San Francisco Rent Board registration and annual reporting

Which units are actually covered

San Francisco's Rent Ordinance covers residential units in buildings with two or more units that received their first certificate of occupancy on or before June 13, 1979. Single-family homes and most condominiums are generally exempt under the statewide Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. Costa-Hawkins also allows rent to reset to market after a voluntary vacancy on covered units. California's AB 1482 can still apply to units the local ordinance doesn't cover, so confirm both layers with the Rent Board.

The annual rent increase

The Rent Board says the allowable annual rent increase is 1.6%, effective March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. Rates change each year, so check sf.gov for the current figure before issuing a notice.

Housing Inventory and fees

Owners must report into the Rent Board Housing Inventory before they can obtain a rent increase license. The Housing Inventory is separate from any Rent Board fee exemption request. Confirm the current annual fee and filing deadlines with the Rent Board, since we could not confirm them on an official page.

Short-term rentals

Short-term rentals of under 30 nights are governed separately under Administrative Code Chapter 41A through the Office of Short-Term Rentals. That program has its own registration requirements and is not a substitute for Rent Board registration or the Housing Inventory.