NIMBYs and YIMBYs Both File Lawsuits Over San Francisco’s New Housing Plans

San Francisco's efforts to build denser housing face crucial tests in the coming months amid a series of lawsuits, which variously claim that the city's efforts go too far—or not far enough.The three lawsuits against the city, filed in Superior Court, come from groups on the opposite end of the spectrum. They challenge the so-called Family Zoning Plan, which the city adopted in December 2025, and which San Francisco says could enable 36,200 new units of denser housing.The law was a response to California's Senate Bill 79, which mandates cities plan for more housing development by adopting a housing element. The state has taken a pro-building approach to confront its historic housing affordability crisis. San Francisco, meantime, is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the nation for renters and buyers alike.A series of pro-development housing groups—including California Housing Defense Fund, Californians for Homeownership and YIMBY Law—argue the city needs to build more housing. They've filed two lawsuits arguing both the city's plan and SB79 don't do enough.On the other side, a group of homeowners—including Neighborhoods United SF—is also suing the city, attempting to ...