Just cause eviction rules in San Francisco, CA — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
San Francisco's Rent Ordinance (Admin Code Chapter 37) requires landlords to have one of 16 legally recognized just causes to evict a tenant. This protection applies to nearly all rental units in the city, including those not subject to rent increase limits.
The 16 just causes include: nonpayment of rent, habitual late payment, breach of lease, nuisance, illegal use, refusal of access, unapproved subtenant, owner move-in, condo conversion, capital improvement, substantial rehabilitation, Ellis Act withdrawal, lead remediation, good Samaritan tenancy expiration, development agreement, and demolition. Owner move-in evictions require the landlord to actually reside in the unit for at least 36 months. Ellis Act withdrawals require removing all units from the rental market. Tenants receive relocation payments for no-fault evictions.
Wrongful eviction is subject to civil penalties including actual damages, treble damages for bad faith, and attorney fees. The DA's office may prosecute fraudulent owner move-in evictions.
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See how San Francisco's just cause eviction rules stack up against other locations.
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