San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a rent emergency on Thursday and unveiled a package of six proposed ordinances aimed at protecting tenants from evictions and rent spikes. The announcement includes more than $30 million in additional investments for eviction defense and rental assistance.

Lurie stated that rising costs are displacing long-term residents. "Rising rents are making it harder for the people who have built their lives here to stay here," Lurie said.

The mayor outlined specific legislative measures designed to limit financial burdens on renters in controlled units. Legislation will be introduced to cap annual allowable rent increases from banked increases and capital improvement charges at 10% for rent-controlled tenants.

Financial support forms a core component of the newly announced package. The package includes $27 million in funding to cover lapses in federal housing vouchers set to expire. This allocation aims to assist approximately 650 extremely low-income households expected to lose federal housing vouchers at the end of the year. The city also commits $3 million to expand the free legal representation program for tenants facing eviction, allowing approximately 400 households that would otherwise receive only partial assistance to get comprehensive legal help.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu spoke about the importance of ensuring tenants understand their rights under the new framework. "Tenant protection laws can only help if tenants know about them and they're enforced," Chiu said.

To support this educational effort, the city will spend $1 million on a "Know Your Rights" campaign to educate renters and landlords about legal protections and responsibilities. The campaign will be conducted with help from the Chamber of Commerce. The city will also encourage tenants to use the City Attorney’s Office complaint system to report potentially illegal conduct by property owners.

Further legislative proposals seek to adjust eviction standards and relocation assistance. A proposal backed by Supervisor Jackie Fielder would prohibit evictions unless a tenant owes more than one month’s fair-market rent under the federal standard. The proposals include increasing Ellis Act relocation payments by 25%, amounting to approximately $3,000 per tenant. Legislation from Supervisors Danny Sauter and Matt Dorsey would require tenants to receive annual reminders about rent-increase limits and eviction protections.

Lurie indicated he will support legislative actions to forestall evictions by an additional month. The rent emergency declaration does not allow the mayor to bypass laws and regulations, but is aimed at focusing resources for tenants. Gail Gilman, Executive Director of Eviction Defense Collaborative, expressed support for the coordinated response. "San Francisco is facing an eviction crisis, and we’re excited to see the mayor and Board of Supervisors act with urgency to go to bat for tenants," Gilman said.

Other analyses show varying rates of growth in the rental market. San Francisco rents have increased more than 25% over the past year, according to the mayor's office. Rent prices in San Francisco have increased 26% in the past year, according to Apartment List.

The 26% rent increase in San Francisco over the past year represents the fastest post-pandemic rent growth recorded by Apartment List's model. San Francisco has become the second most expensive city in the U.S. due to sharp increases in the cost of living and housing costs, according to the Economic Research Institute.

Economic factors contributing to these trends include competition from the technology sector. Rising valuations and higher incomes among AI startups and their employees have increased competition for rental homes and added pressure to prices in San Francisco. The apartment vacancy rate in San Francisco fell to 2% in August, according to Apartment List. In San Francisco, a family of four needs an annual income of $164,000 to afford basic needs, according to United Way Bay Area.

Wage growth has not kept pace with housing costs in recent years. Wages in San Francisco have increased 7% over the last 10 years, while rents have increased up to 45% in the last year, according to United Way Bay Area. Eviction filings reflect this strain on residents.

More than 1,000 evictions have been filed in San Francisco this year. Landlords have initiated more than 2,400 evictions since January, according to the Eviction Defense Collaborative. Eviction notices in San Francisco increased 44% during the latest yearlong reporting period.

Regional data provides further context on displacement causes. Between 2023 and 2024, 2,200 evictions were issued to renters in the Greater Bay Area, with up to 92% due to an inability to pay rent, according to United Way Bay Area.

Why It Matters

The declaration of a rent emergency and the accompanying $30 million package represent a municipal intervention in the housing market. With eviction notices rising by 44% and rents increasing by more than 25% in the past year, the measures aim to prevent further displacement of low-income residents. The allocation of $27 million to cover expiring federal vouchers directly addresses an impending loss of support for 650 households.

The proposed ordinances seek to balance tenant protections with landlord obligations through caps on rent increases and enhanced legal resources. Research titled "Do Rent Increases Reduce the Housing Supply under Rent Control? Evidence from Evictions in San Francisco" was published in 2019, providing historical context for debates on rent control impacts. The success of these measures depends on enforcement and tenant awareness, as noted by city officials and advocates.

Timeline

The apartment vacancy rate in San Francisco fell to 2% in August, artment List. Most San Francisco city workers are set to receive 12% raises over the next four years, plus a guarantee of no layoffs, despite a projected $450 million deficit for the 2029 fiscal year. Mayor Daniel Lurie and ten unions representing about 25,000 city workers reached a labor deal on Tuesday ahead of the June 30 expiration of the unions’ current contract.

On May 22, 2025, multiple statements and actions defined the city's response. "Today, we are taking action to tackle San Francisco’s rent emergency head-on and help San Franciscans stay in their homes." "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." "We have lived through booms before – this time, we have an opportunity to build a recovery that is broad-based and lasting, where San Franciscans can put down roots and participate in our city’s success." "San Francisco is in a rent emergency, and as elected leaders in this city, we need to take action that meets the moment." San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a rent emergency on Thursday.

What's New

Additional reporting shows several elements of the response. Evidence from Evictions in San Francisco was published in 2019.

"San Francisco is facing an eviction crisis, and we’re excited to see the mayor and Board of Supervisors act with urgency to go to bat for tenants." Mayor Daniel Lurie announced a $30 million package of reforms on Thursday, September 10, 2026, to tackle the rent emergency in San Francisco. "Tenant protection laws can only help if tenants know about them and they're enforced." "We are also really thankful to Mayor Lurie and the Board of Supervisors and City Attorney Chiu for seeing there is a crisis and introducing this package of protections, enforcement, and empowerment."

How Sources Differ

Sources provide differing figures on the cost of two-bedroom apartments. The Zumper rental market report states the cost of a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco has increased 24.6% compared with the previous year, with monthly rent now exceeding $6,100. The Apartment List market analysis reports that rent prices in San Francisco have increased 26% in the past year.

Estimates of overall rent increases also vary. The United Way Bay Area economic analysis states wages in San Francisco have increased 7% over the last 10 years, while rents have increased up to 45% in the last year. The Office of the Mayor of San Francisco statement reports that San Francisco rents have increased more than 25% over the past year. The Office of the Mayor of San Francisco statement reports that San Francisco rents have increased more than 25% over the past year, while the Apartment List market analysis reports that rent prices in San Francisco have increased 26% in the past year.