California and San Francisco · Process canvas
Build a fair screening process in San Francisco
About your process, not any applicant. Four columns: what you'll require, what you'll collect, how you'll assess, how you'll decide and record. California protects source of income and regulates criminal-history screening statewide through FEHA. San Francisco’s Fair Chance housing rules add requirements for covered affordable housing. Nothing here scores a person.
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Define what you require
1Collect only what's needed
2Assess consistently
3Decide and record
4Grounds you cannot use
Review California FEHA and applicable San Francisco protections before setting criteria. This list is a process reminder, not an exhaustive legal assessment.
- Race
- Colour
- Religion
- Sex / gender
- Gender identity and expression
- Sexual orientation
- Marital status
- National origin
- Ancestry
- Familial status
- Source of income (including vouchers)
- Disability
- Genetic information
- Veteran / military status
- Citizenship
- Primary language
- Immigration status
- Age (SF Police Code)
- Height / weight (SF Police Code)
- Place of birth (SF Police Code)
Criminal history: two regimes
California FEHA regulations restrict criminal-history screening and require an individualized assessment. Establish whether the local Fair Chance Ordinance covers the housing before using its qualification sequence, look-back limits and proposed-denial process. Verify current rules and exclusions with the Human Rights Commission; do not apply local requirements to every private-market unit by default.