San Francisco Affordable Housing Lottery Priority for Veterans
In City-funded affordable housing lotteries, a veteran who qualifies for a lottery preference is ranked ahead of everyone else in that preference.
VetTOC · Veteran benefits reference
City and County of San Francisco, California
Free help with a VA claim
- San Francisco County Veterans Service Office. San Francisco's County Veterans Service Office, in the Department of Disability and Aging Services, helps veterans and families with VA and CalVet claims and the College Fee Waiver at 2 Gough Street, with walk-ins on Fridays and a Wednesday desk at the Fort Miley VA Medical Center. Email [email protected]. www.sfhsa.org/services/disability-aging/county-veterans-service-office-cvso
- California County Veterans Service Offices. Every county can appoint a county veterans service officer, paid partly by CalVet, who must help any veteran or dependent with a federal or state claim for free. From January 1, 2027 a vacancy must be filled within 12 months and the officer accredited within nine. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=MVC§ionNum=970.
Find a VA-accredited representative: www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/find-rep
City and County of San Francisco benefits
San Francisco Assessor-Recorder: Disabled Veterans' Exemption
The Assessor-Recorder prints the current low-income figures ($271,009 under an $81,131 household income) and takes claims through an online portal, but presents $271,009 as the…
Gate: 100% or compensated at 100% for unemployability
San Francisco Civil Service Veterans' Preference
A credit of 5% of the qualifying score on an entrance examination for a veteran or a veteran's widow, widower or surviving domestic partner, 10% for a veteran with a permanent…
Gate: Disability credit at any permanent rating
www.sf.gov/reports--july-2000--rule-111-examinations-civil-service-commission
San Francisco Muni Discount and Free Fares for Veterans Rated 50%
A VA rating of 50% or more, or aid and attendance, qualifies a veteran for the Clipper Access disability card, which gives discount Muni fares and the $43 discount monthly pass.
Gate: VA rating of 50% or aid and attendance
San Francisco Recreation and Park Fee Discounts for Veterans and Service Members
Free entry to the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers and the Botanical Garden for any veteran or active service member, resident or not.
codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_park/0-0-0-22
San Francisco Vendor, Food Permit and Street Artist Fees for Veterans
Public Health waives a veteran's food facility permit fee under Business and Professions Code 16102, and the Police Code waives every street artist fee for an honorably…
www.sf.gov/information--cases-where-your-permit-free-or-you-dont-need-one
San Francisco Veterans Justice Court
The Superior Court's Veterans Justice Court takes veterans with criminal cases in San Francisco, wherever they live, with VA care for those eligible and the Pretrial Diversion…
sf.courts.ca.gov/divisions/collaborative-courts/veterans-justice-court
California benefits that apply here
CalVet Home Loan
A home loan the state originates and services itself, for a home in California, open after 90 days of active duty (not training) with a discharge under honorable conditions and…
California College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents
Mandatory systemwide tuition and fees waived at any California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus, for the child, spouse, or…
California County Burial of Indigent Veterans
Each county must designate a veteran or veterans remains organization to give a decent burial, outside any pauper section, to an indigent, abandoned or unclaimed veteran or…
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=MVC§ionNum=942.
California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program
State departments carry a participation goal of at least 3% of annual contract dollars for certified disabled veteran business enterprises, and bids that propose DVBE…
Gate: At least a 10% service-connected disability, domiciled in California
www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/PD/OSDS/Certification/DVBE/DVBEProgramRequirements.pdf
California Disabled Veteran License Plates and Registration Fee Exemption
Disabled Veteran plates on one vehicle, with registration and license fees waived on that vehicle, plus disabled parking privileges.
Gate: 100% rated for a condition that impairs mobility
California Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption
For the January 1, 2026 lien date, $180,671 comes off the assessed value of the home a disabled veteran lives in, or $271,009 when household income is $81,131 or less.
Gate: 100% service-connected; Compensation at the 100% rate for unemployability
California Distinguished Veteran Pass
A free pass covering vehicle day use, family camping, and boat use at over 100 California State Parks units, for a California resident veteran with a 50% or higher wartime…
Gate: Combined rating of 50% or greater, incurred during wartime
California Free Recording and Copies of Discharge Papers
No public office in California may charge to record, index or certify a DD-214 or other discharge document, or for a certified record used in a VA or state veterans benefit claim.
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=6107.
California Military Diversion and Veterans Sentencing
A current or former service member charged with a crime and suffering from PTSD, TBI, military sexual trauma, substance abuse or a mental health problem from service can get up…
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=1001.80.
California Military Retirement and Survivor Benefit Income Exclusion
For tax years 2025 through 2029, up to $20,000 of uniformed-services retired pay or Survivor Benefit Plan annuity income is excluded from California taxable income, for a filer…
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=RTC§ionNum=17132.9
California Pets for Vets: No Adoption Fee at Public Shelters
Every California public animal shelter must waive the adoption fee for a dog or cat when the adopter shows a driver licence or ID card marked VETERAN.
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAC§ionNum=30505.
California Reduced-Fee Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans
A 365-day sport fishing license for $10.54 in 2026, against $64.54 for a resident license, plus a matching reduced-fee hunting license, for a veteran with a 50% or higher…
Gate: Service-connected rating of 50% or greater
California State Veterans Cemeteries
Three state veterans cemeteries, at Igo near Redding, at Yountville, and at Seaside on the central coast. Burial is free for the eligible veteran.
www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/State-Veterans-Cemeteries.aspx
California Veteran Business License Fee Exemptions for Vendors and Sole Proprietors
A veteran with an honorable discharge, or a release from active duty under honorable conditions, can hawk, peddle and vend goods the veteran owns without paying any license, tax…
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=16001.7
California Veteran Designation on a Driver License or ID Card
The word VETERAN on the front of a California driver license or identification card.
California Veterans' Preference for State Civil Service Jobs
Passing an open state civil service examination places an eligible veteran in rank 1 of the eligibility list, whatever the score.
calcareers.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/Landing/Jobs/VeteransInformation.aspx
California Veterans' Property Tax Exemption
A $4,000 exemption for a wartime or campaign veteran, a surviving spouse, or a qualifying parent.
Veterans Homes of California
Eight state veterans homes running independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.
79 federal benefits apply here as well and are left off this page; the place page lists them.