Do this today
- Write the date, time, and how they entered.
- Ask in writing for notice next time, if that is the rule.
- If it felt like harassment, San Francisco Rent Board or legal aid — not a group chat.
Can a landlord in San Francisco enter whenever they want?
Generally no — except that emergencies and the lease can change the picture. California Civil Code — hiring of real property is the California starting point. Write down any entry you believe was improper. The San Francisco Rent Board is the local forum for covered units. Ask them whether your unit is under the Rent Ordinance.
What if they keep coming in?
A pattern of unannounced entry can be a harassment or privacy problem. San Francisco Rent Board may take a complaint. Legal aid can tell you whether California gives a specific remedy. Do not change the locks without advice.
The San Francisco layer
The San Francisco Rent Board is the local forum for covered units. Ask them whether your unit is under the Rent Ordinance.
California Civil Code — hiring of real property (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1940 to 1954.06) is the California floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
San Francisco questions
How much notice does a landlord in San Francisco have to give before entering?
That hour-count or day-count is in California Civil Code — hiring of real property and sometimes in a city rule. This desk does not invent it. Write down what happened and take it to legal aid or San Francisco Rent Board.
What number should I call in San Francisco?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. San Francisco Rent Board does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org