Overview
- Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who introduced the ordinance Tuesday, proposed banning sales of non‑UL‑certified lithium‑ion batteries in stores and online.
- The bill authorizes the San Francisco Fire Department to issue citations and sets fines of up to $1,000 per violation.
- Fire Chief Dean Crispen says uncertified batteries can overcharge and enter thermal runaway, creating intense fires that race through apartments before crews arrive.
- Officials report more than 120 battery‑related fires from 2021 to 2025, with a December Tenderloin blaze displacing 45 residents and a recent Seneca Hotel fire sending one person to the hospital.
- The proposal goes beyond state rules by covering online delivery and builds on 2024 city limits on home e‑mobility devices and direct‑to‑outlet charging.