How San Francisco Handles Rental Property Rules: A Practical Guide
San Francisco maintains 177 local ordinances across all categories, and 10 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where San Francisco falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Source-of-Income Discrimination
San Francisco's Police Code Section 3304 bars landlords from refusing rental applicants because their income comes from Section 8, VASH, or other government subsidies. Refusing vouchers is treated as discrimination by the SF Human Rights Commission.
Key details: Code section: Police Code 3304(a)(13). Source of income includes: Section 8, VASH, county aid. Civil penalty: Up to $1,000. Parallel state law: SB 329 (2020).
Refusing voucher applicants triggers HRC orders to rent, civil penalties to $1,000, damages, attorney's fees, and possible state DFEH action with additional fines.
No-Fault Evictions
San Francisco's Rent Ordinance lists a narrow set of no-fault eviction reasons including owner move-in, Ellis Act withdrawal, capital improvements, and substantial rehabilitation. Each category triggers relocation payments and strict noticing rules under Chapter 37.
Key details: Code section: Admin Code 37.9(a)(8)-(14). Enacted: 1979 (Chapter 37). Re-rental restriction: One year at original rent. Treble damages: Triple actual rent loss.
Wrongful no-fault evictions trigger treble damages, attorney's fees, statutory penalties up to $50,000, and Rent Board orders restoring tenancy at original rents.
AB-1482 Notice Disclosure
Units exempt from SF Chapter 37 rent control may still fall under California's AB 1482 statewide cap. Landlords must provide a written notice citing the 5% plus CPI cap or claim a statutory exemption such as single-family-home with corporate-ownership disclosure.
Key details: State statute: Civil Code 1947.12. Annual cap: 5% plus CPI, max 10%. Building age threshold: 15 years or older. Just-cause kicks in at: 12 months tenancy.
Failure to serve the AB 1482 notice waives any exemption and exposes landlords to overcharge restitution, attorney's fees, and Civil Code 1947.12 damages.
Rent Increase Notice
San Francisco landlords must hand tenants a written breakdown of every rent increase, itemizing the annual increase, cost passthroughs, and other components, on or before the date of the legal notice.
Key details: Governing law: Admin Code § 37.3(b). Enforcing agency: SF Rent Board. Non-conforming increase: Null and void. Applies to: Rent-controlled units, tenants in occupancy.
A rent increase that does not conform with Section 37.3(b), including the written breakdown requirement, is null and void under Section 37.3(b)(5). Tenants can petition the Rent Board for a hearing.
Repairs & Habitability
San Francisco's Housing Code declares a rental building substandard when a listed defect, from missing hot water to structural hazards, endangers occupants or the public, and automatically makes it a nuisance.
Key details: Governing law: Housing Code Ch. 10, § 1001. Enforcing agency: SF Dept. of Building Inspection. Legal effect: Declared a public nuisance. Covers: Water, heat, ventilation, structure, pests.
A substandard building is declared a nuisance under Housing Code Section 401, subjecting the owner to Department of Building Inspection code enforcement and abatement action.
Relocation Assistance
Landlords pursuing no-fault evictions must pay statutory relocation assistance per tenant, with elderly, disabled, and minor occupants receiving enhanced amounts. The Rent Board updates dollar figures annually for inflation under Administrative Code Section 37.9C.
Key details: Code section: Admin Code 37.9C. Base 2025 amount: Roughly $8,400 per tenant. Tenant cap: Three tenants per unit. Vulnerable bonus: About $5,500 extra.
Failing to pay relocation voids the eviction, exposes the landlord to treble damages, attorney's fees, and Rent Board administrative penalties up to $1,000 per day.
This is one of the stricter rules in San Francisco's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Rent Control
San Francisco's Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Ordinance (Administrative Code Chapter 37) applies to most rental units built before June 13, 1979. Annual rent increases are limited to a percentage set by the Rent Board, which was 1.4% for March 2025 through February 2026.
Key details: Coverage: Most units in pre-June 1979 buildings. Annual Increase: 1.4% (March 2025-Feb 2026). Calculation: 60% of Bay Area CPI. Enforcement: SF Rent Board. Exemptions: Single-family homes, post-1979 buildings.
Charging rent above the allowable amount is a violation of the Rent Ordinance. Tenants may file petitions with the Rent Board for excess rent recovery. Landlords face penalties including treble damages for willful overcharges.
Tenant Anti-Harassment
Section 37.10B of the Rent Ordinance prohibits 16 categories of landlord harassment including utility shutoffs, threats, false eviction notices, and abusing buyout offers. Tenants may sue for treble damages and statutory penalties up to $1,000 per offense.
Key details: Code section: Admin Code 37.10B. Treble damage multiplier: 3x one month's rent. Statutory penalty: $1,000 per violation. Prohibited conduct categories: 16 itemized acts.
Violations carry treble actual damages, statutory penalties of $1,000 per offense, attorney's fees, and possible misdemeanor prosecution under Section 37.10B(c).
Just Cause Eviction
San Francisco has required just cause for evictions since August 24, 1980. Administrative Code Section 37.9(a) says a landlord shall not endeavor to recover possession of a covered rental unit unless one of its listed grounds exists, so even attempting an eviction without a qualifying reason violates the Rent Ordinance. The San Francisco Rent Board administers the rule citywide, on top of whatever state law provides.
Key details: Governing law: Admin. Code § 37.9(a). Effective since: August 24, 1980. Enforcing body: SF Rent Board. Applies to: All Rent Ordinance rental units. Scope of bar: Any endeavor to recover possession.
Landlords who endeavor to recover possession without a Section 37.9(a) just cause face Rent Board proceedings, wrongful-eviction liability, and defenses raised in unlawful detainer actions brought by the City Attorney or the tenant.
Compared to other cities, San Francisco takes a harder line on just cause eviction. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Rental Registration
All landlords with units subject to the Rent Ordinance must register with the San Francisco Rent Board and pay an annual fee per unit. The fee funds the Rent Board's operations including dispute resolution, counseling, and enforcement.
Key details: Registration: Mandatory for all rent-controlled units. Fee Split: 50/50 landlord-tenant. Agency: SF Rent Board. Database: Online searchable unit database. Penalty: Late fees and processing restrictions.
Failure to register and pay fees may result in late penalties and inability to process rent increase petitions. The Rent Board may assess back fees for unregistered units.
Compared to other cities, San Francisco takes a harder line on rental registration. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
The Bottom Line
San Francisco is tougher than many cities when it comes to rental property rules. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in San Francisco, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
Keep in mind that San Francisco can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.