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San Francisco requires landlords to disclose all recurring fees

San Francisco requires landlords to disclose all recurring fees

Rule Changes San Francisco, CA local

Board of Supervisors passes 'No Hidden Rent' act as rents surge 26% year-over-year

Today: Board passes No Hidden Rent act

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

San Francisco landlords must now show tenants the full monthly cost of an apartment before they sign. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to require disclosure of all recurring fees on listings and lease agreements.

The law, called the 'No Hidden Rent' act, comes as rents have jumped 26% year-over-year and fees can add 10-30% to monthly costs. Tenants can now break a lease without penalty if a landlord hid fees, and they cannot be evicted for not paying undisclosed charges.

Why it matters

San Francisco's rule could become a model for other cities as rents surge and federal regulators scrutinize junk fees.

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Key Indicators

26%
Year-over-year rent increase
Rents in San Francisco rose 26% in the past year, according to Mission Local.
10-30%
Share of monthly rent from hidden fees
Urban Institute Initiative analysis found recurring fees can add 10-30% to monthly costs.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

June 2026 October 2026

4 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Board passes No Hidden Rent act

    Today Vote

    San Francisco Board of Supervisors votes unanimously to require fee disclosure.

  2. Hearing on the act

    Hearing

    Public hearing held; Peter Hosey of Indivisible SF testifies in favor.

  3. Mayor declares rent emergency

    Declaration

    Mayor Daniel Lurie declares a rent emergency as rents surge 26% year-over-year.

  4. No Hidden Rent act introduced

    Legislation

    Supervisor Bilal Mahmood introduces the act requiring fee disclosure.

Scenarios

1

Law survives legal challenge

Likely Resolves by Oct 20, 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local, local housing advocates

Landlord groups may sue, arguing the law oversteps city authority. If no court strikes it down within a year, the law stands and becomes a template for other cities.

2

Other California cities adopt similar rules

Possible Resolves by Apr 20, 2028

Discussed by: San Diego City Council, housing policy analysts

San Diego has already proposed a similar ordinance. If at least two other California cities pass fee-disclosure laws within 18 months, the San Francisco rule becomes a regional standard.

3

Enforcement gaps weaken the law

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 20, 2027

Discussed by: Tenant rights groups, property manager blogs

If the city fails to enforce the disclosure requirement, landlords may ignore it. The law's impact depends on active enforcement and tenant awareness.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

January 2012

Airline full-fare advertising rule (2012)

The U.S. Department of Transportation required airlines to advertise the total price of a ticket, including taxes and fees, rather than a base fare with add-ons.

Then

Airlines initially resisted, but the rule took effect and became standard practice.

Now

Consumers could compare prices accurately, and the rule set a precedent for price transparency in other industries.

Why this matters now

Like the airline rule, San Francisco's law forces landlords to show the full monthly cost upfront, eliminating surprise fees.

May 2025

FTC junk fee rule for tickets and lodging (2025)

The Federal Trade Commission's rule took effect, requiring live-event ticket sellers and short-term lodging providers to disclose all mandatory fees in advertised prices.

Then

The rule faced legal challenges but remained in effect for covered industries.

Now

It signaled federal scrutiny of hidden fees, though it explicitly excluded long-term rental housing.

Why this matters now

San Francisco's act fills a gap the FTC rule left open, applying similar transparency to apartment rentals.

Sources

(2)