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Eviction in City and County of San Francisco, California

Where eviction cases are filed in City and County of San Francisco, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.

Quick facts: eviction in City and County of San Francisco

Eviction court
Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco - Civil Division — Superior Court (unlawful detainer cases) Court page
Filing fee
$240 (unlawful detainer, limited civil, demand up to $10,000); $385 (limited civil, over $10,000 to $35,000); $450 (unlimited, over $35,000). Tenant's answer: $225 / $370 / $450. Judicial Council of California, Statewide Civil Fee Schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026 (rows 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12; appendix for Riverside/San Bernardino/San Francisco)
Notice before filing (state law)
3-day notice to pay rent or quit, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays. The notice must state the amount due, the name, phone number, and address of the person to pay, and the payment method. It may be served any time within one year after the rent becomes due. California rules
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
$3,604/month HUD
Renter households
224,913 (62% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024

Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22

Where eviction cases are filed in City and County of San Francisco

Eviction cases in City and County of San Francisco are heard by the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco - Civil Division (Superior Court (unlawful detainer cases)).

Court eviction page · E-filing · Search court records · Self-help center

The Civil Division manages unlawful detainers; the clerk's office is at the Civic Center Courthouse. ACCESS Center live helpline (415) 551-0605.

How much it costs to file an eviction in City and County of San Francisco

$240 (unlawful detainer, limited civil, demand up to $10,000); $385 (limited civil, over $10,000 to $35,000); $450 (unlimited, over $35,000). Tenant's answer: $225 / $370 / $450.

San Francisco's local courthouse construction surcharge (GC 70625) is offset for limited civil filings, so only the unlimited (over $35,000) amounts differ from the statewide schedule. Plaintiff UD fees include the extra $15 under CCP 1161.2 for limited civil UD. Low-income parties can ask the court to waive fees with Judicial Council form FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees). Sheriff/marshal service and lockout fees are separate and not included.

Source: Judicial Council of California, Statewide Civil Fee Schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026 (rows 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12; appendix for Riverside/San Bernardino/San Francisco)

How eviction cases work locally

Rent BoardSF Rent Board handles rent-control and eviction-protection questions: 25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 700; counseling 415-252-4600.
Source: Official source

The California eviction process

California state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including City and County of San Francisco:

  1. Landlord serves a written notice: 3-day pay or quit, 3-day perform or quit, 3-day quit, or 30/60/90-day notice, with just cause stated where AB 1482 or local law applies
  2. Landlord files an Unlawful Detainer complaint and the tenant is served with the summons and complaint
  3. Tenant files a response (usually an Answer) within 10 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays (5 more court days if served by mail through the Secretary of State's address confidentiality program)
  4. If the tenant answers, a trial is set (per the courts, usually about a month after the request); if not, the landlord can get a default judgment
  5. Judgment for possession; landlord obtains a Writ of Execution and delivers it to the sheriff
  6. Sheriff serves a Notice to Vacate giving the tenant 5 days, then performs the lockout

Full California eviction rules with sources →

Rent in City and County of San Francisco

HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the San Francisco, CA HUD Metro FMR Area (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):

Studio$2,485
1 bedroom$2,977
2 bedrooms$3,604
3 bedrooms$4,604
4 bedrooms$4,772

Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation

Median gross rent in City and County of San Francisco: $2,476/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

San Francisco Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Ordinance (Rent Ordinance)

Applies: City and County of San Francisco (consolidated city-county; applies to most residential rental units)

Full San Francisco Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Ordinance (Rent Ordinance) rules with sources →

Eviction help in City and County of San Francisco

Free legal help

Right to counsel: Tenant Right to Counsel (Proposition F, the No Eviction Without Representation Act, approved by voters June 5, 2018, codified as S.F. Admin. Code Sec. 58.4, effective July 20, 2018; the City had up to 12 months to fully implement it, and the program was in effect July 11, 2019): the City must fund full-scope legal representation for all residential tenants facing eviction, available 30 days after service of an eviction notice (any notice to terminate tenancy) or on service of an unlawful detainer complaint, whichever occurs first, and continuing until the notice or complaint is withdrawn, the case is dismissed, or judgment is entered. It does not apply when the landlord or master tenant lives in the same unit as the tenant, or where a state or federal program already provides full-scope representation. Intake: Eviction Defense Collaborative, 415-659-9184 (per sf.gov, https://www.sf.gov/evictions-san-francisco). Code text: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_admin/0-0-0-60051 Source

Rental assistance

City rules in City and County of San Francisco

Other California counties

Related

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an eviction in City and County of San Francisco?
Eviction cases in City and County of San Francisco are filed with the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco - Civil Division.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in City and County of San Francisco?
$240 (unlawful detainer, limited civil, demand up to $10,000); $385 (limited civil, over $10,000 to $35,000); $450 (unlimited, over $35,000). Tenant's answer: $225 / $370 / $450.
Where can I get help with an eviction in City and County of San Francisco?
Eviction Defense Collaborative; Bay Area Legal Aid; La Raza Centro Legal; Tenderloin Housing Clinic.
What is the fair market rent in City and County of San Francisco?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit is $3,604 per month (1-bedroom: $2,977).

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.