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our city's policies

Legislation & Initiatives


City charter

San Francisco's City Charter, Environment - Section 4.118, established the Environment Commission and charged the Department of the Environment (SF Environment) with regularly assessing San Francisco's environmental condition, as well as planning for the long-term environmental sustainability of San Francisco.

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Initiatives

SF Environment works with community groups and city agencies to actively promote and increase the quality of life for residents. The following are initiatives the city adopted and projects that are in progress:

SForward- Mayor Newsom's environmental agenda for 2008 and the coming years, including plans for a carbon neutral city government.

Climate Action Plan – San Francisco adopted this plan committing the city to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2012. The plan outline actions the city can take to meet this goal.

Electricity Resource Plan – San Francisco adopted this plan to help address growing environmental health concerns in the southeast community where two power plants lived. The plan presents a framework for assuring reliable, affordable, and renewable source of energy for the future of San Francisco.

Sustainability Plan – San Francisco developed the Sustainability Plan in 1996. The plan set broad goals across several key issue areas. It identified a wealth of good environental ideas, and most have been put in place over the past decade. For planning purposes, however, SF Environment relies on its three-year strategic plan, which is filed each year with the Mayor and Board of Supervisors.
Strategic Plan 2010-2012 – SF Environment's current programmatic goals are outlined in the Strategic Plan, which is updated on an annual basis.

2010 Annual Report and Efficiency Plan

Urban Forestry Plan – San Francisco adopted this plan, designed act a road map for policy-makers and implementers, and identifies five goals critical to maximizing the value of the forest.

Sustainable Foods Initiative – SF Environment, in collaboration with the San Francisco Department of public Health, San Francisco Food Systems Project, the Interdepartmental Sustainable and Healthy Foods Working Group, and the Mayor's Shape Up Initiative, is now exploring policy options to increase the amount of fresh, local and organic food available to City residents and departments. Stay tuned to this page for future developments on this important topic. More information to come.

U.N. Global Compact

Business Council on Climate Change(BC3) – a partnership of businesses committed to making the San Francisco Bay Area a model of commercial climate stewardship by following the five Principles for Climate Leadership.

Backlands Eco-Industrial Park Position Paper

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Environmental Code

The Environment Code was developed to consolidate the City's Ordinances governing protection of the environment, natural resources, and sustainability.

Please Note: The Municipal Codes is a service provided by an external entity, American Legal Publishing Corp.

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Environmental Ordinances

Most of the city's Environmental Ordinances are part of the Environment Code, but there are sections of the Police Code, Health Code, and others that pertain to clean air, open spaces, wildlife, and environmental health.

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Environmental Regulations

Regulations help us turn a good idea (Ordinance) into a daily practice (Regulation). Our Environmental Regulations page includes regulations, forms, and other resources for our Environmental Ordinances.


Regulation SFE10-01-PBRO Regulations Implementing Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance

Regulation 09-02-MRO, Regulation Implementing Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance

Commuter Benefits Ordinance Compliance Procedures (Environment Code Chapter 4)

City-wide Green Business Program Process and Checklists (Environment Code Chapter 15)

Construction and Demolition Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 14)

Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 2)

Clean Energy Technology Businesses Payroll Expense Tax Exclusion

Arsenic-treated Wood

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Environment Commission Resolutions

The Commission on the Environment advises the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on environmental matters. Suggestions from the Commission usually take the form of Resolutions, which, when adopted, are directed to the Board of Supervisors. Many of these resolutions have informed legislation adopted by the City & County of San Francisco. The following are resolutions the Commission on the Environment has passed over the years.

2010


2009


2008


2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

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Board of Supervisors Resolutions

Air Quality



Energy



Outreach / Education



Parks and Trees



Recycling


Toxics Reduction


Transportation



Water



Commendations and Policy Statements





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City & County of San Francisco

(415) 355-3700 • • 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

SFEnvironment is a department of the City & County of San Francisco