SFAA Advocacy

Political and Legislative Advocacy at the State and Local Level: San Francisco’s landlord-tenant and housing laws are heavily regulated, with new legislation impacting rental housing providers introduced almost every week at City Hall and the state Capitol. SFAA and CAA’s Government Affairs staff works proactively on legislative proposals that impact the rental housing industry. SFAA staff also interfaces with the City Agencies which regularly interact with property owners, including the Department of Building Inspection, the Rent Board the Planning Department, the Fire Department, the Treasurer and Tax Collector, and more.

SFAA Political Action Committee: The SFAA’s Political Action Committee (SFAA PAC) supports candidates for local political office like the SF School Board, the Board of Supervisors and Mayor, the City Attorney, state representatives, and more. SFAA’s PAC works to identify and cultivate relationships with promising recruits for elected office. The SFAA PAC also supports ballot initiatives which benefit property owners, while also working in conjunction with other Political Action Committees and organizations to oppose ballot measures and tax increases which are harmful for property owners.

SFAA Legal Fund: SFAA staff works proactively on new proposals during the legislative process, meeting with policymakers and stakeholders to craft rules and regulations which are workable for housing providers. However, in a city with more then 66% renters, votes at the Board of Supervisors don’t always go SFAA’s way. The SFAA Legal Fund serves as a backstop to strike down and overturn unconstitutional or illegal local ordinances which violate the rights of SFAA members.

SFAA Amended & 2022 By-Laws

2022 Amended Articles of Incorporation

Legislation and  Ballot Measures and Campaigns

 

COVID-19 Tenant Protections (Local Eviction Moratorium)
Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to prohibit landlords from evicting residential tenants for non-payment of rent that came due on or after July 1, 2022 and was not paid due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and to prohibit landlords from imposing late fees, penalties, or similar charges on such tenants. 

Sponsor: Dean Preston
Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5445227&GUID=5967D79D-EDA2-411A-A482-D604383018F5
Status: Passed


Tenant Organizing
Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to require residential landlords to allow tenant organizing activities to occur in common areas of the building; require certain residential landlords to recognize duly-established tenant associations, confer in good faith with said associations, and attend some of their meetings upon request; and provide that a landlord’s failure to allow organizing activities or comply with their obligations as to tenant associations may support a petition for a rent reduction.

Sponsor: Aaron Peskin
Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10514976&GUID=1E551549-F00F-493B-B2DB-4C5CFBB8880C 
Status: Passed 

Residential Vacancy Tax
Ordinance amending the Business and Tax Regulations Code and Administrative Code to impose an excise tax on owners keeping certain residential units vacant,  to fund rental subsidies and the acquisition, rehabilitation, and operation of affordable housing; increasing the City's appropriations limit by the amount collected under the tax for four years from November 8, 2022; and affirming the Planning Department's determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Sponsor: Ballot Measure Initiative
Legislation: https://sfelections.sfgov.org/sites/default/files/20220207_ExciseTax.pdf 
Status: Approved by voters on November 8, 2022 election.

Automatic Sprinkler Requirements for Existing High-Rise Buildings
Ordinance amending the Fire Code to require automatic sprinkler systems in existing high-rise buildings; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Sponsor: Aaron Peskin
Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10401536&GUID=5078C726-EF52-4FA2-B519-5BAA5F599780 
Status: Passed

Tenant Opportunity to Cure; Eviction Protections
Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to require landlords pursuing certain types of evictions to first provide their tenants 10 days written notice and an opportunity to cure, unless the eviction is based on an imminent health or safety issue or the non-payment of COVID-19 rental debt; and making findings that the eviction protections in the Rent Ordinance are more protective than those found in State law pursuant to California Civil Code, Section 1946.2.

Sponsor: Dean Preston
Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10341833&GUID=9C9CB71D-1B0B-437B-AD4D-B7DE38F69604   
Status: Passed; SFAA successfully sued to overturn this ordinance in part.

Fire Alarm Sleeping Area Upgrade FAQ'S
https://sf-fire.org/files/2022-05/Fire%20Alarm%20%28Sleeping%20Area%29%20Upgrade%20FAQ%20For%20Website.pdf

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SFAA Political Action Committee and Legal Fund

The SFAA's Political Action Committee (SFAA PAC) supports candidates for local political offices like the SF School Board, the Board of Supervisors and Mayor, the City Attorney, state representatives, and more. SFAA's PAC works to identify and cultivate relationships with promising recruits for elected office. The SFAA PAC also supports ballot initiatives which benefit property owners, while also working in conjunction with other Political Action Committees and organizations to oppose ballot measures and tax increases which are harmful to property owners.

Give Now to the Political Action Committee

SFAA staff works proactively on new proposals during the legislative process, meeting with policymakers and stakeholders to craft rules and regulations which are workable for housing providers. However, in a city with more than 66% renters, votes at the Board of Supervisors don't always go SFAA's way. The SFAA Legal Fund serves as a backstop to strike down and overturn unconstitutional or illegal local ordinances which violate the rights of SFAA members.

Give Now to the Legal Fund

Please reach out to SFAA’s Government and Community Affairs Manager, Charley Goss, via email or phone at (415) 255-2288 ext. 114 if you have questions.