S.F. Admin. Code ch. 37 § 37.15
Severability (San Francisco Rent Ordinance)
Operative Text
If any provision of clause of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional or to be otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other chapter provisions, and clauses of this chapter are declared to be severable.
Under S.F. Admin. Code Chapter 37, § 37.15, if a court finds any single part of the Rent Ordinance unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, that ruling does not bring down the rest of the chapter. Each provision stands independently, so the remainder of the law continues in effect.
Plain English — not legal advice.
S.F. Admin. Code Chapter 37, § 37.15 means that even if a court invalidates one section of the Rent Ordinance, the other provisions—including rent increase limits, eviction controls, and notice requirements—remain enforceable. Compliant operators generally continue following all other chapter requirements unless a court has specifically ruled on the provision at issue.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 37.15, a successful legal challenge to one part of the Rent Ordinance does not eliminate tenant protections found elsewhere in Chapter 37. Tenants who believe their rights under a surviving provision have been violated can raise that violation as a defense in eviction proceedings, file a complaint with the San Francisco Rent Board, or consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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