This is one of the reasons why all new housing is in the luxury category in Germany as well.

Building codes have become so strict that it's not worthwhile to build affordable housing for private investors. Especially since the government pays incentives (or rather gives out very low interest loans) to build houses of the highest energy standard.

Why build a "cheap" house when you can build a more expensive house with subsidies that has a lot higher resale value later?

Why are building code so strict? Are they 'necessary'? How much benefit do these building codes provide?

Note that there is a lot of lobbying involved in the building code. An example:

What if a kid ran into a balcony glass and broke it, hurting or killing itself? Better demand that balcony glass be reinforced (and more expensive, to a great delight of the glass factories!) just in case. Even in old folks' homes.

No one wants to be known as the child killer, so here is a new demand making the construction a bit more expensive.

That seems perfectly reasonable to me. I expect balcony railings to be sturdy, they exist precisely to prevent accidents. As long as there is no regulation mandating railings be made of glass, I don't see any problem. I've only ever seen glass railings on the houses of people who can afford to pay someone else to clean them (i.e luxury housing) so I don't see how that makes it harder to build affordable housing.

I meant glass in the door that connects the room to the balcony. Not in railings. Sorry.

earthquakes, at least in SF

> build luxury housing

The most luxurious housing is single family homes. Is that all they're pitching in SF now?

most of the new development is midrise to highrise condos.

I don't think there are any new SFH being built on empty lots.