Ordinance amending the Police Code to delete Article 55 and thereby repeal the requirement that brick-and-mortar businesses accept cash for the purchase of goods and services other than professional services.

This ordinance proposes to repeal Article 55 of the Police Code, which currently requires brick-and-mortar businesses to accept cash for goods and services other than professional services. The original ordinance, titled the "Legal Rights for Legal Tender Ordinance," was enacted to ensure inclusivity and economic participation for residents who may lack access to credit or bank accounts, citing statistics on unbanked African-American and Latino households. The proposed repeal would remove this mandate, allowing businesses to operate on a cashless basis. The ordinance specifies definitions for "Brick-and-Mortar Business," "Cash," and "Professional Services," and outlines exceptions such as suspected counterfeit currency, denominations larger than $20, and single transactions exceeding $5,000. Enforcement was initially assigned to the San Francisco County Sealer, with penalties ranging from infractions to misdemeanors. A report on unbanked households was due by December 31, 2026. This ordinance is sponsored by Supervisors Mandelman and Dorsey.

This ordinance would remove the requirement for businesses to accept cash, potentially impacting residents who rely on cash for transactions due to lack of bank accounts or credit, or for privacy reasons. Businesses would no longer be mandated to accept cash for most goods and services.

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