Ordinance repealing the 2022 Electrical Code in its entirety and enacting a 2025 Electrical Code consisting of the 2025 California Electrical Code as amended by San Francisco; adopting environmental findings and findings of local conditions under the California Health and Safety Code; providing an operative date of January 1, 2026; and directing the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to forward the Ordinance to the California Building Standards Commission as required by State law.

This ordinance (File No. 250957) repeals the 2022 San Francisco Electrical Code (enacted November 10, 2022, operative January 1, 2023) and enacts the 2025 San Francisco Electrical Code, with an operative date of January 1, 2026. This is a routine triennial update, where San Francisco re-adopts the 2025 California Electrical Code and re-enacts its existing local amendments, adjusted for technical alignment with the new state code. The Building Inspection Commission, following a unanimous recommendation from the Code Advisory Committee on October 10, 2025, held a public hearing on October 16, 2025, and unanimously recommended approval. The Planning Department determined the ordinance complies with CEQA, and local conditions findings (geology, topography, climate) are adopted to justify San Francisco's more restrictive standards, as required by California Health and Safety Code. The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors is directed to forward the ordinance and its amendments to the California Building Standards Commission.

• Safety & Wiring: Mandates specific color-coding for electrical conductors (e.g., purple for high-leg), stricter wiring methods for service-entrance conductors (e.g., minimum 1-1/4 inch (31.8 mm) raceway, limited cable types), and enhanced grounding requirements (concrete-encased electrodes for new/major foundations of 6.0m (20 ft) or more perimeter). It prohibits certain cable types (e.g., nonmetallic-sheathed cable in nonresidential structures or for voltages above 120 volts to ground) and requires rigid steel conduit for aboveground conductors 12KV or larger in residential/commercial occupancies. Supplemental support wires (minimum #12 gauge) are required for luminaires in suspended ceilings, with two for recessed fixtures 610mm (2 feet) or larger. Emergency and fire alarm systems have specific wiring and power source requirements.
• Permits & Enforcement: Details permit application, work exemptions (e.g., minor repairs, data/communications cable in R-3 units under 3000 sq ft), and fees. Unpermitted electrical work incurs an investigative fee of two times (2x) the permit fee, which may be reduced under certain conditions. Violations can lead to a civil penalty of up to $500 per day or a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 or six months imprisonment, or both.

This ordinance ensures that all new and significantly altered electrical installations in San Francisco adhere to the latest and most stringent safety standards, tailored to the city's unique environmental and structural challenges. Residents and property owners will benefit from safer buildings and electrical systems, reducing risks associated with earthquakes, fire, and corrosive climate conditions. Contractors and homeowners performing electrical work must be aware of the updated requirements, permit processes, and potential penalties for non-compliance, including investigative fees for unpermitted work.

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