Reliance record

San Francisco annual allowable rent increase (3/1/2026 to 2/28/2027)

Applies: built 1926, before the 13 Jun 1979 certificate of occupancy cutoff.

For rent-controlled units, the annual allowable rent increase effective March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 is 1.6% of the tenant's base rent.

For rent-controlled units, the annual allowable increase amount effective March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 is 1.6%.

S.F. Admin. Code ch. 37 (Rent Ordinance), § 37.3 · https://www.sf.gov/news--annual-rent-increase-3126-22827-announced

1 Oct 2026

San Francisco Rent Ordinance just cause eviction (S.F. Admin. Code § 37.9(a))

Applies to all residential rentals in San Francisco. Statutory exemptions for certain owner-occupied shared units and institutional housing cannot be checked from county data.

A landlord may evict a tenant from a unit covered by the Rent Ordinance only for a "just cause" reason that is the dominant motive for the eviction; 17 enumerated reasons are allowed, and expiration of a lease or change in ownership is not just cause.

In order to evict a tenant from a rental unit covered by the Rent Ordinance, a landlord must have a "just cause" reason that is the dominant motive for pursuing the eviction.

S.F. Admin. Code § 37.9(a) · https://sf.gov/information/overview-just-cause-evictions

1 Oct 2026

California residential security deposit cap and return rules (Civ. Code § 1950.5)

Applies to all residential rentals in California. Protection begins once the deposit was collected on or after 1 Jul 2024.

A landlord may not demand or receive security in excess of one month's rent, in addition to first month's rent. The landlord must return the deposit with an itemized statement within 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates, and may not label any deposit 'nonrefundable'.

Except as provided in paragraph (2), (3), or (5), a landlord shall not demand or receive security, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to one month’s rent, in addition to any rent for the first month paid on or before initial occupancy.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 · https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1950.5

1 Oct 2026

SF security deposit interest rate

Applies to all residential rentals in San Francisco. State deposit rules apply too; both are listed here.

Landlords must pay interest on tenant security deposits at the Rent Board rate, which is 4.2% for March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027.

4.2% for March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027

S.F. Admin. Code § 49.2 · https://www.sf.gov/reports--current-rates-including-rent-increase-relocation-sec-deposit

1 Oct 2026

California application screening fee cap and conditions (Civ. Code § 1950.6)

Applies to all residential rentals in California.

A landlord may charge an application screening fee only up to actual out-of-pocket costs plus the reasonable value of time spent, and never more than $30 per applicant (CPI-adjustable). No fee may be charged when no unit is or will soon be available. The landlord must offer either first-come-first-served screening or a refund to unselected applicants, and must give an itemized receipt and a copy of any credit report.

In no case shall the amount of the application screening fee charged by the landlord or their agent be greater than thirty dollars ($30) per applicant.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6 · https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1950.6

1 Oct 2026

Criminal history screening limits (Civil Rights Council regulations)

Applies to all residential rentals in California.

Landlords may check criminal history only within strict fair housing limits on what is sought, how it is considered, and what action is taken. Blanket bans on applicants with a criminal record and policies that consider arrests without convictions are prohibited.

Blanket bans on applicants with a criminal record are prohibited, as are policies that consider arrests without convictions.

Cal. Code Regs. tit. 2, § 12265 (Civil Rights Council regulations, eff. 2020-01-01) · https://caanet.org/compliance-reminder-section-8-acceptance-and-criminal-background-checks-are-fair-housing-issues/

3 Oct 2026

Source-of-income discrimination ban and subsidy-tenant credit/income screening limits (FEHA)

Applies: 21 units, above the coverage threshold.

Owners may not discriminate against or harass a rental applicant or tenant because of source of income, which includes Section 8 and other housing vouchers and public assistance. Where a government rent subsidy applies, income standards must be based on the tenant's portion of rent, and applicants must be allowed to offer alternative evidence in place of credit history.

For the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability, veteran or military status, or genetic information of that person.

Cal. Gov. Code § 12955 · https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=12955

1 Oct 2026

Cartwright Act ban on common pricing algorithms (AB 325)

Applies to all residential rentals in California.

It is unlawful to use or distribute a common pricing algorithm as part of a contract, combination or conspiracy to restrain trade, or to use or distribute one while coercing another person to adopt its recommended price or commercial term.

It shall be unlawful for a person to use or distribute a common pricing algorithm as part of a contract, combination in the form of a trust, or conspiracy to restrain trade or commerce in violation of this chapter.

Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 16729 · https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB325

1 Oct 2026

S.F. Rent Ordinance Section 37.10C, Prohibition on Algorithmic Rent-Setting Devices

Applies to all residential rentals in San Francisco. State algorithm rules apply too; both are listed here.

Prohibits the sale or use of algorithmic devices (software that analyzes nonpublic competitor rental data to recommend rents for vacant units) to set rents or manage occupancy levels for residential units. Tenants or the City Attorney may bring a civil action for violations.

The law prohibits the sale or use of such algorithmic devices and allows a tenant or the City Attorney to bring a civil action if they believe an entity is in violation of the law.

S.F. Admin. Code § 37.10C · https://www.sf.gov/news/new-law-prohibits-algorithmic-devices-used-set-rents-san-francisco

1 Oct 2026

Statewide rent cap (Tenant Protection Act), Civ. Code § 1947.12

Governed instead by San Francisco annual allowable rent increase (3/1/2026 to 2/28/2027); the stricter local rule applies here.

Governed instead by San Francisco annual allowable rent increase (3/1/2026 to 2/28/2027)

An owner may not raise the gross rental rate over any 12-month period by more than 5 percent plus the local percentage change in cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower. No more than two increments are allowed in a 12-month period for the same tenant. The owner must give notice of increases under Civ. Code § 827.

Subject to subdivision (b), an owner of residential real property shall not, over the course of any 12-month period, increase the gross rental rate for a dwelling or a unit more than 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, of the lowest gross rental rate charged for that dwelling or unit at any time during the 12 months prior to the effective date of the increase.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 · https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1947.12

1 Oct 2026

California Tenant Protection Act, just cause for termination

Governed instead by San Francisco Rent Ordinance just cause eviction (S.F. Admin. Code § 37.9(a)); the stricter local rule applies here.

Governed instead by San Francisco Rent Ordinance just cause eviction (S.F. Admin. Code § 37.9(a))

After a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a unit for 12 months, the owner may terminate only for a stated at-fault or no-fault just cause. For no-fault terminations the owner must pay one month's rent as relocation assistance or waive the final month's rent.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, after a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a residential real property for 12 months, the owner of the residential real property shall not terminate a tenancy without just cause, which shall be stated in the written notice to terminate tenancy.

Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2 · https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1946.2

1 Oct 2026

No rule at this level

No application screening fees rule at the San Francisco level; state law applies.

No citing text ·

Retrieval date not recorded

Fair Chance Ordinance (affordable housing)

Unknown: needs affordable housing status. The rule covers affordable housing.

Needs:

San Francisco's Fair Chance Ordinance protects residents with arrest or conviction history in affordable housing decisions. The source gives no operative details beyond that statement.

San Francisco's Fair Chance Ordinance protects residents with arrest or conviction history in affordable housing decisions.

S.F. Police Code art. 49 (Fair Chance Ordinance) · https://sf-hrc.org/fair-chance-ordinance

1 Oct 2026