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

 

Lithium-Ion Batteries in Powered Mobility Devices

Ordinance amending the Fire Code to provide fire protection standards for the charging and storage of lithium-ion batteries used in powered mobility devices (such as electric bikes, scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards), prohibit use of damaged lithium-ion batteries in such devices, prohibit use of lithium-ion batteries assembled or reconditioned using cells removed from used batteries in such devices, and require the Fire Department to conduct an informational campaign.

SFFD Presentation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12502901&GUID=3DD8BFF8-E6E3-49C3-92D4-1BE4CCC7EE8F

Sponsor: Peskin

Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12502900&GUID=CA3CD03F-2A14-4113-B73E-FB92C84728F6

Status: Passed

 

Tenant Enforcement of Habitability Requirements

Ordinance amending the Housing Code to authorize occupants of residential dwelling units to sue to enforce the prohibition on substandard housing conditions.

Sponsor: Melgar

Legislation: https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12492680&GUID=D7133A1A-3874-4F15-87F1-11419AD5A4DA

Status: Under 30-Day Rule

 

Building Operations Task Force (Building Electrification/Decarbonization)

The Building Operations Task Force (BOTF) is being created to provide input on the implementation of the Building Operations section of San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan. This includes:

• understanding opportunities, challenges, and solutions for moving into a low-carbon future.

• providing feedback on policy proposals related to building performance and electrification.

• ensuring that any recommendations improve health, economic, equity, and resilience outcomes.

• increasing stakeholder knowledge, capacity, and opportunities to decarbonize buildings.

Building Operations Task Force (BOTF) Overview

BOTF May 2023-July 2023 Meeting Slides

BOTF September 2023-November 2023 Meeting Slides

BOTF Meeting Notes

BOTF Resources and Events

 

Concrete Building Safety Program (Seismic Retrofitting of Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings)

The City of San Francisco is developing a new earthquake retrofit program to identify and strengthen vulnerable concrete buildings. Throughout 2023, CCSF convened a Working Group of internal and external partners to provide guidance and feedback to City staff on the development of the Concrete Building Safety Program.

The Working Group:

  • Helped the City understand the concerns of stakeholders from vulnerable communities
  • Provided useful recommendations for program policy & design that support programmatic goals
  • Helped ensure program products have a high level of usability among the general public
  • Will support the program goals at public meetings or participate in other forms of community education and outreach

October 2022 CBSP Meeting Documents

November 2022 CBSP Meeting Documents

January 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

February 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

April 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

June 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

August 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents

September 2023 CBSP Meeting Documents


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, Connie Chan
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
Legal Text: https://sfelections.sfgov.org/sites/default/files/20220207_ExciseTax.pdf 
Status: Approved by voters on November 8, 2022 election; SFAA has filed a lawsuit against the Residential Vacancy Tax. The first hearing will occur on 12/20/23.

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.