Subletting vs Airbnb: the rules and the risks in SF
A sublet is generally a residential occupancy under a lease or sublease. A short-term rental through a platform may trigger San Francisco registration, primary-residence, tax, insurance, and duration rules in addition to the lease. Neither arrangement is automatically allowed because the other is.
Read your lease first. A no-subletting or no-short-term-rental clause can carry real consequences. Then check the City’s current short-term-rental program before listing a room online. Do not accept a platform’s default settings as proof that your arrangement is lawful.
For a normal sublet, use written terms and obtain required consent. For a short stay, verify City requirements before advertising.
Sources: SF Rent Board referral list, California Civil Code §1946.2.