Committee advances key tenant-protection amendments and continues the demolition package to Dec. 8

The committee approved substantive amendments to the Residential Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO) designed to strengthen protections for tenants when residential units are demolished or otherwise removed from the housing stock, then continued the item to the Dec. 8 meeting for final committee consideration.

Vice Chair Supervisor Cheyenne Chen introduced a package of amendments that (1) clarify that ‘‘demolition’’ includes large alterations that remove 50% or more of exterior faces or horizontal elements as measured by surface area; (2) refine the merger and demolition definitions so combining or opening between units triggers protections; (3) eliminate a provision that allowed planning to reduce numerical demolition thresholds by up to 20%; (4) require additional relocation assistance and protections for lower-income tenants and reporting requirements for demolition impacts; and (5) ensure displaced occupants by serious and imminent safety hazards (for example, fire) are treated as existing occupants eligible to exercise a right of first refusal or right of return if rebuilding occurs within five years.

Chen and advocates also emphasized closing loopholes related to Ellis Act evictions and buyouts. Multiple public speakers — including representatives of the San Francisco Anti-Displacement Coalition, Race and Equity in Planning Coalition, Communities in Chinatown, and Young Community Developers — urged stronger mandatory compliance with the city’s buyout-disclosure rules, an explicit bar on pre-application clearing evictions, and PEG-specific demolition safeguards to avoid accelerating displacement in priority equity geographies.

Supervisor Chen said some amendments were substantive and would return next week after the city attorney’s review. The committee voted 3–0 to adopt the amendments read into the record and then voted 3–0 to continue Item 3 as amended to the Dec. 8 meeting.

Next steps: Item 3 will return on Dec. 8 for further committee action following required procedural steps and any technical edits from the city attorney.