What Charter Reform Means
San Francisco's charter is the rulebook for how every department operates. Decades of one-off amendments have turned it into a tangled 538-page document that slows down hiring, budgeting, and basic neighborhood services. Charter reform is about trimming the red tape so the city can act quickly and stay accountable.
Why It Matters
- City leaders spend months navigating outdated rules before they can fill critical positions or launch new programs.
- Residents wait for simple fixes—like opening a small business or cleaning a park—because the charter demands too many approvals.
- A modern charter keeps checks and balances while giving departments the flexibility to deliver clean streets, safe neighborhoods, and responsive services.
How You Can Help
Sign up to back charter reform, share these resources with friends, and tell City Hall you want a government that works.
Sign Up For Updates
Add your name to get charter reform updates.
Latest coverage
Dig into how San Francisco's charter grew so complex and explore the full history of every amendment since 1996.
Laws Cast in Stone: The Problem with Ballot Measures
San Francisco can't respond quickly because our laws are cast in stone. Why?
Too many ballot measures: Why San Francisco needs to fix its charter
San Francisco’s endless ballot measures create confusion and gridlock. Here's how we can fix it.
Every charter amendment since 1996
Track the ballot measures that rewrote San Francisco's charter over the last three decades and see who supported them.
San Francisco has the longest city charter in America
Find out how the charter ballooned to 538 pages and why trimming it back is essential for accountable city government.
