S.F. Admin. Code ch. 37 § 37.9C
Tenants Rights To Relocation For No-Fault Evictions (San Francisco Rent Ordinance)
Operative Text
(a) Definitions.
(1) Covered No-Fault Eviction Notice. For purposes of this section 37.9C, a
Covered No-Fault Eviction Notice shall mean a notice to quit based upon Section 37.9(a)(8),
(10), (11), or (12). [However, effective January 1, 2013, the amount of relocation payments for
temporary displacement of a tenant household under Section 37.9(a)(11) for less than 20 days is
governed by California Civil Code Section 1947.9 and not by this Section.]
(2) Eligible Tenant. For purposes of this section 37.9C, an Eligible Tenant shall
mean any authorized occupant of a rental unit, regardless of age, who has resided in the unit for
12 or more months.
(b) Each Eligible Tenant who receives a Covered No-Fault Eviction Notice, in addition to
all rights under any other provision of law, shall be entitled to receive relocation expenses from
the landlord, in the amounts specified in section 37.9C(e).
(c) On or before the date of service of a Covered No-Fault Eviction Notice, the landlord
shall notify all occupant(s) in the unit in writing of the right to receive payment under this section
37.9C and the amount of that relocation and shall provide a copy of section 37.9C. Such
notification shall include a statement describing the additional relocation expenses available for
Eligible Tenants who are senior or disabled and for households with children. The landlord shall
file a copy of this notification with the Rent Board within 10 days after service of the notice,
together with a copy of the notice to vacate and proof of service upon the tenant.
(d) A landlord who pays relocation expenses as required by this section in conjunction
with a notice to quit need not pay relocation expenses with any further notices to quit based
upon the same just cause under Section 37.9(a) for the same unit that are served within 180
days of the notice that included the required relocation payment. The relocation expenses
contained herein are separate from any security or other refundable deposits as defined in
California Code Section 1950.5. Further, payment or acceptance of relocation expenses shall
not operate as a waiver of any rights a tenant may have under law.
(e) Relocation expenses shall be:
(1) Each Eligible Tenant receiving a Covered No-Fault Eviction Notice shall
receive $4,500, $2,250 of which shall be paid at the time of the service of the notice to quit, and
$2,250 of which shall be paid when the unit is vacated. In no case, however, shall the landlord
be obligated under this section 37.9C(e)(1) to provide more than $13,500 in relocation expenses
to all Eligible Tenants in the same unit.
(2) In addition, each Eligible Tenant who is 60 years of age or older or who is
disabled within the meaning of Section 12955.3 of the California Government Code, and each
household with at least one Eligible Tenant and at least one child under the age of 18 years,
shall be entitled to receive an additional payment of $3,000.00, $1,500.00 of which shall be paid
within fifteen (15) calendar days of the landlord's receipt of written notice from the Eligible Tenant
of entitlement to the relocation payment along with supporting evidence, and $1,500 of which
shall be paid when the Eligible Tenant vacates the unit. Within 30 days after notification to the
landlord of a claim of entitlement to additional relocation expenses because of disability, age, or
having children in the household, the landlord shall give written notice to the Rent Board of the
claim for additional relocation assistance and whether or not the landlord disputes the claim.
(3) Commencing March 1, 2007, these relocation expenses, including the
maximum relocation expenses per unit, shall increase annually, rounded to the nearest dollar, at
the rate of increase in the "rent of primary residence" expenditure category of the Consumer
Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Region for
the preceding calendar year, as that data is made available by the United States Department of
Labor and published by the Board.
(f) The provisions of this Ordinance shall apply to all notices to quit served on or after
August 10, 2006.San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 37, § 37.9C establishes a right to relocation payments for tenants who receive certain no-fault eviction notices — specifically those issued under grounds like owner move-in, demolition, capital improvements, or substantial rehabilitation. Any authorized occupant who has lived in the unit for at least 12 months qualifies as an 'Eligible Tenant' and is entitled to a base payment, with additional amounts available for seniors, people with disabilities, and households with children under 18. The base payment amounts are split between the time the notice is served and the time the tenant vacates, and all figures adjust annually with the local Consumer Price Index.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 37.9C, operators issuing a Covered No-Fault Eviction Notice are generally expected to deliver written notice of relocation rights to all occupants on or before the date the notice to quit is served, including information about enhanced payments for seniors, disabled tenants, and households with children. A compliant landlord files a copy of that notification, the notice to vacate, and proof of service with the San Francisco Rent Board within 10 days of serving the notice. When a tenant claims entitlement to additional relocation assistance based on age, disability, or children in the household, landlords operating under § 37.9C typically provide written notice to the Rent Board within 30 days of that claim, indicating whether the claim is disputed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
§ 37.9C gives eligible tenants — those who have lived in their unit for 12 or more months — the right to receive relocation payments when they are served with certain no-fault eviction notices in San Francisco. If you are 60 or older, have a qualifying disability, or live in a household with a child under 18, you may be entitled to an additional payment beyond the base amount, which you can trigger by providing the landlord with written notice and supporting evidence of your eligibility. Tenants who believe their landlord has not complied with § 37.9C can raise the violation as a defense in eviction proceedings, file a complaint with the San Francisco Rent Board, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand 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 September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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