San Francisco tax collector authorizes auction of 325 tax defaulted properties

The San Francisco County government meeting on July 4, 2025, focused on two significant items concerning tax defaulted properties. The first item was a resolution authorizing the tax collector to sell certain parcels of tax defaulted real estate at public auction. The second item proposed an ordinance to amend the administrative code, allowing the tax collector to sell tax defaulted non-residential commercial properties after five years of non-payment, extending the previous period of three years.

Amanda Free, from the Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector, presented the resolution, highlighting that the auction process is governed by state law. Properties become eligible for auction after five years of unpaid taxes, and those delinquent for nine years must be offered for auction. The current list includes 325 parcels, which represents a small fraction of the 210,000 total parcels in San Francisco. Among these, nine parcels have structures, 32 are timeshares, and the remainder consists of unbuildable lots.

Free emphasized the thorough research conducted on each parcel, including checks against public records and outreach efforts to property owners. The office has made significant efforts to notify owners of their tax delinquency, including sending mail and visiting occupied properties to provide in-person notifications.

The proposed ordinance aims to align the sale of commercial properties with the existing timeline for residential properties, ensuring consistency in the tax collection process. If approved, the list of parcels will be published in the local newspaper and made available on the tax collector's website.

This meeting underscores the county's commitment to managing tax delinquency effectively while ensuring that property owners are adequately informed of their obligations. The next steps will involve further discussions and approvals from the Board of Supervisors.