works toward planting 3,500 trees over 5 years

“I’ve had significant projects with a number of apartment units that have been held up for a year-and-a-half over tree planting issues. By the time we work through appeals on the tree planting issues, the project died,” said Weisbach.

San Francisco’s Public Works director explains the building code that has frustrated many throughout the years.

“Typically for new developments or if someone is adding a dwelling unit or a garage, a tree is required for every 20 feet of frontage so it’s really attached to the linear frontage of the building and the city tells the applicant you must plant a tree or trees based on your linear frontage,” said Carla Short, SF Public Works Director.

But now, the city is planning to change that, in hopes of giving builders the option to pay a fee instead of planting the required trees.

MORE: What San Francisco and Oakland are doing to increase their tree canopy in most vulnerable areas

The in lieu fee is set to be equal to the city’s cost to plant and water a tree for three years. The current fee is $2,590. Every year, that fee will be reviewed and could be adjusted.

“By eliminating the requirement and providing an in lieu fee, the Public Works department can collect money and aggregated in a much efficient way can plant trees in neighborhoods that are under resourced and have very fee street trees,” said Short.

Mayor Daniel Lurie and new District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong are sponsoring the legislation presenting their plan to the board of supervisors.

“This legislation would make it easier for people to develop their property. So next time they are making changes to their property instead of having to go through a very complicated permitting process of planting a tree, they can instead have this alternative process that is easier,” said SF Supervisor Alan Wong.