S.F. Police Code Article 49 § 4901
POLICY (San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance)
Operative Text
It is the policy of the City and County of San Francisco to enhance public health and safety by reducing recidivism and its associated criminal justice costs and societal costs, and facilitating the successful reintegration into society of persons with arrest and conviction records. This Article is enacted for the purpose of furthering this policy. Disclaimer: This Code of Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality. American Legal Publishing provides these documents for informational purposes only. These documents should not be relied upon as the definitive authority for local legislation. Additionally, the formatting and pagination of the posted documents varies from the formatting and pagination of the official copy. The official printed copy of a Code of Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken. For further information regarding the official version of any of this Code of Ordinances or other documents posted on this site, please contact the Municipality directly or contact American Legal Publishing toll-free at 800-445-5588. Hosted by: American Legal Publishing
San Francisco Police Code Article 49 § 4901 establishes the foundational policy behind the City's fair chance housing rules. The provision declares that San Francisco's goal is to improve public health and safety by reducing recidivism and helping people with arrest or conviction records reintegrate into society. The rest of Article 49 is enacted to carry out this stated policy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in San Francisco should understand that Article 49 § 4901 sets the overarching intent behind the City's restrictions on the use of criminal history in housing decisions. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with the full Article 49 framework in light of this policy, recognizing that its provisions are designed to reduce barriers for applicants with arrest or conviction records. Staying current with the official version of the ordinance, rather than relying solely on third-party postings, is a practice consistent with responsible property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4901 of Article 49 signals that San Francisco has made a deliberate policy choice to protect people with arrest or conviction records from certain housing barriers. Tenants and applicants who believe a housing provider has acted contrary to the purposes of Article 49 may have grounds to raise that concern through the City's enforcement channels or by consulting a local tenant-rights organization familiar with fair chance housing rules. Understanding this policy section can provide useful context when reviewing any specific rights or protections found elsewhere in Article 49.
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 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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