• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Glen Park Association

Up-to-the-minute news from Glen Park

  • Home
  • Glen Park Association
    • About the Glen Park Association
    • Join the GPA
    • GPA Board Contacts
    • GPA Meeting Minutes
    • Bylaws
    • Neighborhood boundaries
  • News Stories
    • Glen Park News
    • Editor’s Picks
  • Greenway
    • About
    • Greenway Plan
  • GPA Grants Program
  • Crime & Safety
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Volunteer Sign Ups
    • Event Submission
    • Author Submissions

Short-Term Rental Rules in SF

April 28, 2016 by Heather World

Forwarded from Omar Masry
Office of Short Term Rentals, City & County of San Francisco
omar.masry@sfgov.org
P. 415.575.9116 l F. 415.558.6409
1650 Mission Street | 4th Floor | San Francisco | CA 94103
www.sfgov.org/OSTR

A Basic Introduction to Short-Term Rental Rules in San Francisco
San Francisco residents are allowed to rent their homes for periods of less than 30 nights (known as “short-term rentals”), subject to certain registration requirements. Short-term rental includes renting out a portion, or your entire home, to guests for stays of 30 days of less. Short-term rentals are typically listed through on-line platforms such as VRBO, Flipkey, Craigslist, and Airbnb.  Here is a quick overview of what you need to know:

  • Hosts Need to Live in San Francisco. You must be the permanent resident (owner or tenant) of the actual residential unit that you wish to rent on a short-term basis. This means you must live in that specific residential unit for at least 275 nights of any given calendar year.
  • Certain limits apply. Residents can rent out their home for up to 90 days per year when they are not present, and for an unlimited number of days while they are present at the home. Hosts may only offer short-term rentals at only one dwelling in the City.
  • Business Registration:You first must obtain a San Francisco Business Registration from the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector. To apply, visit the SF Business Portal at businessportal.sfgov.org/home-rentals. Note that renewals with the Tax Collector are required yearly.
  • Certificate Required. After obtaining your Business Registration, you are also required to obtain a valid registration certificate from the Office of Short-Term Rentals. To obtain the application and learn more about eligibility requirements and required documentation, visit sfgov.org/OSTR. The application fee is $250,* and once issued, certificates are valid for two (2) years.  Operating a short-term rental (whether using websites or offline tools) without a registration certificate may result in administrative penalties starting at $484 per day.
  • Short Appointment Times. To apply for a certificate with the Office of Short-Term Rentals, an in-person appointment is required. You can schedule an appointment online. Most appointments take an average of 15 minutes. Scheduled appointments are available throughout the week. In addition, the Office of Short-Term Rentals offers walk-in hours each Wednesday afternoon, and on the first Monday evening of every month. The Office of Short-Term Rentals will also be holding a series of evening registration events throughout San Francisco, beginning in May. For further details and to schedule an appointment, visit: sfgov.org/OSTR.
  • Not all Homes are Eligible. Homes that are noteligible for short-term rental include certain income-restricted affordable housing, below-market-rate (“BMR”) units, many single-room-occupancy units (“SROs”), and units that were the subject of a recent Ellis Act eviction. Only areas that were legally built, per permits issued by the Department of Building Inspection, may be rented. If the property features an accessory dwelling unit (“granny flat”) only the permanent resident of the accessory dwelling (not the resident of the primary dwelling [main home]) may host short-term rentals. If you live in a multi-unit building you may only host short-term rentals in the specific unit you live in.
  • Rules for Property Owners in Homeowners Associations and Condominiums. The City’s rules do not supersede any private agreements (sometimes referred to as codes, covenants and restrictions, or “CC&Rs”) that may prohibit subletting (which include short-term rentals). Owners should review applicable documents to ensure their hosting activity will not violate any private agreements.
  • Rules for Renters in Any Type of Dwelling. The City’s rules do not supersede any private agreements, such as leases, rental agreements, or CC&Rs that may restrict subletting (which include short-term rentals). Renters should review applicable documents to ensure their hosting activity will not violate any private agreements. Renters must provide a copy of their lease with their registration application, and renters in rent-controlled units may not collect more rent from short-term rental activity in a given month than they pay in rent to their landlord. If a registration certificate is issued to an eligible applicant, a courtesy notice is also mailed to the property owner to inform them of the registration.
  • Taxes & Insurance. Transient Occupancy Taxes (“hotel taxes”) are required for all stays of less than 30 days. While the hosting platform Airbnb does collect the Transient Occupancy Tax (and remits the tax to the Tax Collector), other hosting platforms currently do not. It is the host’s responsibility to ensure all appropriate taxes are remitted. In addition, you may be subject to Business Personal Property taxes for furniture, appliances, and supplies associated with the short-term rental. Hosts are also required to maintain $500,000 of liability insurance, unless all the hosting platforms being utilized provide equivalent coverage.
  • Specific Notification Requirements in Certain Single-Family Neighborhoods.  For homes located in the various “RH-1(D)” zoning districts in the City, there is a specific neighborhood notification requirement. Before a registration certificate can be issued, a notice would be sent to property owners, residents, and homeowner’s associations within 300 feet of the residence. Once the notice is sent out, community members have 45 days to let the Office know if there is information showing that the host, or property, does not meet the eligibility requirements in the City’s Administrative Code (Section 41A).  This notification is not required in other zoning districts in the City. To look up your zoning district, visit sfplanning.org, search for your address, then click on the “Zoning” tab.
  • Questions, Suggestions, or Complaints.For more information please visit sfgov.org/OSTR.If residents have questions or suggestions about the registration process, or wish to file a complaint with the Office of Short-Term Rentals regarding a suspected illegal short-term rental, please e-mail us at shorttermrentals@sfgov.org, or call (415) 575-9179.

*The figure was previously $50. On Dec. 6, Mr. Masry sent us an updated figure of $250. HW

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: short-term rentals

Primary Sidebar

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

For more information, contact the center at (415) 239-4007



San Francisco Department of Public Works logoDPW Love Our City
District 8 Cleanup Day
Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to afternoon
Learn more and sign up here


 

Logo Center for Creative Exploration

The Center for Creative Exploration
Explore all the Colors of the Rainbow
one-day workshop
Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
300 Chenery Street
Learn more and link to registration here


Weeding Party
June 21, 10 a.m. to noon
100 block of Arlington at Charles
Join neighbors on the North end of the Cut to keep down the weeds and beautify top to bottom. Tools, lunch and good company provided.



Stop the bleed logoStop the Bleed Workshop
Thursday, June 26, 6-9 p.m.
St. Aidan’s Church
To learn more, click here


Monthly cleanup on the Greenway
First Saturday of the Month (usually)
Click here to learn more


Friends of Glen Canyon’s
Glen Canyon Habitat Restoration
Every third Saturday 9:30 a.m to noon
Sign up here

Subscribe to this Newsletter

Sign Up for Glen Park Association News Updates:

* indicates required

Check It Out at the Glen Park Library

Click the above button or here to see all upcoming Glen Park Branch Library events. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get events highlights in your inbox.

Glen Park Rec Center

Glen Canyon Park sign
Click here for latest
Glen Park Rec Center
class schedule


Saturdays 3-4:45 p.m.
Questions? Call 415-239-4007


GP Movie Night Schedule

Renew Your Glen Park Association Membership for 2025

Join the Glen Park Association and help promote our community’s interests. Together, we can secure improvement funds, publicize neighborhood concerns and strive to speak as one voice on neighborhood and city issues.

Membership in the Glen Park Association is only $10 annually and can be purchased online.

Glen Park Association Advertising Sponsors

JE_Digital Small Space Ad
Diamond Heights Digital Ad
GPA Ad- Perez Construction ad 6.27.22 v Glen Park
moroco
Center for Creative Exploration - adult
JE_Digital Small Space Ad
Diamond Heights Digital Ad
GPA Ad- Perez Construction ad 6.27.22 v Glen Park
moroco
Center for Creative Exploration - adult
previous arrow
next arrow
Shadow

Current Weather & Air Quality

Glen Park featured on…

FacebookSF ChronInstagramTwitter

Join the Glen Park Association on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Glen Park Association is in Glen Park.
3 days ago
Glen Park Association

Tuesday was a star-studded day at Glen Park BART when Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde spent much of the afternoon filming a new romantic comedy titled “The Invite” in the station.

For more on this story..Check out the article by Elizabeth Weise on the Glen Park News Blog:
“Seth Rogen & Olivia Wilde filming at Glen Park BART”

Visit Link in Bio or our website: www.glenparkassociation.org
... See MoreSee Less

Tuesday was a star-studded day at Glen Park BART when Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde spent much of the afternoon filming a new romantic comedy titled “The Invite” in the station.

For more on this story..Check out the article by Elizabeth Weise on the Glen Park News Blog: 
“Seth Rogen & Olivia Wilde filming at Glen Park BART”

Visit Link in Bio or our website: www.glenparkassociation.org
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes love 11
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Glen Park Association is at San Francisco Public Library Glen Park Branch.
6 days ago
Glen Park Association

Photos and Fun courtesy of the Glen Park Library!
It was a great turnout at the Glen Park Library Open House on Saturday May 17th!

Thank you to all who attended and a big thank you to Glen Park Branch Library Manager Darren Heiber and his staff for a fantastic day!! 🙌🏽

San Francisco Public Library Arion Press | Artist Books Museum of Craft and Design Rafael Mandelman 🏳️‍🌈 #glenparklibrary #arionpress #museumofcraftanddesign #glenparksf #sanfrancisco #InCommunity
... See MoreSee Less

Photos and Fun courtesy of the Glen Park Library! 
It was a great turnout at the Glen Park Library Open House on Saturday May 17th!

Thank you to all who attended and a big thank you to Glen Park Branch Library Manager Darren Heiber and his staff for a fantastic day!! 🙌🏽

@sfpubliclibrary @arionpress @museumofcraftanddesign @rafaelmandelmand8 #glenparklibrary #arionpress #museumofcraftanddesign #glenparksf #sanfrancisco #incommunity
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Blog Roll

Coyote Yipps
Friends of Upper Noe Recreation Center
Glen Park Neighborhoods History Project
Open SF History
Sunnyside Conservatory
Sunnyside History
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association
Tramps of San Francisco
Upper Noe Neighbors

Copyright © 2025 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in