Changes to Airbnb in San Diego

[Jonny Phillips]

San Diego City Council votes to limit Airbnb rentals to primary residences only.

I'm torn on this one.

The economic and investment side of it from a professional stand point is frustrating. Investors can get great returns on these properties. It brings outside tourists in and contributes on that front of the local economy.

A local side of it is that a lot of units and properties are being taken off the market from long term residents.

My wife and I used to rent out a room of our house on Airbnb when we lived in NY. New York state instituted a similar law. No short term rentals under 30 days unless it was your primary residence. We were still able to continue renting it out until we moved to SD. People doing this similar thing in San Diego won't have to stop but it sounds like there will be for fees and permits they have to apply for.

Thoughts on this very recent change?

SD Union-Tribune Article

[Jon Crosby]

Hi @Jonny Phillips!  Thanks for the post! 

As somebody that has been patiently waiting for a good STR opportunity in the SD area I'm (for lack of a better term) completely bummed. I actually just got back from SD and stayed in a little Airbnb near Mission Bay and can't believe they would make an overarching decision that would basically wipe out 80% of the available rental units. I find it funny that they lay a massive hammer on the STRs like this but yet they allow a bunch of scooters to be used everywhere and dumped on the sidewalks like trash each night. The Catamaran hotel is probably going to cost $1000/night now! :)

I have properties in Lake Tahoe where we have had to deal with permitting regulations on all sides, but even Tahoe didn't come down this hard by limiting it to only owner occupied homes.  They simply regulating the amount of permits, increased fees and adding enforcement to combat the major issues.  It would have been nice if they could find a little medium ground from where it is to what they are proposing in my humble opinion. 

My guess is there will be quite of a litigation to follow this and we haven't seen the end result.  One thing I learned from Tahoe is that the whole issue is constantly evolving and likely will for several years to come. 

Cheers!