What are the just cause reasons for eviction in San Francisco?

They fall into two categories: at-fault reasons like nonpayment of rent or lease violations, and no-fault reasons like owner move-in, Ellis Act withdrawal, or substantial rehabilitation. No-fault evictions generally require the landlord to pay tenant relocation costs.

Can I Be Evicted Without Cause in San Francisco?

Q: Can I be evicted without cause in San Francisco?

In most cases, no. Under San Francisco's Rent Ordinance, a landlord must have one of 16 legally recognized just cause reasons to evict a tenant. The mere expiration of a lease or a change in building ownership is not, by itself, a valid reason for eviction.

Based on SF Rent Ordinance Section 37.9

            Short answer: No. Almost all SF tenants are protected by "just cause" eviction rules — a landlord must have one of 16 legally recognized reasons to evict you.
        

San Francisco has some of the strongest eviction protections in the country. As of 2020, these protections extend to nearly all residential units in the city — including buildings built after 1979, single-family homes, and condos — regardless of whether those units have rent-increase limits.

The two types of just cause

At-fault reasons (something the tenant did), including:

Nonpayment of rent, or habitual late payment
Failing to fix a serious lease violation after being given a chance to
Being a severe, ongoing nuisance to neighbors or the landlord
Illegal use of the unit
Refusing to renew an expired lease on materially similar terms
Unauthorized subletting, or refusing the landlord access

No-fault reasons (not related to anything the tenant did), including:

Owner or family member moving into the unit ("owner move-in")
Withdrawing the building from the rental market entirely (Ellis Act)
Demolition or permanent removal from housing use
Substantial rehabilitation of a unit that's at least 50 years old and largely uninhabitable
Condo conversion sale
Required lead paint abatement work

No-fault evictions generally require the landlord to pay the tenant relocation assistance, and several categories have extra protections for seniors, disabled tenants, and families with children in school.

What's NOT a valid reason

Your lease term simply ending
The building being sold to a new owner
The landlord wanting to charge a new tenant more rent

Received an eviction notice or worried about one?

Upload your lease and ask TrimTall what protections apply to your specific situation — free, no signup. For an active eviction, also consider contacting the Eviction Defense Collaborative right away.

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This page provides general information, not legal advice. See SF.gov's overview of just cause evictions or consult a tenant attorney for your specific situation.