Rent Control in San Francisco

Last updated: January 2026

San Francisco has strong local rent control through the SF Rent Ordinance, plus additional protections under California's AB 1482 for units not covered locally.

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Key Takeaways

  • Coverage: Most units with certificate of occupancy before June 13, 1979. Limited exceptions for Section 8. Single-family and condos exempt under Costa-Hawkins.
  • Rent Increase Cap: 1.4% for March 2025 - February 2026 (60% of CPI). Landlords may bank unused increases for future years.
  • Just Cause Protection: Required under SF Rent Ordinance with strong anti-harassment protections.
  • Local Help: SF Rent Board administers the ordinance. Register at sfrb.org.

1. Overview of Rent Control in San Francisco

In San Francisco, most residential tenants are covered by the local San Francisco Rent Ordinance, which provides both rent control and just‑cause eviction protections. If your unit is covered, your landlord can generally only raise the rent by a limited amount each year and can only evict you for specific legal reasons. The ordinance is administered by the San Francisco Rent Board.

Since January 1, 2020, California's statewide rent law (often called state rent control or AB 1482) also protects many units that are not covered by the San Francisco Rent Ordinance. For those units, annual rent increases are generally capped at 5% + inflation (CPI), or 10%, whichever is lower, for tenants who have lived in the unit for at least 12 months.

This article is a high‑level guide based on public tenant‑rights resources such as the San Francisco Tenants Union's overview of rent control and the Rent Board's published rules. It is not legal advice.

2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in San Francisco?

If you rent a home in San Francisco, there is a good chance you are covered by some form of rent control. Under the local ordinance, coverage depends mostly on the date of the building's first certificate of occupancy and the type of property.

In general, units are covered by the San Francisco Rent Ordinance if:

  • The building's certificate of occupancy was issued on or before June 13, 1979, and
  • The unit is not otherwise exempt (for example, certain single‑family homes, condos, or specialized housing listed below).

The city's Assessor‑Recorder database is usually where you can find the construction year that approximates the certificate of occupancy date. Tools like RentCheckMe automate this lookup for San Francisco addresses using official assessment data.

3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases

If your unit is covered by San Francisco rent control, your landlord can typically only give you the annual allowable rent increase, which is calculated by the Rent Board each year based on 60% of the increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers in the Bay Area.

Current Allowed Rent Increase: Effective March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026, the allowed rent increase percentage in San Francisco is 1.4%.

How to Calculate the Rent Increase: To calculate the dollar amount of the annual rent increase, multiply your base rent by the percentage (0.014 for 1.4%). For example, if your base rent is $2,000.00, the annual increase would be: $2,000.00 × 0.014 = $28.00. Your new base rent would be $2,028.00.

Important Rules:

  • The rent increase must be calculated on your base rent only, which includes any housing services like parking or storage. It does not include any temporary passthroughs or fluctuating charges.
  • Rent increases cannot be rounded up to the nearest dollar.
  • A landlord can impose the first annual increase 12 months after the date your lease began. Once a landlord has increased your rent, that date becomes your "anniversary date," and the landlord cannot increase the rent again until at least 12 months later.
  • Banked increases: If a landlord does not increase your rent on your anniversary date, they can save (or "bank") the increase and add it later. However, landlords must get a rent increase license before imposing annual allowable and/or banked rent increases.
  • Notice requirements: A landlord must give you 30-day written notice of the proposed rent increase, or 90-day written notice if the increase is more than 10%.

For statewide rent control units covered only by AB 1482, total annual increases are generally capped at 5% + CPI or 10%, whichever is lower.

4. Just Cause Eviction Protections

For most covered units, a landlord can only evict a tenant for one of a limited number of "just causes", such as non‑payment of rent, substantial lease violations, or certain owner‑move‑in or Ellis Act removals. If your unit is covered, you generally cannot be evicted simply because the landlord wants a higher‑paying tenant.

The Rent Ordinance lists the specific just causes, and some of them are considered "no‑fault" for the tenant (for example, legitimate owner‑move‑in evictions). No‑fault evictions may trigger additional protections and restrictions, including limits on what can be charged to future tenants in the same unit.

5. Local Rules and Special Protections

Major Exceptions Under the Rent Ordinance

Even in San Francisco, not every rental unit has full local rent control. Common exceptions include:

  • Newer construction – Units with a certificate of occupancy after June 13, 1979, with limited exceptions for some in‑law or accessory units.
  • Subsidized housing – Many project‑based affordable housing developments follow separate federal or local rules; some still have local eviction protections.
  • Short‑term residential hotel stays – Residential hotel tenants with fewer than 32 continuous days of occupancy may be exempt.
  • Institutional housing – Dormitories, hospitals, monasteries, nunneries, and similar institutional settings.
  • Certain single‑family homes and condominiums.

Even when local rent control does not apply, California's statewide rent law may still limit rent increases and require just cause for eviction. Always check both local and state rules.

Single‑Family Homes and Condos

If you rent a single‑family home or a condominium in San Francisco, your situation is more complicated. Many of these units do not have traditional local rent‑increase limits if:

  • You and your household moved in on or after January 1, 1996, and
  • The unit meets the legal definition of a single‑family home or separately owned condo.

However, these tenancies often still have just‑cause eviction protections under the San Francisco Rent Ordinance, meaning the landlord cannot simply terminate the tenancy without a recognized legal reason.

Hardship Protections for Tenants

For some kinds of passthrough rent increases (such as capital improvements, operating and maintenance increases, and certain bond or utility passthroughs), low‑income tenants can apply for a financial hardship exemption from the San Francisco Rent Board.

6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources

By combining our automated check with trusted resources like the City of San Francisco's rent increase information, the San Francisco Tenants Union's rent control guide, and the San Francisco Rent Board, you can get both a quick snapshot and deeper, individualized help for your situation.

After you run an address through RentCheckMe, consider saving the result and bringing it with you if you visit a tenant counselor or attorney—they can help you interpret how the Rent Ordinance and state law apply to your specific tenancy.

7. Resources for San Francisco Tenants

8. Important Disclaimer

This article is intended as a readable, high‑level overview of rent control in San Francisco, drawn from public resources like the City of San Francisco's rent increase information, the San Francisco Tenants Union, and the San Francisco Rent Board. It does not cover every exception or nuance and does not constitute legal advice.

Laws change, and how they apply can depend on the specific facts of your tenancy. For binding guidance about your rights or obligations, speak with a qualified attorney or a tenant‑counseling organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rent increase cap in San Francisco for 2025-2026?

For units covered by the San Francisco Rent Ordinance, the annual allowable rent increase is 1.4% for the period from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026. For units only covered by state law (AB 1482), the cap is 5% + CPI or 10%, whichever is lower.

Is my building covered by San Francisco rent control?

Most buildings with a certificate of occupancy issued on or before June 13, 1979 are covered by the San Francisco Rent Ordinance. Newer buildings may still be covered by California's statewide AB 1482. You can use RentCheckMe to get an automated check, or contact the San Francisco Rent Board for official determination.

Can my landlord evict me without a reason in San Francisco?

No. If your unit is covered by the San Francisco Rent Ordinance or AB 1482, your landlord must have a legally recognized 'just cause' to evict you once you've lived in the unit for at least 12 months. Just cause reasons include non-payment of rent, breach of lease, owner move-in, and others specified by law.

Other Cities in California

Learn about rent control in other cities in California:

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