Direct answer: San Francisco (San Francisco County) requires paid sick leave for 1 employee. Accrual 1 hour per 30 hours (or 1 per 20 for certain), max Up to 72 hours (rollover) or 40 hours frontloaded, paid. Source: https://sfgov.org/olse/full-text-minimum-compensation-ordinance-mco; retrieved 2026-08-23.
This page summarizes a local ordinance for general guidance only. It is not legal advice. The controlling language is the official municipal code at the source link below.
Local ordinance vs California state law
Provision
San Francisco
California State
Employer threshold
1 employee
1 employee
Accrual rate
1 hour per 30 hours (or 1 per 20 for certain)
1 hour per 30 hours worked
Max accrual
Up to 72 hours (rollover) or 40 hours frontloaded
80 hours accrual cap; 40 hours (5 days) usage cap per year
Paid / unpaid
paid
paid
Local insight
SF Minimum Compensation Ordinance: no employer-size threshold and covers all employees including part-time/temporary; exceeds state accrual.
Compliance go / no-go
Determine if your workforce meets the local threshold (1 employee).
Accrue at 1 hour per 30 hours (or 1 per 20 for certain) (or use a more generous PTO policy that meets/exceeds the local minimum).
Cap accrual at Up to 72 hours (rollover) or 40 hours frontloaded; honor carryover per local rule.
Post the required notice and keep a written policy citing the local ordinance.
San Francisco may have private right of action / penalties for non-compliance — retain records.
What are the paid sick leave rules in San Francisco for 2026?
San Francisco requires paid sick leave for 1 employee. Accrual: 1 hour per 30 hours (or 1 per 20 for certain). Max: Up to 72 hours (rollover) or 40 hours frontloaded. SF Minimum Compensation Ordinance: no employer-size threshold and covers all employees including part-time/temporary; exceeds state accrual.
How does San Francisco sick leave differ from California state law?
San Francisco ordinance follows the same accrual framework as California state law but may have local administrative details. See the official source for exact text.
Where can I find the official San Francisco sick leave ordinance?
The official text is published by the local agency: https://sfgov.org/olse/full-text-minimum-compensation-ordinance-mco.