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San Francisco prohibits short-term rentals (under 30 days) of newly built ADUs unless the ADU is the host's primary residence under Admin Code Chapter 41A (Short-Term Residential…
San Francisco waives most development impact fees for Accessory Dwelling Units smaller than 750 square feet under Planning Code Section 401 and Cal. Gov't Code 65852.2(f)(3)(A). ADUs…
San Francisco does NOT require owner occupancy for ADUs, consistent with California Government Code 65852.2(a)(8) which prohibits cities from imposing an owner-occupancy requirement on…
San Francisco permits Accessory Dwelling Units ministerially in every residential and most mixed-use zones under Planning Code Section 207(c)(4) (Local ADU) and Section 207(c)(6)…
San Francisco actively encourages Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) under both a State Program (governed by Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2 / 65852.22) and a Local Program (Planning Code Sec. 207…
San Francisco allows tiny homes as Accessory Dwelling Units under state ADU law (Gov Code 65852.2) and SF Planning Code Section 207. Movable tiny homes on wheels qualify as ADUs under…
California ADU law, Government Code 66310 et seq. (formerly 65852.2), expressly authorizes converting an existing garage into an ADU, with no replacement parking allowed and…
San Francisco Health Code Article 1 requires dogs to be leashed in public spaces, with limited off-leash zones designated by Recreation and Parks Department in specific parks like Fort…
San Francisco Health Code Article 1 prohibits the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits unless sourced from animal shelters or rescue organizations, making SF among the first US…
San Francisco Health Code Article 1, Section 43, requires mandatory spaying or neutering of all pit bull-type dogs over eight weeks of age, one of the first such breed-specific…
San Francisco permits residential beekeeping under SF Health Code Article 1 with hive registration, setback rules, and water-source requirements. The city encourages urban apiaries and…
San Francisco Health Code Article 1 requires all dogs and cats impounded by Animal Care and Control to be microchipped before release, and licensing rules strongly encourage chipping…
San Francisco prohibits keeping wild and exotic animals as pets under SF Health Code Article 1, aligning with California Fish and Game Code Section 2118 restricted species list…
San Francisco Health Code Article 1 Section 37 allows up to 4 small animals (chickens, ducks, rabbits) per household without a permit. Roosters are prohibited. Coops must be 20 feet…
San Francisco Health Code Article 1 and state Fish & Game regulations prohibit feeding non-domestic wildlife including raccoons, skunks, coyotes, deer, and wild birds where it creates…
California Food and Agriculture Code section 31683 preempts cities from banning specific dog breeds, though localities may regulate spay-neuter and breeding by breed.
Fence height in San Francisco is regulated by Planning Code Section 136 (Permitted Obstructions in Required Setbacks, Yards, and Usable Open Space), administered by the San Francisco…
San Francisco Building Code Section 105 requires permits for any retaining wall over 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing). Engineered design and structural drawings are…
Pool fences in San Francisco must comply with California Health & Safety Code Sections 115920-115929 (Swimming Pool Safety Act) and CBC Section 3109. Minimum 60-inch barrier with…
San Francisco regulates fence materials through the Planning Code and building standards. Wood, wrought iron, and composite are common approved materials. Chain-link is restricted in…
California Civil Code Section 841, the Good Neighbor Fence Act, presumes adjoining landowners share equal benefit and equal cost responsibility for boundary fences, applying statewide…
San Francisco Police Code Article 9 and the SF Fire Code prohibit the sale, possession, and discharge of all fireworks within city limits, including state-approved Safe and Sane…
San Francisco Fire Code Section 307 and Bay Area Air Quality Management District rules ban open outdoor burning of yard waste, debris, and trash citywide. Recreational fire features…
San Francisco Fire Code Chapter 61 limits residential propane (LPG) cylinder storage to small portable tanks for grills and patio heaters, with strict ventilation, distance, and…
San Francisco Fire Code Section 4906 requires defensible space and vegetation management on properties adjacent to wildland-urban interface zones, including Mount Davidson, Twin Peaks…
San Francisco has minimal designated State Responsibility Area wildfire hazard zones due to its dense urban character. Cal Fire Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps show only small areas…
Open burning is prohibited in San Francisco under Fire Code Section 307 and BAAQMD Regulation 5. Only contained recreational fires in approved appliances with clean fuel are allowed…
San Francisco Housing Code Section 1301 and California Health & Safety Code 13113.7 require working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every floor…
Outdoor fire pits burning wood or solid fuels are prohibited on Spare the Air Alert days under BAAQMD Regulation 6, Rule 3. In the dense urban environment of San Francisco, open fires…
San Francisco Planning Code Section 204.1 allows home occupations as an accessory use in residential zones with no permit if criteria are met. The business must be secondary to the…
California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616, AB 626) and the 2018 Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations law (MEHKO) allow limited home-based food businesses in San Francisco. SF opted into…
Health and Safety Code sections 1597.40 through 1597.465 require all California cities and counties to treat licensed family daycare homes as permitted residential uses, preempting any…
While most home occupation rules are local, state law guarantees certain residential uses statewide, including accessory dwelling units under Government Code 66310 et seq., family…
California Civil Code 4735 preempts HOA bans on artificial turf, and San Francisco allows artificial turf in residential front and rear yards subject to Planning Code landscaping…
San Francisco actively promotes rainwater harvesting through the SFPUC Non-Potable Water Program. Residential rain barrels are unregulated and encouraged with rebates. Larger cisterns…
SB 1383 requires every California resident and business to separate food scraps and yard waste from trash, with universal collection or on-site composting.
AB-1572 prohibits using potable water to irrigate non-functional turf at commercial, institutional, and HOA-common areas, accelerating native and low-water landscape conversions…
California's State Water Resources Control Board issues statewide drought emergency regulations and waste prohibitions that apply to every household, overriding more lenient local…
San Francisco restricts gas-powered leaf blowers under Police Code Article 29 and state AB 1346, which bans the sale of new gas-powered small off-road engines statewide. SF Public…
San Francisco regulates noise under Police Code Article 29 (Sections 2900-2920), administered by the Department of Public Health and enforced by SFPD. Quiet hours run 10:00 p.m. to…
San Francisco Police Code Article 29 governs amplified music, setting fixed decibel limits at property lines and requiring Entertainment Commission permits for commercial venues…
San Francisco Police Code Section 2909 sets specific dBA limits at the property line: 55 daytime and 50 nighttime in residential zones, scaling up to 70/65 in heavy industrial. Any…
Outdoor amplified music in San Francisco requires an Entertainment Commission Outdoor Amplified Sound Permit and must comply with Police Code Article 29 decibel limits. Block parties…
Industrial noise in San Francisco is capped at 65-70 dBA at the property line under Police Code Article 29 and must not exceed ambient by more than 5 dBA. Fixed mechanical equipment…
San Francisco Health Code §41 defines a 'barking dog' as one that barks continuously for 10 minutes disturbing another person. Two unrelated residents within 300 feet may sign an…
California sets statewide airport noise limits under Title 21 CCR, with the state preempting most local aviation noise control because federal FAA authority dominates aircraft…
San Francisco enforces California Vehicle Code 22651(k) 72-hour parking limit citywide, plus local Residential Permit Parking in designated neighborhoods. No general overnight ban, but…
San Francisco Environment Code Chapter 22 and Building Code require EV-ready infrastructure in new construction. CA Civil Code 4745 protects condo EV-charger rights, and SF Planning…
San Francisco explicitly prohibits using objects to claim on-street parking spaces. Space savers, cones, chairs, or other objects placed in public parking spots will be removed. The…
San Francisco Transportation Code §7.2.54 restricts vehicles over 22 feet long or 7 feet tall from overnight parking (12 AM–6 AM) in posted areas. Vehicular habitation is prohibited…
California Vehicle Code sections 22651 and 22669 set uniform rules allowing peace officers and authorized agents to remove abandoned vehicles from public and private property after…
San Francisco bars short-term rentals unless the unit is the host's primary residence. Hosts must occupy the home at least 275 nights per year and register with the Office of…
San Francisco distinguishes hosted stays (host present overnight) from unhosted stays (host absent). Unhosted rentals are capped at 90 nights yearly while hosted stays have no annual…
Airbnb, Vrbo, and any STR platform operating in San Francisco must verify each listing has a valid OSTR registration number before processing bookings. Platforms face direct fines for…
Hosts cited three times within five years for Section 41A violations face permanent revocation of their STR registration and a lifetime ban from re-registering at any San Francisco…
Short-term rental guests in San Francisco must comply with the citywide noise ordinance under Police Code Article 29. Residential noise from amplified sound, voices, or activity may…
San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 41A does not impose dedicated parking requirements on short-term rentals, and the Planning Code does not require off-street parking…
San Francisco imposes a 14% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on rental of accommodations for stays of fewer than 30 nights, collected from guests by the host or platform. Tourism…
San Francisco STR occupancy is governed by Housing Code maximum-occupancy rules plus Admin Code Chapter 41A. Generally 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional, capped by square…
San Francisco Admin Code Chapter 41A caps un-hosted (whole-unit) short-term rentals at 90 nights per calendar year. Hosted rentals with the permanent resident present have no night…
San Francisco Admin Code Chapter 41A requires short-term rental hosts to carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance or to rent exclusively through a platform (Airbnb, VRBO) that…
San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 41A requires all STR hosts to register with the Office of Short-Term Rentals (OSTR) and obtain a Business Registration Certificate from the…
All short-term rentals in San Francisco must register with the Office of Short-Term Rentals under Admin Code Chapter 41A. Registration requires proof of permanent residency (275+…
San Francisco DBI requires a building permit and multiple inspections for any pool or spa installation, remodel, or significant repair under Building Code Chapter 1 and Plumbing Code…
Swimming pools at private single-family homes in San Francisco must comply with the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health and Safety Code Sec. 115920-115929). When a building…
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act covers above-ground pools deeper than 18 inches, requiring uniform drowning-prevention features and barriers regardless of pool type.
Hot tubs and spas fall under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act when capable of holding water deeper than 18 inches, requiring barriers, covers, or other approved safety features.
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act and Title 24 Building Standards Code establish uniform anti-entrapment, drain cover, and safety equipment requirements for all residential pools.
San Francisco Building Code Chapter 9 and Fire Code Chapter 9 require automatic fire sprinkler systems in nearly all new buildings, major renovations, and multi-unit residential…
San Francisco Building Code Chapter 13C, the SF Green Building Ordinance, requires LEED Gold or GreenPoint Rated certification for most new construction and major renovations, the…
San Francisco Planning Code Section 317 restricts demolition of sound housing and oversized residential expansions, preserving neighborhood scale and protecting rental stock from…
San Francisco Building Code and Health Code impose facility, fire, and licensing requirements on commercial childcare centers, layered with California Title 22 state licensing through…
San Francisco Building Code Chapter 10 and Fire Code Chapter 10 regulate egress door hardware in residential and commercial buildings, requiring single-action unlocking, panic…
San Francisco Building Code Section 327 requires strict work practices for any disturbance or removal of paint on buildings built before 1979. Lead is presumed present on all pre-1979…
San Francisco Housing Code requires property owners to keep buildings free from infestation by rodents, insects, and other pests. Landlords must provide pest control in rental…
San Francisco follows Cal/OSHA scaffold safety regulations (Title 8 CCR) and SFBC requirements for scaffolding on construction projects. Sidewalk sheds are required when scaffolding is…
All elevators serving the public in San Francisco must pass annual inspection by Cal/OSHA DOSH Elevator Unit and hold a valid Conveyance Permit. Full maintenance service contracts…
San Francisco Planning Code establishes height limits for every parcel in the city through zoning height and bulk districts. Heights range from 26 feet in RH-1(S) single-family areas…
San Francisco Planning Code regulates lot coverage primarily through rear yard and open space requirements rather than a direct lot coverage percentage. The required open space and…
San Francisco Planning Code establishes setback requirements that vary by zoning district. Residential districts (RH, RM, RC) require rear yard setbacks of 25-45% of lot depth. Front…
San Francisco caps tobacco retail permits per district, prohibits new permits within 500 feet of schools, and bans all flavored tobacco sales including menthol under Health Code…
Police Code Article 29 requires every massage establishment in San Francisco to obtain a permit from the Police Department, employ only state-certified practitioners, and meet specific…
Secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers in San Francisco must hold an SFPD permit, hold purchased goods for 30 days, and report all transactions daily to the state LEADS database under…
Police Code Article 16 and Planning Code Section 202.2 require cannabis retailers to maintain at least 600 feet from K-12 schools, mirroring California Business and Professions Code…
SF Office of Cannabis administers a nation-leading Equity Program under Police Code Article 16 that grants licensing priority and incubator support to applicants harmed by cannabis…
Cannabis delivery in SF requires a state-issued Type 9 or Type 10 license with delivery endorsement plus an SF Office of Cannabis Permit, with vehicles and drivers subject to BCC…
Adults 21 or older in SF may cultivate up to six cannabis plants per residence under Proposition 64 and Health and Safety Code Section 11362.2, with SF largely permitting indoor and…
Under California Proposition 64 and San Francisco Police Code Article 16, adults 21+ may cultivate up to 6 cannabis plants per residence for personal use. Plants must be grown indoors…
Cannabis retail dispensaries in San Francisco require both a state license and local authorization under Police Code Article 16. Dispensaries are subject to zoning restrictions…
SF DBI Code Enforcement prioritizes by severity. Emergency life-safety complaints receive same-day response. Standard building code violations are typically inspected within 5-15…
San Francisco accepts code violation reports through SF 311 by phone (dial 311 or 415-701-2311), online at sf311.org, or via the SF311 mobile app. DBI Code Enforcement handles building…
San Francisco's most common code violations include unpermitted construction, illegal unit conversions, tenant harassment through construction, substandard housing conditions, and work…
San Francisco parks are closed to the public from midnight to 5 AM under SF Park Code regulations, unless otherwise posted or authorized by the Recreation and Park Department. Specific…
San Francisco Police Code Section 539 establishes a curfew for minors under 18. Minors may not be in public places during curfew hours without a parent, guardian, or authorized adult…
Commercial drone operations in San Francisco require FAA Part 107 certification and compliance with local filming permit requirements. SF Film Commission review is required for…
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Commission prohibits drones in all city parks, recreation areas, and beaches under the SF Park Code and Commission Resolution. Golden Gate Park…
San Francisco bans drone takeoff and landing in all city parks under SF Park Code 3.10. Recreational pilots must register drones over 0.55 lbs with the FAA ($5/3 years), pass the TRUST…
California law requires seismic gas shutoff valves on new construction and major renovations. San Francisco follows state requirements under California Health and Safety Code Sections…
San Francisco's Mandatory Seismic Retrofit Program (Ordinance 66-13, signed April 2013) requires seismic strengthening of wood-frame soft-story buildings with 5+ units built before…
San Francisco Ordinance 225-92 mandated seismic retrofit of approximately 2,000 unreinforced masonry buildings. Voters approved $350 million in bonds for low-interest loans to building…
San Francisco encourages foundation anchoring (bolting) for older wood-frame homes to prevent earthquake damage. Foundation bolts anchor the wooden structure to its concrete…
Police Code Article 33N requires San Francisco employers to provide nursing employees a private lactation space, breaks, and a written policy. It exceeds state law by mandating a sink…
San Francisco layers three local paid-leave mandates: Paid Sick Leave (Admin Code Ch. 12W), Paid Parental Leave (Ch. 12T), and Health Care Security Ordinance (Ch. 14). All exceed…
San Francisco's local minimum wage is approximately $19.18 per hour for 2026, indexed to CPI under Administrative Code Chapter 12R. It applies to anyone working at least two hours per…
San Francisco's Formula Retail Employee Rights Ordinances (Police Code Art. 33G/33H, Ord. 270-14) require chain retailers and food-service formula businesses to post schedules 14 days…
Under California Air Resources Board rules enforced regionally by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, commercial motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds may not idle more than five…
San Francisco declared a climate emergency in 2019 and adopted a 2021 Climate Action Plan committing the city to net-zero emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of California's statewide…
San Francisco's Better Roofs Ordinance requires most new buildings up to ten stories to dedicate 15-30% of roof area to solar PV, solar thermal, or a living (vegetated) roof, and…
San Francisco's Environment Code Chapters 2 and 7 require city departments to prefer environmentally preferable products and ban single-use plastic water bottles, plastic bags, and…
San Francisco's mild marine climate keeps heat-island risk lower than inland cities, but the Climate Action Plan and Better Roofs program still drive cool-surface investments in the…
San Francisco bans the sale and use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers under Health Code Article 29 and aligns with California AB 1346, which phased out small off-road gasoline engines…
San Francisco Public Works Code Article 4.2, Section 147 requires projects creating or replacing 5,000+ sq ft of impervious surface in combined sewer areas (or 2,500+ sq ft in separate…
Grading and drainage work in San Francisco requires permits from the Department of Building Inspection (DBI). The Public Works Code and Building Code regulate excavation, fill, and…
Development along San Francisco's Bay and Ocean shorelines is subject to oversight by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) for Bay-side projects and the…
San Francisco requires erosion and sediment control measures on all construction sites disturbing soil. The Building Code and Public Works Code mandate best management practices (BMPs)…
San Francisco has extensive shoreline regulations as a coastal city. Development along the waterfront is governed by the San Francisco Waterfront Special Area Plan, the Bay…
San Francisco participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Properties in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) must comply with floodplain management…
All commercial film, video, and photo production in San Francisco requires a permit from Film SF, part of the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Applications must be…
Film production in San Francisco must comply with the City Noise Ordinance (Police Code Article 29). Standard filming hours are 7 AM to 10 PM. Extended-hour filming requires additional…
Film productions requiring street or lane closures in San Francisco must coordinate with both Film SF and SFMTA. Applications need 5-10 additional business days beyond the standard…
San Francisco requires a Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit from SF Public Works (~$8,500 first-year application + hearing fees) plus a SF Department of Public Health health permit…
San Francisco designates specific vending zones for mobile food facilities through DPW permits. Food trucks must operate in permitted locations and comply with spacing requirements…
San Francisco does not impose specific frequency limits on residential garage sales. However, frequent or regular sales may be classified as commercial activity requiring a business…
San Francisco does not require a permit for residential garage sales or yard sales. Occasional personal sales of used household items do not require a business license. Items must be…
San Francisco does not set specific hours for residential garage sales beyond general noise ordinance compliance. Sales should be conducted during reasonable daytime hours to avoid…
California HOA board meetings are governed by the Davis-Stirling Open Meeting Act (Civil Code 4900-4955). All board meetings must be open to members with at least 4 days advance notice…
California HOAs may require architectural review for exterior modifications under CC&R provisions. The Davis-Stirling Act requires written standards, consistent application, and a…
California HOAs must follow strict assessment rules under the Davis-Stirling Act. Regular assessments require annual budget approval. Special assessments exceeding 5% of the budget…
California requires HOAs to offer internal dispute resolution (IDR) and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) before litigation under the Davis-Stirling Act. Either party may request…
California HOA CC&R enforcement is governed by the Davis-Stirling Act. AB 130 (2025) caps fines at $100 per violation. Boards must provide notice, a hearing opportunity, and follow…
California HOAs may fine members for rule violations, but only under a published schedule of fines and after strict due-process steps. Civil Code section 5855 requires written notice…
California overrides HOA governing documents on several owner protections. The Davis-Stirling Act and related Civil Code sections bar HOAs from prohibiting solar systems, U.S. flag…
San Francisco's Planning Code permits residential lawn ornaments, statuary, and religious or political displays without permit so long as no structure exceeds 12 feet in height…
San Francisco has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. Standard rules from Police Code Article 29 (noise) and Planning Code 605 (signs) apply…
San Francisco does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. Standard Police Code Article 29 noise rules apply to motor blowers, Planning Code 605 covers…
San Francisco's Civil Sidewalks law, passed by voters in November 2010 as Proposition L, prohibits sitting or lying on public sidewalks between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. The Police Code…
San Francisco's Healthy Streets Operations Center coordinates encampment cleanups under Public Works Code Section 723. Crews must give 72-hour notice, store seized property for 90…
San Francisco operates 16 navigation centers and bridge-housing sites under Department of Homelessness rules allowing pets, partners, and possessions plus 24/7 access. Stays target…
San Francisco imposes a 14% Transient Occupancy Tax on stays under 30 days, plus tourism assessment surcharges. Hotels and short-term rental hosts must collect and remit monthly to the…
When a San Francisco hotel changes ownership or operator, the new employer must retain existing service workers for a 90-day transition period under Police Code Article 33F, evaluating…
Administrative Code Chapter 12P (the Minimum Compensation Ordinance) requires city contractors and tenants on city property, including airport and convention hotels, to pay covered…
Administrative Code Chapters 12H and 12I prohibit San Francisco employees and resources from helping federal immigration enforcement, restrict ICE detainer compliance, and bar…
California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Labor Code 2812. The…
San Francisco allows front yard vegetable gardens. California AB 2561 protects the right to grow food on residential property. SF encourages urban agriculture. Gardens must not…
San Francisco does not have a specific ordinance banning bamboo. Running bamboo that spreads may be addressed as a nuisance under city code. Property owners are responsible for…
San Francisco follows Cal-IPC guidance and the SF Urban Forest Plan. Prohibited species for city planting include pampas grass, English ivy, and Scotch broom. The city actively removes…
San Francisco's Vision Zero policy and Better Streets Plan commit SFMTA to building protected bike lanes on the city's High Injury Network. Motor vehicles may not stop, stand, park, or…
Shared electric scooters in San Francisco operate only under SFMTA's Powered Scooter Share Permit Program. Riders must be 18 or older, use bike lanes where available, and avoid…
SFMTA manages every linear foot of curb under Transportation Code Article 7 and the 2020 Curb Management Strategy, allocating space to passenger loading, freight, transit stops…
San Francisco prohibits open-flame cooking devices including charcoal, propane, and pellet grills on combustible balconies, decks, or within 10 feet of any combustible construction in…
Backyard wood and pellet smokers in San Francisco are allowed at single-family and two-family homes but are governed by Bay Area Air Quality Management District Regulation 6 (visible…
Built-in outdoor kitchens in San Francisco require building permits whenever the project includes new electrical, plumbing, gas piping, or a fixed structure under SF Building Code…
Light trespass from one property onto another is addressed under San Francisco's nuisance provisions and Planning Code lighting requirements. New construction and renovations must…
San Francisco does not have a standalone dark-sky ordinance, but the Planning Code and Building Code regulate outdoor lighting to minimize light pollution and glare. The city's Green…
San Francisco requires permits for most accessory structures including sheds. The 120 sq ft exemption common in other cities is more limited in SF. DBI and Planning review may both be…
San Francisco requires permits for fences over 6 feet. Fences 6 feet and under in rear/side yards generally do not need a building permit but must comply with Planning Code. Section…
San Francisco requires building permits for most decks. New decks and deck enlargements trigger Section 311 neighborhood notification. Neighbors within 150 feet are notified and can…
San Francisco requires permits for most renovation work beyond cosmetic changes. DBI and SF Planning both review permits. The process is complex and often requires professional help…
San Francisco has additional surveillance oversight beyond state law. The 2019 Surveillance Technology Ordinance bans city agencies from using facial recognition. Private cameras are…
California is a two-party (all-party) consent state. Recording private conversations without all parties' consent is a criminal offense under CA Penal Code §632. Video in public is…
San Francisco allows privacy fences up to 6 feet in rear yards and 3 feet in front yards. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit from DBI. Section 311 neighborhood notification…
San Francisco does not experience snowfall and has no snow removal ordinance. However, property owners are responsible for maintaining adjacent sidewalks in a clean and safe condition…
San Francisco requires proper storage and placement of trash, recycling, and composting bins under the Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 19) and…
Vacant lots in San Francisco must be maintained in a clean and safe condition under the Public Works Code and Health Code. Owners must prevent accumulation of debris, control weeds and…
San Francisco does not require a permit for residential garage sales or yard sales. Sales must be conducted on private property and must not obstruct sidewalks or public rights-of-way…
San Francisco actively enforces property maintenance standards through the Housing Code, Building Code, and Health Code. Blighted properties with peeling paint, broken windows…
San Francisco Police Code Section 120-2 prohibits aggressive solicitation — touching, blocking, threatening, or following — and bans solicitation near ATMs, bus stops, and outdoor…
Health Code Article 19F bans smoking and vaping in nearly all outdoor public spaces in San Francisco, including parks, plazas, transit stops, dining areas, common areas of multi-unit…
Police Code Section 49 lets SFPD declare a gathering loud and unruly, post a warning, and impose response-cost fees on hosts and property owners for any return call within 12 hours.
SF Health Code Articles 11 and 26 require property owners to keep premises free of rats and mice, and the Department of Public Health may issue abatement orders or perform work and…
SF DPH operates one of the nation's largest syringe services programs under California Health and Safety Code 121349, distributing free sharps containers and operating drop boxes…
San Francisco Department of Public Health inspects food facilities at least twice yearly and posts inspection results online, though SF uses numeric scoring rather than letter grades…
SF Administrative Code Chapter 59 created the Healthy Food Retailer Initiative, providing financial assistance and technical help for corner stores in food-access-vulnerable…
California Civil Code Section 1954.603 plus SF Health Code habitability rules require landlords to disclose known bed bug infestations, prohibit retaliation, and respond to tenant…
Chain restaurants in SF with 20 or more locations must post calorie counts on menus and menu boards under federal FDA rules adopted in 2018, with California enforcement through Health…
California Senate Bill 602 requires all SF food employees to obtain a state-approved Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire, and at least one Certified Food Protection Manager must…
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…
San Francisco regulates landlord buyout offers under Section 37.9E. Landlords must give tenants a written rights disclosure, a 45-day rescission window, and file completed buyouts with…
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…
San Francisco's COVID-era eviction moratorium under Ordinance 68-20 ended September 2022 but left lasting protections including back-rent repayment plans, no-fault eviction limits, and…
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…
Landlords pursuing no-fault evictions must pay statutory relocation assistance per tenant, with elderly, disabled, and minor occupants receiving enhanced amounts. The Rent Board…
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…
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…
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…
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…
California evictions run through the unlawful detainer process. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 1161, nonpayment requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (excluding weekends and…
California landlords must keep rentals fit to live in. Civil Code §§ 1941 and 1941.1, reinforced by Green v. Superior Court, imply a warranty of habitability covering plumbing, heat…
California Civil Code § 1954 limits when a landlord may enter a rented home. Except in emergencies, abandonment, or with tenant consent, the landlord must give reasonable written…
California sets no fixed dollar or percentage cap on rent late fees, but a late fee in a residential lease is treated as liquidated damages. Under Civil Code § 1671, such a fee is…
To end a California month-to-month tenancy, a tenant gives 30 days' written notice. A landlord gives 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year, or 60 days if a year or more…
California requires written notice before raising a month-to-month tenant's rent. Under Civ. Code § 827, increases of 10% or less in 12 months need 30 days' notice; increases above 10%…
As of July 1, 2024, California landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of whether the unit is furnished. The deposit, minus any lawful…
California adverse possession requires five years of continuous, open, hostile possession AND payment of all property taxes during that period under Code of Civil Procedure § 325. A…
Temporary signs advertising garage sales or yard sales are subject to San Francisco's general sign regulations under Planning Code Article 6. Signs may not be placed in the public…
Political signs in San Francisco are regulated under Planning Code Article 6. Temporary political signs related to elections are generally permitted on private property without a…
Holiday displays and decorations on private property are generally permitted in San Francisco without a permit. Displays must not obstruct sidewalks, create traffic hazards, or violate…
SF Environment Code Chapter 16 prohibits expanded polystyrene foam food containers, packing peanuts, coolers, and dock floats, expanded in 2017 to one of the most comprehensive…
San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban single-use plastic checkout bags in 2007 (grocers) and expanded the ban citywide to all retailers and restaurants in 2012. The minimum…
California Public Resources Code 42270-42273, enacted by AB 1884 (2018), prohibits full-service restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless requested by the customer…
California Civil Code §714 (the Solar Rights Act) prohibits HOAs and CC&Rs from effectively banning solar energy systems. Any restriction that increases cost by more than $1,000 or…
San Francisco's Better Roofs Ordinance (Planning Code §427) requires new construction of 10+ stories or less to devote at least 15% of roof area to solar panels, living roofs, or a…
San Francisco regulates door-to-door solicitation under the Police Code. Commercial solicitors must comply with registration and identification requirements. The city respects First…
San Francisco residents may post no-solicitation or no-knock signs to deter unwanted door-to-door visits. Solicitors who ignore posted signs may face citations under the Police Code…
San Francisco requires a Neighborhood Block Party Street Closure Application through SFMTA for any residential street closure. Applications must be submitted at least 30 days in…
Events on San Francisco park property require permits from the Recreation and Parks Department under Park Code Section 7.15. Permits are required for events open to the public. Fees…
San Francisco's Shared Spaces program allows businesses to use sidewalks and parking lanes for outdoor dining and commercial activities. As of 2025, small businesses can set up tables…
San Francisco distinguishes between merchandise carts (Article 5.9) and mobile food facilities (Article 5.8). Food carts must comply with DPH health permits, fire safety requirements…
San Francisco requires a Street Vendor Permit from the Department of Public Works for selling merchandise or prepackaged food from temporary structures on sidewalks. Annual permit fee…
San Francisco restricts where street vendors may operate based on zoning, sidewalk width, and proximity to transit stops and building entrances. Stationary vendors are prohibited in…
SF Health Code Article 19Q bans the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes, flavored e-cigarettes, and flavored cigars, upheld by voters in 2018 Proposition…
SF Health Code Article 19R suspends the sale of e-cigarettes that lack FDA premarket authorization, effectively halting most vape sales in 2019, while flavored vape products remain…
San Francisco was the first US city to raise tobacco purchase age to 21 (2016) and the first to ban sales of flavored tobacco (Prop E, 2018). Federal T21 and CA SB 793 now reinforce…
San Francisco's Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 19, enacted 2009) was the first in the U.S. to require all residents and businesses to recycle…
Trash, recycling, and compost bins must be stored on private property and placed at the curb or designated collection point only on scheduled collection days. Bins left on sidewalks…
San Francisco's Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance (Environment Code Chapter 19) requires all residents and businesses to separate waste into three streams: recyclables…
San Francisco residents can schedule free bulky item pickups through Recology for large items like furniture, appliances, and mattresses. Each household receives a limited number of…
San Francisco has the lowest tree canopy of any major California city at roughly 14 percent. The 2014 Urban Forest Plan and 2017 StreetTreeSF program invest public funds to grow…
San Francisco's Urban Forestry Ordinance (Public Works Code Article 16) requires permits for the removal of street trees and significant trees on private property. The Bureau of Urban…
When tree removal is approved in San Francisco, replacement planting is typically required under the Urban Forestry Ordinance. Development projects must plant new street trees at a…
San Francisco has some of California's strictest tree protections under Public Works Code Article 16 (Section 806 et seq.). Removal or significant pruning of Street Trees, Significant…
San Francisco protects Significant Trees and Landmark Trees on private property under Public Works Code Article 16. Significant Trees are 20+ inch DBH within 10 feet of public…
San Francisco's Non-Potable Water Ordinance (Health Code Article 12C) requires new buildings of 100,000 square feet or larger to install onsite water reuse systems for toilet flushing…
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission limits outdoor irrigation to between 8 PM and 10 AM, prohibits runoff onto pavement, and tightens rules during state-declared drought…
San Francisco residents and businesses can report water leaks, broken mains, and hydrant problems to SFPUC 24/7. Customer-side leaks must be repaired promptly, and SFPUC offers…
San Francisco's transit-oriented framework leverages California SB 35 streamlining and local Planning Code reforms to expedite mid-rise housing on parcels within a half mile of major…
San Francisco offers density and height bonuses to projects that include affordable housing through the local HOME-SF program (Planning Code 206.3) and the California State Density…
California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant…
California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However…
California broadly prohibits open carry of firearms statewide under Penal Code 25850 (loaded firearms in public) and Penal Code 26350 (open carry of unloaded handguns). The prohibition…
California prohibits carrying loaded firearms in vehicles statewide under Penal Code 25400 and 25850. Unloaded handguns transported in private vehicles must be in a locked container or…
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use…
The California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The…