EVIDENCE: Retrofit laws are feasible, effective, and common life-safety policy.
Across the country, cities and states have successfully adopted retroactive sprinkler requirements for existing high-rise buildings and other multi-unit occupancies. These laws demonstrate that retrofits can be completed without displacement, with affordable long-term compliance timelines, and with major public-safety benefits for residents and firefighters.
Below is a representative list of jurisdictions that have required sprinklers in older buildings after construction, proving the feasibility of San Francisco’s own high-rise retrofit law.
Cities with high-rise sprinkler retrofit laws
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After a major downtown fire, L.A. mandated sprinkler retrofits in all existing high-rise office buildings, with older residential towers required to sprinkler common areas.
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San Diego adopted a high-rise retrofit mandate in the 1980s. Efforts are ongoing to reinstate its full requirements after parts of the law were rolled back.
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Since 1993, the City has required retroactive sprinklers for existing high-rise commercial buildings and hotels. Now, standards are being adopted for older residential towers — that’s why you’re here.
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San Jose required all existing high-rise buildings — including residential — to retrofit sprinklers beginning in the early ’80s, with multi-year compliance. Today, the law has been fully implemented.
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Atlanta requires sprinklers in existing buildings taller than 75 feet, including residential, business, institutional, and hotel uses.
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After the 2017 Marco Polo condo fire, which killed four and injured 13, Honolulu passed an ordinance requiring all older high-rise residential buildings to undergo a fire-safety evaluation and either pass or fully retrofit sprinklers.
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Louisville mandates sprinklers in all high-rise buildings (those that rise past 75 feet), with limited low-hazard exceptions.
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Billings requires sprinklers in all existing high-rise buildings, without exceptions.
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A 1991 ordinance requires sprinklers in all Philadelphia high-rises above 75 feet (with narrow residential exceptions), phased in over 66 months.
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In Houston, all high-rise commercial and most residential buildings must retrofit sprinklers, creating de-facto retroactive coverage.
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San Antonio enacted a retrofit law after a deadly high-rise fire, requiring sprinklers in nearly all existing residential and commercial towers, with partial exemptions for condos.
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Casper requires sprinklers in all existing high-rise buildings, without exceptions.
States with broad retrofit laws covering multiple building types
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Florida requires retroactive sprinklers in public lodging over three stories, as well as in assisted-living facilities and state prisons.
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Statewide sprinkler laws exist in Illinois for nursing homes and all college and university dorms.
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Massachusetts requires sprinklers in older high-rises statewide (above 70 ft) and mandates sprinklers in large assembly spaces and certain boarding homes.
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Retroactive sprinkler requirements exist in Nevada for hotels, assemblies, and older high-rises, depending on occupancy and height.
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A statewide retrofit mandate in New Jersey applies to hospitals, hotels and motels, non-residential high-rises, boarding homes, and residential care facilities.
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Retroactive sprinkler requirements in Rhode Island cover hotels, assemblies, and older high-rises, depending on occupancy and height.
What does this all mean for San Francisco?
Retrofits are mainstream safety policy.
Major U.S. cities and states have already implemented high-rise retrofit laws successfully.
Costs are manageable with long timelines.
Cities routinely allow five to 15 years for compliance, reducing disruption and preventing displacement.
Lives are saved.
Sprinklers reduce high-rise fire deaths by 80% to 90%, protect firefighters, and limit catastrophic property loss.
SF is not alone — and not extreme.
SF’s 12-year retrofit timeline is entirely in line with national norms and is more flexible than several peer jurisdictions.