SB 1211 for Triplex in San Francisco

Own a triplex in San Francisco? SB 1211 lets you stack 4 new units on top of your existing 3: 3 detached + 1 interior. At San Francisco's median rent of $3,100/mo, that's ~$149K in additional gross annual rent.

4new homes possible
3detached ADUs
1interior conversions
$149Kest. annual rent

The San Francisco scenario

Picture the typical case: a 3-unit triplex on a San Francisco block built between 1955 and 1975, with surface parking that hasn't been fully utilized in years. SB 1211 turns that parking into 3 detached units plus 1 interior conversion — 4 new doors that didn't exist before 2024.

San Francisco-specific note: SF requires fire sprinklers in most ADU configurations.

Small multifamily (2–4 unit) design playbook

Small multifamily lots are usually constrained on width before they're constrained on count. With a 3-unit existing footprint, the binding constraint becomes side-yard setbacks (4 ft min) and the 18-ft height limit. Two-story stacked-flat ADUs over surface parking are the highest-yield typology.

Pro-forma snapshot

Existing units3
Detached ADUs (SB 1211)3
Interior conversions1
Total new units4
Median 1BR rent in San Francisco$3,100/mo
Est. additional gross rent$149K/yr
Estimated total project cost~$1,075K
Year-1 NOI estimate~$112K
Stabilized cap rate at cost10.4%
Replacement parking requiredNo (§66313)
Approval pathwayMinisterial · §66314
Typical permit timeline in San Francisco90-150 days

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Other property types in San Francisco

Duplex in San Franciscoup to 3 new homesFourplex / 4-unit in San Franciscoup to 5 new homes5-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 6 new homes6-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 7 new homes8-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 10 new homes10-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 10 new homes12-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 11 new homes16-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 12 new homes20-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 13 new homes24-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 14 new homes32-unit apartment in San Franciscoup to 16 new homes

Triplex owners in other Bay Area cities

Triplex in Oakland~$130K/yr rent · 70-120 daysTriplex in San Jose~$139K/yr rent · 60-100 daysTriplex in Berkeley~$134K/yr rent · 75-130 daysTriplex in Fremont~$139K/yr rent · 70-115 daysTriplex in Hayward~$120K/yr rent · 70-115 daysTriplex in Richmond~$115K/yr rent · 70-115 daysTriplex in Concord~$115K/yr rent · 70-115 daysTriplex in Walnut Creek~$130K/yr rent · 75-120 daysTriplex in Santa Rosa~$110K/yr rent · 75-120 daysTriplex in Napa~$115K/yr rent · 75-120 daysTriplex in Vallejo~$101K/yr rent · 70-110 daysTriplex in Fairfield~$101K/yr rent · 70-110 days

Topics relevant to this scenario

SB 1211 vs SB 9SB 1211 vs AB 1033What 'ministerial approval' means under SB 1211Objective standards under SB 1211SB 1211: first steps for ownersCommon SB 1211 mistakesAppealing an SB 1211 denialSB 1211 parking requirements