S.F. Admin. Code ch. 37 § 37.9B
Tenant Rights in Evictions Under Section 37.9(a)(8) (San Francisco Rent Ordinance)
Operative Text
(a) Any rental unit which a tenant vacates after receiving a notice to quit based on Section 37.9 (a)(8), and which is subsequently no longer occupied as a principal residence by the landlord or the landlord’s grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, or the landlord’s spouse, or the spouses of such relations must, if offered for rent during the five-year period following service of the notice to quit under Section 37.9 (a)(8), be rented in good faith at a rent not greater than that which would have been the rent had the tenant who had been required to vacate remained in continuous occupancy and the rental unit remained subject to this Chapter 37 . If it is asserted that a rent increase could have taken place during the occupancy of the rental unit by the landlord if the rental unit had been subjected to this Chapter, the landlord shall bear the burden of proving that the rent could have been legally increased during the period. If it is asserted that the increase is based in whole or in part upon any grounds other than that set forth in Section 37.3 (a)(1), the landlord must petition the Rent Board pursuant to the procedures of this Chapter. Displaced tenants shall be entitled to participate in and present evidence at any hearing held on such a petition. Tenants displaced pursuant to Section 37.9 (a)(8) shall make all reasonable efforts to keep the Rent Board apprised of their current address. The Rent Board shall provide notice of any proceedings before the Rent Board to the displaced tenant at the last address provided by the tenant. No increase shall be allowed on account of any expense incurred in connection with the displacement of the tenant. (b) (1) For notices to vacate served before January 1, 2018, any landlord who, within three years of the date of service of the notice to quit, offers for rent or lease any unit in which the possession was recovered pursuant to Section 37.9 (a)(8) shall first offer the unit for rent or lease to the tenants displaced, in the same manner as provided for in Sections 37.9A (c) and (d). (2) For notices to vacate served on or after January 1, 2018, any landlord who, within five years of the date of service of the notice to quit, offers for rent or lease any unit in which the possession was recovered pursuant to Section 37.9 (a)(8) shall first offer the unit for rent or lease to the tenants displaced, by mailing a written offer to the address that the tenant has provided to the landlord. If the tenant has not provided the landlord a mailing address, the landlord shall mail the offer to the address on file with the Rent Board, and if the Rent Board does not have an address on file, then to the unit from which the tenant was displaced and to any other physical or electronic address of the tenant of which the landlord has actual knowledge. The landlord shall file a copy of the offer with the Rent Board within 15 days of the offer. The tenant shall have 30 days from receipt of the offer to notify the landlord of acceptance or rejection of the offer and, if accepted, shall reoccupy the unit within 45 days of receipt of the offer. (c) In addition to complying with the requirements of Section 37.9 (a)(8), an owner who endeavors to recover possession under Section 37.9 (a)(8) shall inform the tenant of the following information in writing and file a copy with the Rent Board within 10 days after service of the notice to vacate, together with a copy of the notice to vacate and proof of service upon the tenant; (1) The identity and percentage of ownership of all persons holding a full or partial percentage ownership in the property; (2) The dates the percentages of ownership were recorded; (3) The name(s) of the landlord endeavoring to recover possession and, if applicable, the name(s) and relationship of the relative(s) for whom possession is being sought and a description of the current residence of the landlord or relative(s); (4) A description of all residential properties owned, in whole or in part, by the landlord and, if applicable, a description of all residential properties owned, in whole or in part, by the landlord's grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, brother, or sister for whom possession is being sought; (5) The current rent for the unit and a statement that the tenant has the right to re-rent the unit at the same rent, as adjusted by Section 37.9B (a) above; (6) The contents of Section 37.9B , by providing a copy of same; and (7) The right the tenant(s) may have to relocation costs and the amount of those relocation costs. (d) The landlord shall pay relocation expenses as provided in Section 37.9C . (e) Within 30 days after the effective date of a written notice to vacate that is filed with the Rent Board under Section 37.9B (c) the Rent Board shall record a notice of constraints with the County Recorder identifying each unit on the property that is the subject of the Section 37.9B (c) notice to vacate, stating the nature and dates of applicable restrictions under Sections 37.9 (a)(8) and 37.9B . For notices to vacate filed under Section 37.9B (c) on or after January 1, 2018, the Rent Board shall also send a notice to the unit that states the maximum rent for that unit under Sections 37.9 (a)(8) and 37.9B , and shall send an updated notice to the unit 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, and 60 months thereafter, or within 30 days of such date. If a notice of constraints is recorded but the tenant does not vacate the unit, the landlord may apply to the Rent Board for a rescission of the recorded notice of constraints. The Rent Board shall not be required to send any further notices to the unit pursuant to this subsection (e) if the constraints on the unit are rescinded.
Section 37.9B of the San Francisco Administrative Code, Chapter 37, governs what happens to a rental unit after a landlord evicts a tenant under the owner-move-in provision (Section 37.9(a)(8)) and the unit later becomes available for rent again. If the unit is re-offered for rent within five years of the eviction notice, the rent charged cannot exceed what the displaced tenant would have paid had they stayed, with only those increases that would have been legally permissible under Chapter 37. The landlord also bears the burden of proving any rent increases that would have applied during the intervening period. Additionally, the displaced tenant generally has a right of first refusal to return to the unit if it is re-offered within the applicable window (three years for older notices, five years for notices served on or after January 1, 2018).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under S.F. Admin. Code § 37.9B, operators who recover possession through an owner-move-in eviction are required to provide displaced tenants with detailed written disclosures at the time of the notice to vacate, including ownership information, a description of all residential properties owned, the current rent, and a copy of § 37.9B itself, with a copy filed with the Rent Board within 10 days. If the unit is later re-offered for rent within the applicable five-year period, compliant operators re-offer it first to the displaced tenant by mailing a written offer to the tenant's last known address and filing a copy with the Rent Board within 15 days. Landlords who seek any rent increase beyond the standard annual allowance under Section 37.3(a)(1) must petition the Rent Board, and no increase may be based on costs incurred in connection with the displacement itself.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 37.9B of S.F. Admin. Code Chapter 37 provides displaced tenants with significant protections following an owner-move-in eviction under Section 37.9(a)(8), including the right to have any re-rented unit offered back to them first and at a rent no higher than what they would have paid under continuous occupancy. Displaced tenants are encouraged to keep the Rent Board informed of their current mailing address, as the Board is required to send notices of any relevant proceedings and periodic rent-cap notices to the address on file. Tenants who believe these protections have been violated may raise the violation as a defense in eviction proceedings, file a complaint with the San Francisco Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board, or consult a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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