San Francisco renter protections
San Francisco Rent Control & Tenant Protections (2026)
San Francisco has a low annual increase limit for many older rentals, while its just-cause rules reach more homes than price control does.
Policy information verified 2026-07-23. Plain-English orientation only, not legal advice. Confirm your address, notice, and effective date with the city or a qualified tenant attorney.
Fairway tracked inventory
What active rentals are asking
Latest unit update Jul 25, 2026
Median asking rent · All
$4,361
5,000 active units across 1,403 properties
Active units tracked by Fairway, updated in the last 45 days. Discounted asking rent is used when available; otherwise base asking rent. These are asking rents, not signed-lease rents, and the sample is Fairway's tracked inventory rather than every rental in San Francisco.
Protection snapshot
The numbers that matter
A quick read of the current local rule. Confirm the exact address, notice date, and exemptions with the city.
Local rent increase
1.6%
60% of the Bay Area CPI increase
Mar 1, 2026–Feb 28, 2027 · Resets every March 1
Source: SF Rent Board — current rates ↗Typical local coverage
1979
General building-year cutoff
The exact cutoff is a certificate of occupancy on or before June 13, 1979.
- Property size
- No general multi-unit minimum
- Common cap exemptions
- condo, single family
Just-cause protection
A landlord needs a recognized reason to evict
Local just-cause protections are broader than the rent cap and generally apply from the start of a covered tenancy.
Source: SF.gov — rental laws ↗City context · Niche
A second lens on the city
- Population
- 830,235
- Niche median rent
- $2,476/mo
Niche data is a separate third-party context source and does not measure tenant-protection coverage. View the Niche profile ↗
Renter checklist
What to check before you act
Work through these in order. Each item includes the city or state research behind it so you can verify the rule for your own notice.
Check 1
Confirm whether the local rent rule covers your unit
What to verify: Find the certificate-of-occupancy or first-rented date, total units at the property, and legal home type.
What the research says
Price control generally covers older multi-unit rentals. Newer construction and many single-family homes and condos are exempt. The exact cutoff is a certificate of occupancy on or before June 13, 1979. A 1979 build year needs an exact certificate-of-occupancy date. Costa-Hawkins and subsidized-housing rules can change the result.
Read the official source: SF.gov — rental laws ↗Check 2
Match the increase to the correct rate period
What to verify: Use the date the increase takes effect—not only the date printed on the notice.
What the research says
1.6% annual increase limit. 60% of the Bay Area CPI increase. Resets every March 1.
Read the official source: SF Rent Board — current rates ↗Check 3
Identify the stated reason for an eviction notice
What to verify: Compare the notice with the city’s recognized at-fault or no-fault grounds and filing requirements.
What the research says
The Rent Ordinance lists at-fault and no-fault grounds. Owner move-in and withdrawal from the rental market have added notice, filing, and relocation requirements. Local just-cause protections are broader than the rent cap and generally apply from the start of a covered tenancy.
Read the official source: SF.gov — rental laws ↗Check 4
Check relocation assistance for a no-fault move
What to verify: Verify the notice reason, household qualifications, payment amount, and payment deadline.
What the research says
$8,245 per eligible tenant for many no-fault notices. For notices served March 2026 through February 2027, the standard payment is $8,245 per eligible tenant, capped at $24,733 per unit, with a $5,497 household add-on for qualifying tenants. Ellis Act amounts differ.
Read the official source: SF Rent Board — current rates ↗Check 5
Document the security deposit from move-in through move-out
What to verify: Keep the lease, deposit receipt, dated photos, inspection records, and any deduction receipts.
What the research says
One month’s rent, plus local interest. California generally limits a security deposit to one month’s rent. San Francisco also publishes an annual deposit-interest rate; the current Rent Board rates page is the source to check before calculating it.
Read the official source: SF Rent Board — current rates ↗
Show the work
Official sources
Every headline rule above links back to a city or state source. Rates and payment schedules can reset during the year.
Put the market context to work
See real rentals in San Francisco.
Search Fairway's current inventory, then use this guide to ask better questions about the building before you apply.