San Francisco Rent Ordinance

The San Francisco Rent Ordinance (under S.F. Administrative Code chapter 37), therefore established the Residential Rent Stabilization & Arbitration Board, was enacted effective June 13th, 1979 to places restrictions on rent by assuring landlords fair and adequate rental rules (consistent with Federal Anti-inflation Guidelines), and to determine how and when tenants can be evicted.

Exempted units
Most residential rental units in buildings that were constructed before June 13th, 1979 are covered by the San Francisco Rent Ordinance. The following are types of dwelling units exempted from the Rent Ordinance, regardless of when the building was constructed:

  • Units in hotels, motels, inns, tourist houses, rooming and boarding houses, where the unit has not been occupied by the same tenant for 32 consecutive days or more.
  • Dwelling units in non-profit cooperatives owned.
  • Dwelling units solely owned by non-profit public benefit cooperation.
  • Housing accommodations in any hospital, convent, monastery, extended care facility, asylum, residential care or licensed adult day health care facility for the elderly.
  • Housing accommodations in dormitories owned and operated by an institution.
  • Certain dwelling units whose rent are controlled or regulated by another government unit, agency, or authority.
  • Dwelling units in a building that is at least 50 years old and which has undergone substantial rehabilitation after June 13th, 1979.
  • Dwelling units that have been permanently removed from rental housing use pursuant to the Ellis Act and Ordinance section 37.3(d).
  • Live/work units in a building where there has been a lawful conversion to live/work use and a Certificate of Occupancy issued after June 13th, 1979.
  • • A residential unit where there is no longer residential use and there is a commercial or other non-residential use.

If you would like more information regarding Rent Board or have questions regarding the Rent Ordinance, please visit their website www.sfrb.org for more information.

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