Next steps after short-term rental tax defeat

January 29th, 2026

Yesterday, the San Diego City Rules Committee voted down a tax on Empty Second Homes and Vacation Rentals in San Diego City.  We supported this tax because we believed it would bring short-term vacation rental units back into the long-term housing market. 

Airbnb and its allies also believed that this tax would have limited vacation rentals in San Diego City - they bused in over 45 paid protestors from Los Angeles to astro-turf the council committee meeting where this was discussed. 

We were grateful for this tax proposal because it prompted the only council debate on short-term vacation rentals policy since the STRO Ordinance was enacted over two years ago. And we are here to ensure that discussions of how to better regulate and limit whole-home short-term vacation rentals continue at City Hall. 

There are many possible solutions to better limit and regulate short-term vacation rentals in San Diego City, but until we have a majority of San Diego City Council members willing to vote against the short-term vacation rental industry, short-term vacation rentals will continue to proliferate.

That is why Housing for San Diegans is dedicated to electing Councilmembers who are willing to stand up to the vacation rental industry. But we can't do it alone.  Please support our 2026 campaign to educate, evaluate, and support council candidates who support long-term housing for San Diego residents over Airbnb business interests.