The move is aimed at improving the seismic safety of "soft-story" wood-frame buildings in the city.
Soft-story buildings are those that are vulnerable to earthquake damage because one story is less strong than other stories in the structure.
The executive directive instructs city departments to work together to increase public awareness of the importance of seismic strengthening, expedite completion of the soft-story component of the Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety initiative, and execute a citywide emergency drill in October.
The executive directive and legislation also seek to expedite permits and waive review and permit fees for seismic retrofit upgrades of soft-story buildings.
The Board of Supervisors will have to approve those changes.
"The soft-story buildings are many in San Francisco," Newsom said at a noon news conference held in the garage of a Richmond District apartment complex that recently underwent seismic retrofitting.
