S.F. Police Code Article 49 § 4901
POLICY (San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance)
Operative Text
It is the policy of the City and County of San Francisco to enhance public health and safety by reducing recidivism and its associated criminal justice costs and societal costs, and facilitating the successful reintegration into society of persons with arrest and conviction records. This Article is enacted for the purpose of furthering this policy.
San Francisco Police Code Article 49, Section 4901 establishes the City and County's overarching policy goal of reducing recidivism and its associated costs by helping people with arrest or conviction records reintegrate into society. The provision does not itself impose specific requirements or prohibitions; instead, it sets the foundational intent that guides the rest of Article 49. All subsequent rules within this Article are interpreted in light of this stated public-health and public-safety purpose.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Section 4901 signals that the rules throughout Article 49 are designed with a rehabilitative and reintegrative purpose in mind, which shapes how the rest of the Article's requirements apply to housing providers. Operators who understand this policy context are generally better positioned to apply the Article's specific provisions—such as those governing the use of criminal history in tenant screening—in a manner consistent with the City's intent. Familiarity with the policy declaration in § 4901 can help property managers interpret ambiguous situations that arise under the Article's operative sections.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4901 of the San Francisco Police Code declares that the City's policy is to support people with arrest or conviction records in successfully rejoining their communities, framing the entire Article 49 as a tool for advancing that goal. While this section does not itself create enforceable rights, it provides important context for understanding the protections that follow in the rest of Article 49. Tenants who believe their rights under Article 49 have been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or the San Francisco Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board to learn about available enforcement paths.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 12, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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