San Francisco Supervisors to Vote on Restricting Nuisance Evictions
Legislation that would make it harder for San Francisco landlords to evict tenants over nuisance issues will face a key hurdle in committee Monday.
San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar proposed the legislation in October after tenants in a Nob Hill apartment alleged their landlord was using exaggerated nuisance complaints to evict them, as reported by the San Francisco Standard.
The proposed ordinance would clarify requirements and raise the threshold for evicting residential tenants due to nuisances, prohibit evictions due to property damage when landlords have allowed tenants to repair or pay for the damage, and set a statute of limitations period for wrongful eviction claims to three years.
The San Francisco Rent Board reported in April that from March 2025 to February 2026, nuisance eviction notices were up 41% in the city.
“I don’t think it’s because overall tenants are 40% more annoying,” Melgar said. “I think there’s something going on that is fueling this.”
She said the legislation is a necessary response to the city’s record-high rents, “which [have] added this market-based incentive for landlords to evict long-term tenants, to try and get higher rents for their apartments.”
Melgar said it’s important to protect tenants in the current rental market.
In September, Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a rental emergency in San Francisco due to surging rents — and evictions.
“Today, most San Franciscans feel our city is finally moving in the right direction, but many are also asking whether they can still afford to live here,” Lurie said in a statement. “Today, we are taking action to tackle San Francisco’s rent emergency head-on and help San Franciscans stay in their homes.”
The city recently proposed a series of ordinances aimed at protecting tenants. The mayor’s office, in a press release, said it will set aside $30 million to help protect renters from unfair evictions, prevent sudden rent spikes, and “empower tenants with legal tools and information to exercise their rights if they are facing unlawful landlord behavior.”