San Francisco, California, Proposition C, Real Estate Transfer Tax Exemption for Properties Converted from Commercial to Residential Use Initiative (March 2024)

San Francisco Proposition C
Election date March 5, 2024
Topic City tax and Local housing
Status Approved
Type Initiative

San Francisco Proposition C was on the ballot as an initiative in San Francisco on March 5, 2024. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported: exempting property from the real estate transfer tax (ranging from 0.5% to 6%) the first time commercial property is converted to residential use for properties receiving final approval before January 1, 2030; limiting the total amount of space that can be exempt from the transfer tax to an aggregate total of five million square feet; and increasing the amount of office space that can be developed by factoring in the amount of office space that has been converted to residential use.

A "no" vote opposed exempting property from the real estate transfer tax the first time commercial property is converted to residential use and increasing the limit on office space that may be developed.

Election results

San Francisco Proposition C
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		116,311	52.78%
No		104,038	47.22%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition C was as follows:

“

Shall the City exempt from the real estate transfer tax the first time a property is transferred after being converted from a commercial to residential use, have authority to amend the transfer tax without voter approval but not to increase it, and increase the annual limit on office space available for development by including office space that has been converted to a different use or demolished?

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• Mayor London Breed (Nonpartisan)

Political Parties

• San Francisco Republican Party

Arguments

• Mayor London Breed: "By removing barriers to converting office space to housing, Prop C will take vacant space, turn it into homes, and bring more people Downtown. Prop C waives the City's transfer tax on projects that convert buildings from non-residential to residential uses, incentivizing underused office buildings to be converted into housing. San Francisco's Downtown is undergoing a period of change - and there is a tremendous opportunity to attract investment and excitement in the future of what Downtown can be: a thriving, 24-hour neighborhood filled with residents, workers, arts and culture, and successful small businesses. The increased repurposing of office buildings into housing will help San Francisco meet its state mandated requirement to build thousands of new units of housing, reduce the vacancy rate downtown, and bring new investment Downtown, increasing opportunities to create a dynamic neighborhood where people can live, learn, work, and play."

Opposition

Opponents

Political Parties

• San Francisco Democratic Party

Organizations

• Council of Community Housing Organizations
• San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee
• Senior and Disability Action

Arguments

• Council of Community Housing Organizations: "San Francisco voters, don't be fooled. Vote NO on C to stop a deceptive ballot measure that takes power away from voters and allows City Hall politicians to hand out corporate tax breaks to billionaires and huge property owners. Watch out for Prop C: • A deceptive tax break for billionaires. City law already exempts affordable housing projects from the transfer tax. Despite its claims, Prop C does NOTHING to encourage affordable housing in San Francisco. • Allows politicians to hand out tax breaks to big corporations. Today, only voters can decide whether to increase or decrease the transfer tax on property sales. But this measure would allow politicians to reduce or even eliminate the transfer tax without voter approval. • Lets City Hall overturn the will of voters. Since 2008, voters have approved ballot measures to close transfer tax loopholes that allowed corporations to avoid paying their fair share. And, we have voted for small tax increases for properties valued over $5 million and $10 million. These were OUR CHOICE. But if Prop C passes, it will be the politicians' choice instead. • Threatens affordable housing and vital services. The transfer tax on massive corporate property sales over $5 million provides hundreds of units of affordable housing and helps fund vital services like public safety, schools, and affordable housing. Prop C could take those services away. • The wrong kind of economic recovery. Our economic recovery should focus on city neighborhoods, small businesses, and working San Franciscans - not downtown corporations."

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

The measure was placed on the ballot through an initiative petition sponsored by San Francisco Mayor London Breed.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in California

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in California.

How to vote in California

Poll times

All polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.

Automatic registration

California automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Learn more by visiting this website.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

California has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

California allows same-day voter registration.

Californians must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, voters may visit a location designated by their county elections official during the 14 days prior to, and including Election Day to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot, which are counted once county election officials have completed the voter registration verification process. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in California, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

As of November 2024, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The secretary of state's My Voter Status website allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases. However, some voters may be asked to show a form of identification when voting if they are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not provide a driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number. On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Current and valid photo identification provided by a third party in the ordinary course of business that includes the name and photograph of the individual presenting it. Examples of photo identification include, but are not limited to, the following documents: driver's license or identification card of any state; passport; employee identification card; identification card provided by a commercial establishment; credit or debit card; military identification card; student identification card; health club identification card; insurance plan identification card; or public housing identification card. Any of the following documents, provided that the document includes the name and address of the individual presenting it, and is dated since the date of the last general election…: utility bill; bank statement; government check; government paycheck; document issued by a governmental agency; sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental, agency dated for the election in which the individual is providing it as proof, of residency or identity; voter notification card issued by a governmental agency; public housing identification card issued by a governmental agency; lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency; student identification card issued by a governmental agency; tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency; insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency; discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the individual by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence, or other matter; public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency; identification documents issued by governmental disability agencies; identification documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities; drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider; (R) property tax statement issued by a governmental agency; vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency; or vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency.

”

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2024
• Local housing on the ballot

California

• California 2024 local measures
• Local ballot measures, California
• San Francisco, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas