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.
Police Code Section 3304(a)(13), strengthened by Ordinance 4-20 in 2020 to align with state SB 329, defines source of income to include Section 8, HUD-VASH veterans vouchers, Shelter Plus Care, county subsidies, and emergency rental assistance. Landlords cannot post advertisements stating no Section 8, refuse applications based on subsidy use, or impose stricter income ratios on voucher holders. The SF Human Rights Commission accepts complaints, conducts paired tester investigations, and refers violators to administrative law judges. Remedies include damages, civil penalties up to $1,000, attorney's fees, and orders to rent the unit. The state SB 329 layer provides parallel protections enforceable through DFEH.
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.
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