San Francisco’s well-intentioned fire safety mandate is creating an unexpected crisis for longtime residents and condo owners across the city. A 2022 fire code change requires automatic sprinkler installations in residential high-rise buildings constructed before 1975, potentially displacing thousands and creating astronomical financial burdens for homeowners.

The policy demands extensive retrofitting that could cost between $113,000 to $300,000 per unit, with some residents facing monthly expenses up to $3,000 for installation loans. For many seniors and middle-income residents like Elaine Hilp, a 101-year-old Russian Hill resident, these requirements could mean being forced out of homes they’ve inhabited for decades.

The San Francisco Fire Department identified 126 buildings needing retrofitting, with a third being co-op-owned condominiums. Most affected buildings are located in Districts 2 and 3, spanning from the Marina to Lower Nob Hill. While the mandate aims to improve fire safety, particularly after concerns about lithium-ion battery fires, the potential human cost seems disproportionate.

Local politicians are beginning to recognize the unintended consequences. Supervisor Stephen Sherrill has indicated his office will explore alternative fire risk reduction methods, such as fire-resistant doors, that wouldn’t displace residents. Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office is also exploring ways to amend the mandate to address affordability concerns.

Unlike other cities like Los Angeles, which require more targeted sprinkler installations, San Francisco’s approach mandates comprehensive unit-by-unit retrofitting. This approach could dramatically transform the city’s housing landscape, potentially pushing out long-term residents and creating additional housing instability.

As the city grapples with this complex issue, residents like Kelly Joslin fear they might have to sell their homes at a loss. The sprinkler mandate represents another example of a well-intentioned policy that could ultimately harm the very community it seeks to protect.