Supervisors advance wide-ranging tenant protection ordinance; committee continues package to Dec. 1

The Land Use & Transportation Committee on Nov. 17 advanced a sweeping Residential Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) sponsored by Vice Chair Cheyenne Chen designed to strengthen protections for tenants facing demolition, Ellis Act withdrawals and long-term renovation.

The ordinance would require replacement of demolished residential units, expand relocation assistance with larger payments for lower‑income households and create a right of first refusal for qualifying tenants to return to replacement units on the same site. The TPO also modifies the planning code's demolition definition, extends some look-back periods for prior occupancy, mandates tenant notification in multiple languages, and creates a private right of action for tenants and qualifying community organizations.

"No tenant should have to have their home bulldozed," Sponsor Cheyenne Chen said during her presentation, framing the ordinance as a local strengthening of state standards. Planning staff said the TPO is intended to tighten implementation of state law (SB 330) and close loopholes that can let sponsors avoid replacement and relocation obligations. Planning Department staff member Elena Leon Ferrera told the committee the TPO "strengthens enforcement of SB 330 requirements by making sure it is the planning code's demolition definition that is used for all state laws and projects," and described provisions to track replacement units and tie approvals to compliance with the TPO.

Public commenters included tenants, tenant-rights groups and anti-displacement organizations that urged stronger mandatory requirements on buyout disclosures, explicit coverage of Ellis Act evictions, and higher affordability thresholds for replacement units in priority equity geographies (PEGs). Several speakers said they supported the TPO but asked the committee to close remaining loopholes and make some protections mandatory rather than optional conditions of a conditional-use authorization.

After discussion and technical clarifications from staff, the committee adopted sponsor and chair amendments intended to reconcile language with Planning Department suggestions, and voted to continue final adoption of the full package to the committee's Dec. 1 meeting so additional drafting and cross-agency review can be completed. Clerk John Carroll recorded three "ayes" on the motions to adopt the amendments and continue the ordinance.

What happens next: The committee directed staff to refine language consistent with the amendments debated on Nov. 17 and return to the Dec. 1 meeting; committee members and several community groups asked for continued engagement on buyout disclosures, PEG protections and the specific mechanics for replacement-unit affordability.

Votes and formal action: The committee voted to adopt the introduced amendments and to continue the TPO as amended to the Dec. 1 committee meeting. The clerk recorded the motions as passing with three ayes.