SERVICE
Pay your annual healthy housing fee for apartment buildings
You need to pay this annual fee if you own an apartment building with 3 or more rental units.
What to know
Cost
Check your invoice for the exact amount. The number of number of rental units you have determines your fee.
Late penalties
If you are late, you will also need to pay a late fee:
- $10 within 30 days of the due date
- $30 within 60 days of the due date
We will also apply an interest rate of 1.5% per month and place a lien on your property
What to do
We will mail you an invoice every year for this healthy housing fee.
The number of rental units you have determines your fee. If you have less than 3 rented units during the year, you do not need to pay this fee. If you have 3 or more rented units, pay the fee using one of the methods described below.
Pay with a check, cash, or money order at:
San Francisco, CA 94102
Get directions
Write a check or money order to the "Department of Public Health". Include your invoice number on your check.
Mail your check or money order to:
San Francisco, CA 94120
Get directions
Supporting information
Special cases
If you own and live in your apartment building
If you rent less than 3 units during the year, you do not need to pay the fee. If you rent 3 or more units during the year, you still need to pay the fee.
Include the total number of rental units and the number of owner-occupied units on your invoice. You must sign and date the certification statement at the bottom of the bill and send it back to us.
You will still get an invoice each year for your records.
If you have an apartment building with some commercial units
If there are less than 3 rental units, you don't need to pay the fee. You need to tell us the number of rental units and the number of commercial units on your invoice. You also need to submit the business permit for the commercial unit with the signed invoice. You will still get an invoice each year for your records.
If there are 3 or more rental units, tell us the number of rental units and the number of commercial units. You will need to pay the fee based on the number of rental units. Sign and date the certification statement at the bottom of the invoice page and send it back to us.
If you need to update your information
If you need to make changes to your information, email us with the information below at healthyhousing@sfdph.org.
You can also send a letter to:
San Francisco Department of Public Health
49 South Van Ness Ave, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94103
You also need to tell the Assessor Recorder’s Office of any changes.
The number of rental units
If the number of rental units on your invoice is wrong, let us know the right number and pay the fee for that number.
If you have less than 3 units rented during the year, you do not need to pay the fee.
If the number of rental units on your invoice is wrong because you live in one of the units, you'll need to let us know. Include a copy of your most recent PG&E bill.
If a unit is vacant or occupied by relatives, you still need to pay the fee.
Your building type
Condominiums
If your building is a condominium, you do not need to pay the fee. Show that your building is a condominium on your invoice. Submit proof such as:
- Condominium Grand Deed
- Condominium conversion document from Department of Public Works
- Documents from the Office of the Assessor-Recorder
Commercial buildings
If your building is a commercial building, you do not need to pay the fee. Show that your building is commercial on your invoice. Business permits should show the address of each unit number.
Tenancy-In-Common (TIC) buildings
If your building is a Tenancy-In-Common (TIC) you do not need to pay the fee. Show that your building is a TIC on your invoice. Submit the TIC proof such as:
- The Notification of Individual Assessed Valued for TIC Units from the Office of the Assessor-Recorder
- Property tax bill that shows TIC homeowner exemption
- TIC agreement
Let us know about a change in ownership
You are responsible for paying the fee if you were the owner during the billing cycle. If you were not the owner during the billing cycle, let us know. Provide the escrow date and the new owner’s name and mailing address.
Update your mailing address
Call our office at 415-252-3800.
You can also send a letter to:
San Francisco Department of Public Health
49 South Van Ness Ave, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94103
Provide one of the following so we can identify your account:
- Property address and block and lot number
- Invoice number
Keeping apartments in San Francisco safe and healthy
We use these fees to pay for health inspections. These inspections keep apartment buildings safe and healthy. Inspectors look at common areas, yards, garbage storage areas and lobbies. They look for signs of rodents, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and wild birds that might cause disease. They also look for lead, asbestos, or other health code violations.
Get help
Partner agencies
What to know
Cost
Check your invoice for the exact amount. The number of number of rental units you have determines your fee.
Late penalties
If you are late, you will also need to pay a late fee:
- $10 within 30 days of the due date
- $30 within 60 days of the due date
We will also apply an interest rate of 1.5% per month and place a lien on your property
What to do
We will mail you an invoice every year for this healthy housing fee.
The number of rental units you have determines your fee. If you have less than 3 rented units during the year, you do not need to pay this fee. If you have 3 or more rented units, pay the fee using one of the methods described below.
Pay with a check, cash, or money order at:
San Francisco, CA 94102
Get directions
Write a check or money order to the "Department of Public Health". Include your invoice number on your check.
Mail your check or money order to:
San Francisco, CA 94120
Get directions
Supporting information
Special cases
If you own and live in your apartment building
If you rent less than 3 units during the year, you do not need to pay the fee. If you rent 3 or more units during the year, you still need to pay the fee.
Include the total number of rental units and the number of owner-occupied units on your invoice. You must sign and date the certification statement at the bottom of the bill and send it back to us.
You will still get an invoice each year for your records.
If you have an apartment building with some commercial units
If there are less than 3 rental units, you don't need to pay the fee. You need to tell us the number of rental units and the number of commercial units on your invoice. You also need to submit the business permit for the commercial unit with the signed invoice. You will still get an invoice each year for your records.
If there are 3 or more rental units, tell us the number of rental units and the number of commercial units. You will need to pay the fee based on the number of rental units. Sign and date the certification statement at the bottom of the invoice page and send it back to us.
If you need to update your information
If you need to make changes to your information, email us with the information below at healthyhousing@sfdph.org.
You can also send a letter to:
San Francisco Department of Public Health
49 South Van Ness Ave, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94103
You also need to tell the Assessor Recorder’s Office of any changes.
The number of rental units
If the number of rental units on your invoice is wrong, let us know the right number and pay the fee for that number.
If you have less than 3 units rented during the year, you do not need to pay the fee.
If the number of rental units on your invoice is wrong because you live in one of the units, you'll need to let us know. Include a copy of your most recent PG&E bill.
If a unit is vacant or occupied by relatives, you still need to pay the fee.
Your building type
Condominiums
If your building is a condominium, you do not need to pay the fee. Show that your building is a condominium on your invoice. Submit proof such as:
- Condominium Grand Deed
- Condominium conversion document from Department of Public Works
- Documents from the Office of the Assessor-Recorder
Commercial buildings
If your building is a commercial building, you do not need to pay the fee. Show that your building is commercial on your invoice. Business permits should show the address of each unit number.
Tenancy-In-Common (TIC) buildings
If your building is a Tenancy-In-Common (TIC) you do not need to pay the fee. Show that your building is a TIC on your invoice. Submit the TIC proof such as:
- The Notification of Individual Assessed Valued for TIC Units from the Office of the Assessor-Recorder
- Property tax bill that shows TIC homeowner exemption
- TIC agreement
Let us know about a change in ownership
You are responsible for paying the fee if you were the owner during the billing cycle. If you were not the owner during the billing cycle, let us know. Provide the escrow date and the new owner’s name and mailing address.
Update your mailing address
Call our office at 415-252-3800.
You can also send a letter to:
San Francisco Department of Public Health
49 South Van Ness Ave, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94103
Provide one of the following so we can identify your account:
- Property address and block and lot number
- Invoice number
Keeping apartments in San Francisco safe and healthy
We use these fees to pay for health inspections. These inspections keep apartment buildings safe and healthy. Inspectors look at common areas, yards, garbage storage areas and lobbies. They look for signs of rodents, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and wild birds that might cause disease. They also look for lead, asbestos, or other health code violations.