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Board approves 'Family Protection' ordinance limiting owner‑move‑in evictions during school year
Summary
The Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance amended to protect families with children under 18 from owner move‑in evictions during the school year, creating a protected category of families and carving exceptions for landlord families and owners of single‑unit buildings.
The Board of Supervisors approved on first reading an amended ordinance described by its sponsor as a modest step to protect families with children from owner move‑in evictions. Supervisor Sean Mar (transcript name variations) introduced the “Family Protection” ordinance as the product of extensive stakeholder work and committee hearings including two Land Use Committee sessions. The measure creates a protected category for "families with a child 18 years old or under," modeled on existing protections for seniors, disabled residents and the catastrophically ill.
Supervisor Mar said the ordinance was amended to better define family, to acknowledge diverse family arrangements including domestic partners and custodial relationships, and to ensure that landlord families with legitimate needs are not unfairly disadvantaged. The final compromise narrows the protection to the school year: the ordinance prevents owner move‑in evictions for households with a child under 18 during the school year but allows evictions as summer approaches, consistent with the City Attorney’s drafting that sponsors said prevents abuse of the protection.
The ordinance was approved in committee previously with a positive recommendation, and the sponsor asked the board to support the amendment of the whole introduced on the floor. Supervisors offered a roll call vote on the item as amended; the clerk recorded a 10‑0 vote in favor. The measure passed its first reading as amended.
Supporters thanked community groups that participated in drafting and outreach, including the Housing Rights Committee, the San Francisco Tenants Union, the Chinese Progressive Association, South of Market Community Action Network, and many others. Sponsor remarks emphasized collaboration with the apartment association, the mayor’s office and other stakeholders to reach a compromise that balances tenants’ interests with legitimate landlord family needs.
The board approved the ordinance on first reading as amended; the item will return for second‑reading and final adoption according to the city’s ordinance process.
