Important: Homzora is a housing research publisher, not a law firm, and nothing on this page is legal advice. This article is general information about the law as published by government and court sources at the time of writing, and it may not reflect later changes or the facts of your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney and client relationship. For advice about your situation, contact a licensed attorney or a legal aid organization in your state.
About 61.8 percent of occupied homes in San Francisco are rented, since the Census Bureau puts the owner occupied housing rate at 38.2% for 2020 to 2024, and the median gross rent is $2,476 a month (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, San Francisco). A rental is the tenant’s home, and the law balances a landlord’s need to inspect and repair it against the tenant’s right to privacy and quiet enjoyment.
This guide explains when a landlord in San Francisco can enter your home, how much notice California law requires, what counts as an emergency, and what you can do if entries become excessive. It also covers how to respond to entry notices and handle showings at the end of a lease.
Quick answers
- Notice: reasonable written notice; 24 hours is presumed reasonable (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954).
- Hours: normal business hours unless you consent (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954).
- Purpose: limited to listed reasons, such as repairs, showings, and emergencies (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954).
- Penalty: up to $2,000 for a significant and intentional violation (Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.2).
What California law says
A California landlord may enter only in an emergency, to make necessary or agreed repairs or improvements, supply agreed services, or show the unit, when you have abandoned it, or under a court order. Except in those emergency or abandonment situations, or when you are present and consent, the landlord must give reasonable written notice. Twenty four hours is presumed reasonable, and mailing the notice at least six days before entry is also presumed reasonable. The notice must state the date, approximate time, and purpose (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954).
Entry must be during normal business hours unless you consent. For agreed repairs, an oral agreement setting a date within one week can replace written notice (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954). A significant and intentional violation of these rules can bring a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation, and you may bring the claim in small claims court (Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.2).
San Francisco harassment rules
San Francisco’s rent ordinance bars landlords from abusing the right of access and from interfering with a tenant’s privacy. Violations can be a misdemeanor, and civil damages are three times actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater, plus attorney’s fees (San Francisco Admin. Code § 37.10B (code mirror)).
Free help in San Francisco
The Eviction Defense Collaborative offers free help to San Francisco tenants at 415.659.9184 (Eviction Defense Collaborative). For other assistance, call 211 (211.org).
Fair housing
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in rental terms because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, or disability (42 U.S.C. § 3604). HUD accepts complaints (HUD, File a Complaint).
Common reasons a landlord enters
- Repairs and maintenance you requested or the landlord scheduled.
- Inspections, such as smoke detector checks, pest treatments, or annual walkthroughs.
- Showings to prospective tenants or buyers, often near the end of a lease.
- Government inspections required by a city or a housing program.
- Emergencies, such as a fire, a burst pipe, a gas leak, or a flood.
Knowing the reason helps you judge whether the notice and timing fit the rules in this guide and your lease.
What usually counts as an emergency
Emergencies are generally sudden situations that threaten people or property and cannot wait, such as water pouring through a ceiling, smoke, a gas smell, or an alarm sounding in an empty unit. A routine repair, an overdue inspection, or a landlord’s wish to check on the unit is not usually an emergency. If a landlord enters claiming an emergency, ask in writing what happened and what was done.
How to respond to an entry notice
- Read the date, time window, and purpose in the notice.
- If the time does not work, reply promptly in writing and propose specific alternatives.
- Secure pets and valuables before the visit.
- Be present if you can, or ask a trusted person to be there.
- Afterward, note who entered, when they arrived and left, and what they did.
A sample letter about repeated entries
Date: 2026. To: [landlord or manager]. Re: Entry at [address, unit]. I am writing about entries to my home on [dates]. On these occasions [describe what happened, such as entry without notice or outside the hours in the notice]. Please give advance notice of future entries as required by [the lease and applicable law], and include the date, time, and purpose. I am happy to cooperate with necessary repairs and inspections. Sincerely, [name].
A calm written record often resolves the problem. If it continues, it becomes evidence for a complaint or court claim.
Showings near the end of your lease
Landlords often want to show a unit to new renters in the last weeks of a lease. Ask for a schedule in advance, ask that showings be grouped into set windows, and confirm whether an agent will be present. Keep valuables and personal documents out of sight, and photograph the unit before showings begin in case anything is damaged.
Privacy beyond entry
Privacy questions also come up with security cameras in common areas, smart locks that log entries, maintenance staff who arrive unannounced, and landlords who contact employers or neighbors. Ask how any building cameras and electronic locks are used and who can see the data. Keep communications with the landlord in writing, and raise concerns early and politely.
Mistakes to avoid
- Changing the locks without permission. Many leases prohibit it, and it can block lawful access.
- Refusing all entry. Tenants generally cannot unreasonably refuse access for repairs or inspections.
- Ignoring notices. Reply in writing, even if only to reschedule.
- Relying on memory. Keep a log of every entry and every notice.
Build your evidence file
Landlord and tenant disputes are usually decided by documents. Keep these together from the day you sign:
- The signed lease, every addendum, and every renewal.
- Receipts or bank records for the deposit and each rent payment.
- Dated photos and video of every room at move in and move out.
- Copies of every repair request and the landlord’s replies.
- Every notice you send or receive, with proof of delivery.
Keep copies somewhere other than your phone, such as an email to yourself, so they survive a lost device.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How much notice do you give before entering, and how?
- What hours do maintenance staff usually work?
- Do you show units while they are occupied, and how often?
- Do maintenance workers enter alone when tenants are away?
- Who has keys or access codes to the unit?
Keys, locks, and access codes
Ask the landlord who holds keys or codes to your unit and how they are stored. If a lock is broken or a key is lost, report it in writing and ask when it will be replaced. If you want to add a lock or change a code, ask for written permission first and offer the landlord a copy if the lease requires it, so lawful access is not blocked.
Contractors and maintenance staff
Workers sent by the landlord generally enter under the same rules as the landlord. Ask that notices name the company or worker and the work to be done. If a worker arrives unannounced or outside the notice window, you can ask them to come back at the scheduled time and then follow up with the landlord in writing.
Pets and entry
Tell the landlord in writing about any pet that could escape or react to strangers, and ask for notice long enough to secure the animal. Workers should not leave doors open or let pets out. If a pet is harmed or lost during an entry, document what happened right away.
Housing program inspections
If you use a housing voucher or live in subsidized housing, the program may require periodic inspections of the unit. Ask the housing authority or property manager how inspections are scheduled and what will be checked, and keep copies of the results, since a failed inspection can also lead to repairs.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice must a California landlord give?
Reasonable written notice; 24 hours is presumed reasonable (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954).
Can my landlord enter on weekends?
Entry must be during normal business hours unless you consent (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954).
What if my landlord keeps entering illegally?
A significant and intentional violation can bring a penalty of up to $2,000 per violation (Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.2).
Legal notice
Homzora is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws, court rules, and local programs change, and how they apply depends on your facts. Before you act on anything in this article, confirm the current rules with the court, a licensed attorney, or a legal aid organization.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, San Francisco
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1954
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.2
- San Francisco Admin. Code § 37.10B (code mirror)
- Eviction Defense Collaborative
- 211.org
- 42 U.S.C. § 3604
- HUD, File a Complaint