San Francisco · Special regimes
SF SROs, affordable housing, condos and newer buildings
Four situations San Francisco landlords meet, each with its own overlay on the State baseline. Recognise the situation, identify the records that settle it, and check the official route. Age, address or unit count alone does not establish a designation.
SRO / residential hotel
Check the residential hotel register and Administrative Code Chapter 41. Conversion, tourist use and annual reporting have separate rules; confirm tenancy protections for the occupancy.
Affordable / BMR / Section 8
Programme agreements and agency requirements can control rent. Check MOHCD or SFHA records and the applicable tenancy protections.
Single-family home or condo
Local rent-limit exemptions and State TPA exemptions have different conditions. Check title, ownership and any required exemption notice; just-cause coverage is separate.
Newer building
Check the first certificate of occupancy. Local rent-limit coverage and the State rolling 15-year exemption are different questions. Reporting and eviction protections need separate review.
Which one are you in?
- Is the building on the residential hotel (SRO) register?
- Is rent set or subsidised under a programme (BMR, Section 8, other)?
- Is the unit a single-family home or condo (separately alienable)?
- Was the building first certified for occupancy after 13 June 1979?
Not established. Check the register, programme documents, title and occupancy records before choosing a route.
What changes if it is
| Area | Pre-1979 apartment | SRO | Affordable / Section 8 | SFD / condo | Newer building |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent limit | Check Ordinance coverage | Check Ordinance and hotel rules | Programme rules | Local exemption; check State TPA | Check local exemption and State 15-year rule |
| Just cause | Check Ordinance | Check occupancy protections | Ordinance + programme, as applicable | Check separately from rent cap | Check separately from rent cap |
| Licence | For covered annual / banked increases | If covered | Check unit coverage | Reporting may still apply | Reporting may still apply |
| Deposit interest | Check SF rule | Check SF rule | Check subsidy exemption | Check SF rule | Check SF rule |
| Hub tools | Coverage checker first | Specialist review | Programme review first | Coverage checker first | Coverage checker first |