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Supervisors update hotel-conversion rules to strengthen SRO protections
Summary
The board unanimously approved revisions to Administrative Code Chapter 41 that tighten conversion rules, update penalties and improve enforcement to preserve single-room-occupancy housing for low-income residents.
San Francisco — The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved updates to the city’s hotel conversion ordinance, strengthening protections for single-room-occupancy (SRO) housing.
Supervisor Aaron Peskin presented amendments that the board adopted to modernize Administrative Code Chapter 41, which dates to the 1980s and was last amended in 1990. The changes are aimed at stopping the short-term leasing of residential SRO rooms, increasing penalties and conversion fees, improving filing and monitoring requirements, and enhancing the Department of Building Inspection's (DBI) enforcement powers.
Why it matters: SRO units provide deeply affordable housing for seniors, low-wage workers, immigrants, people with disabilities and others. Supervisors and advocates said the supply of SRO units has fallen over decades and that stronger rules are necessary to preserve the remaining stock.
Key provisions in the ordinance include stricter limits on converting SRO residential rooms into tourist or transient units, updated monitoring obligations for owners and an explicit requirement to file floor plans with DBI that show residential versus tourist designations. Supervisor Peskin offered a non-substantive amendment to require a graphic floor plan per floor be filed with DBI; deputies in the City Attorney's office confirmed the text and the amendment passed unanimously.
Speakers at the meeting included labor and tenants’ groups, SRO operators and neighborhood advocates. Supervisors emphasized the ordinance was crafted with input from the Central City SRO Collaborative, tenant groups and DBI. Supervisor Asha Safaie noted the city has for decades protected this housing type and said the update would ‘‘protect the most vulnerable in our city.’’
The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading with the amendments; supervisors said DBI will be responsible for implementation and monitoring.
Quote
"This update to chapter 41 does the following core things. It essentially stops the practice of short term leasing of residential rooms in SROs," Supervisor Peskin said as he presented the ordinance.
Ending note
Supervisors said they would continue oversight of implementation and enforcement to ensure SRO units remain a viable source of affordable housing in San Francisco.
