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San Francisco Expands Its Natural Gas Ban to Major Renovations

San Francisco accelerates climate action by phasing out natural gas in major building renovations, shaping a cleaner cityscape.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

San Francisco accelerates climate action by phasing out natural gas in major building renovations, shaping a cleaner cityscape.

San Francisco’s Bold Next Step in Phasing Out Natural Gas

San Francisco, a leader in urban sustainability, is expanding its groundbreaking effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by proposing a comprehensive ban on natural gas hookups not only in new buildings, but also in major renovations of existing homes and businesses. This policy—part of the city’s aggressive push toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2040—marks a decisive move to phase out a ubiquitous fossil fuel in favor of all-electric, carbon-free alternatives throughout the city’s built environment.

How Did San Francisco Get Here?

The city’s initial ban on natural gas in new construction, adopted in 2020, made headlines as one of the first major metropolitan measures of its kind in the United States. By forcing all-new buildings to be all-electric, San Francisco set a precedent, now being propelled further as the city moves to include major renovations under this mandate.

Natural gas combustion in buildings constitutes up to 40-44% of San Francisco’s carbon emissions—the largest sectoral contributor.
Initial policies focused on new developments, aiming for future-proofing city infrastructure.
The latest proposed ordinance aims at the enormous existing building stock, targeting deep retrofits and upgrades as leverage points.

What Does the New Ban Cover?

The sweeping policy will require that, when a building undergoes a major renovation, any gas-powered utilities—heating, water heaters, cooling systems, and cooking appliances—must be replaced with electrical alternatives in order for permits to be issued. Outlined below are the precise scope and criteria:

Major renovations include projects altering two-thirds or more of a building’s walls or ceilings, or updating load-bearing structures supporting over 30% of the floors or ceilings.
Includes adding or significantly changing utility systems, such as installing new heating, ventilation, or hot water infrastructure.
Applies to both residential and commercial properties meeting these thresholds.
Individual gas appliance replacements and minor renovations are exempt.

Cyndy Comerford, who leads climate programs at the San Francisco Environment Department, estimates that nearly 1 million square feet of mainly residential renovations would be affected annually by this ordinance.

Why Target Major Renovations?

The rationale for focusing on major renovations is twofold:

When walls and mechanical systems are already being removed and rebuilt, it’s the optimal, lowest-cost opportunity to convert fossil fuel systems to electric ones.
It’s a practical and minimally disruptive moment to future-proof buildings and help the city meet its aggressive carbon-cutting goals.

Tyrone Jue, San Francisco’s Environment Director, noted, “You’re already taking out the mechanical systems, you’re doing these really major alterations … That’s the time to be designing for the future, not rebuilding with legacy systems.”

The Health & Safety Case

Natural gas appliances emit pollutants such as benzene and nitrogen oxides, linked to respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Gas systems increase the risk of fires during earthquakes due to ruptured lines and delayed recovery.
Reducing indoor gas use will cut hazardous indoor air pollution in homes and businesses.

Potential Impact: Emissions, Health, and Economics

The expansion of the natural gas ban has sizable implications for San Francisco:

The policy is projected to reduce 45,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per year—over 1% of the city’s total carbon footprint, representing the third largest proposed drop within the city’s Climate Action Plan.
The ban will accelerate cleaner, all-electric building stock, improving health and indoor air quality.
It could spur the local market for electrification products and services, catalyzing green jobs and investments.

Economic Perspectives: Support and Concerns

While many city leaders and environmental advocates champion the new rules as essential climate leadership, the policy has drawn concern from some developers and stakeholders in affected industries:

Stakeholder	Supportive Arguments	Concerns Raised
City Officials	Essential for emissions reduction, health gains, safety, and aligning with 2040 climate goals	Must ensure accessibility and practicality for diverse building types
Environmental Groups	Necessary for phasing out fossil fuels and leading urban climate action	Want rigorous implementation and broad coverage
Developers & Property Owners	Support climate aims, but prefer voluntary over mandatory incentives	Worry about added costs, complications, and disincentives for renovations
Restaurants & Food Services	Some exceptions granted for continued use of gas in select commercial kitchens	Fear operational constraints and loss of cooking traditions tied to gas stoves
Affordable Housing Advocates	Generally aligned with climate goals	Request phased approaches, cost accommodations, exception extensions

Policy Details: Exemptions and Phasing

Recognizing San Francisco’s diversity of building types and uses, the proposed law includes several targeted exemptions and compliance adjustments:

Projects proving physical or technical infeasibility can qualify for exemptions.
Cost-based exemptions have not been built into the law,
raising concerns from some property owners.
Restaurants and commercial food service establishments are exempt to protect culinary traditions and business viability.
Affordable housing projects receive a delayed phasing-in and extended compliance options.
Office-to-residential conversions have a grace period through 2031.
Retrofitting projects for seismic safety may receive special consideration.

The city’s Building Inspection Commission recommended amendments to further delay implementation to 2027, allow more exceptions for unique upgrades, and make compliance less financially burdensome. These are still under city review as the legislation is finalized.

State and National Context: California and Beyond

San Francisco’s ordinances are part of a broader movement in California. In 2022, the state moved to ban the sale of new natural gas furnaces and water heaters starting in 2030, setting a trend for other jurisdictions considering similar restrictions.

Dozens of California cities (Berkeley, San Jose, etc.) have passed their own versions of natural gas bans, making the Bay Area an epicenter of the movement.
The push encounters legal challenges, especially on claims of preemption by federal regulations.
Still, the growing trend has spurred innovation in electric appliances—from induction stoves to advanced heat pumps.

Electrification Trend and Urban Climate Action

Bay Area developers are increasingly choosing to build all-electric projects even before being legally required, as market preferences and climate liability risks shift. The city’s goal is to use its regulatory powers to accelerate this voluntary trend and ensure the entirety of its building emissions are addressed—critical steps for urban net-zero pathways.

Looking Ahead: The Path to a Greener San Francisco

San Francisco’s expansion of its natural gas ban to major renovations is a highly consequential policy in the city’s climate action portfolio.

The proposal is anticipated to receive final approval after city hearings and possible amendments.
Attaining climate targets will require continuous engagement with both supporters and critics, balancing ambition with practicality.
Success here will likely influence urban climate strategies nationwide, as cities seek blueprints for modernizing aging building stocks in line with urgent environmental goals.

Will Homeowners and Businesses Be Ready?

Transitioning away from natural gas poses logistical, financial, and cultural challenges for some stakeholders. However, the city is betting that—by synchronizing requirements with large-scale renovations and offering flexible phasing for the most vulnerable—San Francisco can accelerate the transition while minimizing disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: When will the expanded natural gas ban take effect?

A: If approved, the ordinance could take effect as early as next July, though some projects and sectors (like affordable housing) will have additional time to comply.

Q: What qualifies as a ‘major renovation’ under the ordinance?

A: Major renovations are those that affect more than two-thirds of a building’s walls or ceilings or structural supports for over 30% of floors or ceilings, and often involve replacing core mechanical systems.

Q: Are there any exemptions to the ban?

A: Yes. Restaurants, certain commercial kitchens, projects with technical infeasibility, office-to-residential conversions until 2031, and affordable housing have special phasing or exemptions.

Q: How does this policy affect typical homeowners?

A: Most homeowners will not be required to retrofit or replace gas appliances unless they are undertaking a major renovation as defined by the ordinance.

Q: Will this create additional costs for property owners?

A: Conversion to electric systems can entail upfront costs, but is typically most cost-effective when paired with major renovations. There are concerns about affordability for some owners.

Q: What benefits can be expected from this transition?

A: Key benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved indoor and citywide air quality, enhanced earthquake safety, and alignment with emerging state and national policy trends.

Q: How does San Francisco’s effort compare to other cities?

A: San Francisco is at the vanguard among major U.S. cities in eliminating gas from buildings, following a trend gaining ground in California and influencing national discussion.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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