S.F. Admin. Code ch. 37 § 37.8B
Expedited Hearing and Appeal Procedures for Capital Improvements (San Francisco Rent Ordinance)
Operative Text
Resulting From Seismic Work on Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
Pursuant to Building Code Chapters 16B and 16C where Landlords
Performed the Work with a UMB Bond Loan.
[Added by Ord. No. 221-92, effective August 13, 1992; amended by Ord. No.
347-99, effective January 29, 2000; Ord. No. 02-03, effective February 21, 2003]
This section contains the exclusive procedures for all hearings concerning certification of
the above-described capital improvements. Landlords who perform such work without a UMB
bond loan are subject to the capital improvement certification procedures set forth in Section
37.7 above.
(a) Requirements for Certification. The landlord must have completed the capital
improvements in compliance with the requirements of Building Code Chapters 16B and 16C.
The certification requirements of Section 37.7(b)(2) and (b)(3) are also applicable.
(b) Amortization and Cost Allocation; Interest. Costs shall be equally allocated to each
unit and amortized over a 20-year period or the life of any loan acquired for the capital
improvements, whichever is longer. Interest shall be limited to the actual interest rate charged
on the loan and in no event shall exceed 10% per year.
(c) Eligible Items, Costs. Only those items required in order to comply with Building
Code Chapters 16B and 16C may be certified. The allowable cost of such items may not exceed
the costs set forth in the Mayor's Office of Economic Planning and Development's publication of
estimated cost ranges for bolts plus retrofitting by building prototype and/or categories of eligible
construction activities.
(d) Hearing Procedures. The application procedures of Sections 37.7(f) apply to
petitions for these expedited capital improvement hearings; provided, however, that the landlord
shall pay no filing fee since the Board will not hire an estimator. The hearings shall be
conducted according to the following procedures:
(1) Time of Hearing; Consolidation; Conduct of Hearing. The hearing must be
held within twenty-one (21) days of the filing of the application. The consolidation and hearing
conduct procedures of Section 37.7(g)(2) and (g)(3) apply.
(2) Determination of Administrative Law Judge. In accordance with the
requirements of this section, the Administrative Law Judge shall make findings as to whether or
not the proposed rent increases are justified based upon the following considerations:
(A) The application and its supporting documentation;
(B) Evidence presented at the hearing establishing both the extent and
the cost of the work performed; and
(C) The Mayor's Office of Planning and Economic Development's bolts
plus cost range publication; and
(D) Tenant objections that the work has not been completed; and
(E) Any other such relevant factors as the Board shall specify in rules and
regulations.
(3) Findings of Fact; Effect of Decision. The Administrative Law Judge shall
make written findings of fact, copies of which shall be mailed within twenty-one (21) days of the
hearing. The decision of the Administrative Law Judge is final unless the Board vacates it on
appeal.
(e) Appeals. Either party may appeal the Administrative Law Judge's decisions in
accordance with the requirements of Section 37.8(f)(1),(f)(2) and (f)(3). The Board shall decide
whether or not to accept an appeal within twenty-one (21) days.
(1) Time of Appeal Hearing; Notice to Parties; Record; Conduct of Hearing. The
appeal procedures of Section 37.8(f)(5),(f)(6),(f)(7),(f)(8) and (f)(9) apply; provided, however, that
the Board's decision shall be rendered within twenty (20) days of the hearing.
(2) Rent Increases. A landlord may not impose any rent increases approved by
the Board on appeal without at least sixty (60) days notice to the tenants.San Francisco Administrative Code § 37.8B establishes a dedicated, expedited process for certifying capital improvement rent increases tied to seismic retrofitting of unreinforced masonry buildings (UMBs) when the landlord used a UMB bond loan. Costs must be spread equally across all units and amortized over 20 years or the loan term, whichever is longer, with interest capped at 10% per year. Hearings must occur within 21 days of filing, written findings must be mailed within 21 days of the hearing, and any Board appeal decision must be rendered within 20 days of the appeal hearing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 37.8B, operators who completed UMB seismic work using a bond loan follow this section's exclusive certification track rather than the standard Section 37.7 process, and no filing fee is required because the Board does not retain an estimator. Compliant operators document that the work satisfies Building Code Chapters 16B and 16C, keep costs within the Mayor's Office of Planning and Economic Development's published bolt-plus-retrofit cost ranges, and allocate expenses equally across all units. If the Board approves a rent increase on appeal, landlords must provide tenants at least 60 days' written notice before imposing it.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 37.8B gives tenants the right to appear at an expedited hearing—scheduled within 21 days of the landlord's application—and present objections, including evidence that the seismic work was not actually completed. Written findings from the Administrative Law Judge must be mailed within 21 days of the hearing, and either party may appeal to the full Rent Board within the timeframes the section specifies. Tenants who believe a certification or resulting rent increase does not comply with § 37.8B may raise that as a defense, file a complaint with the San Francisco Rent Board, or contact a tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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