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No more vacation rentals in San Francisco
Bad news for those of you planning on renting an apartment for your next trip to San Francisco: it's illegal. It seems the city's long forgotten ordinance against residents renting out their apartments to tourists has of late been reinforced. The 1981 ordinance prohibits landlords from renting out to a tenant for a period of less than 30 days. Why would San Fran care if landlords rent their apartments out as vacation rentals? Well, the city argues, the vacay rental market takes valuable housing off the rental market, making it more difficult for people to find affordable places to live. A recent survey of one of the city's largest vacation rental services found around 500 properties available.
San Francisco's enforcement of the vacation rental policy mirrors a decision earlier this year from New York state governor David Paterson to ban short-term vacation rentals in New York, and could signal the beginning of an anti-vacation rental legislative trend. And that could have a big impact on vacation rental industry companies like HomeAway and VRBO.
Tourists have gravitated to the vacation rental market in recent years in part because it's more economical than staying a hotel: Prices are typically around half as much as hotels -- and with added living amenities like kitchens and living spaces.
[photo by Flickr user permanently scatterbrained]
Filed under: North America, United States, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Josh Hostels Aug 17th 2010 4:14PM
I wonder if that will have any effect on hostels (like the NYC bill will).
spc Aug 18th 2010 2:09PM
Dirty city anyway!
Teresa Aug 18th 2010 3:47PM
Wow, Dirty CIty.....Hummmm I wonder where you live? San Francisco is beautiful has many things to offer and do. People are nice and yes there are parts that are dirty, but most large cities have a dirty part. Well, even some people have dirty homes. So be nice and look at the positive!
Babymarie48 Aug 18th 2010 2:25PM
You can make a law against using apartments for short rentals if you want to, but most people will find a way around it!! The hotels are becoming so expensive that you are going to either lose business or have to repeal that law!! I know the new law would discourage me from vacationing in San Francisco. Not everyone is Rich!!
Evil Jack Aug 18th 2010 2:31PM
AGAIN - We have BIG GOVERMENT stepping in to tell us what we can do wiith our OWN PROPERTY in what should be a legal agreement between two parties. WHEN WILL WE MAKE THIS STOP??
Dave Aug 18th 2010 4:03PM
Jack, the law is from 1981 all the City is doing is enforcing it. I'm sure most property owners didn't know of the law, but their ignorance doesn't make it ok to break it. If I owned property and lived next door, I sure as hell wouldn't want weekend vacationers coming in and out all the time...get a hotel.
rascal Aug 18th 2010 7:43PM
You are so right, Jack. You can't rent your own property to someone but you can build a mosque wherever you want. The powers that be control whatever suits them, whenever it suits them. Remember: FOLLOW THE MONEY!
pmeun69023 Aug 18th 2010 2:35PM
PROPERTY RIGHTS??? OH YEAH!!!! obama recently "discovered" property rights when it came time for the muslims to put a mosk at ground zero. What about this?? SILENCE!!
Joe Aug 18th 2010 4:06PM
What do you mean "silence" It's in the news everyday?
Bob Aug 18th 2010 7:58PM
You're a fool.... comparing a rental law that was enacted in 1981 in S.F. to an issue of freedom of religion and expression in NYC... and then blaming the President of The United States for both. What a clown you are! Local issues of local governance.... and The Constitution... all issues fobviously much too deep for a freakin' half-wit... and then to insinuate that any of it is The Presidents fault....LOL.... I'll bet you're not even a registered voter are you?
T. Vance Aug 18th 2010 2:41PM
BOYCOTT these communist city governments.
Kent Aug 18th 2010 2:45PM
I can see the point of the ordiance, when a landlord rents out an entire building for short-term stays.
On the other hand, what if an apartment dweller is going on a long trip to Europe, say for work. Why not rent out the apartment while he's gone? After all, the apartment is still on the long term lease.
Some have speculated that these bans are due to lobbying by the hotel industry, which are trying to get people to stay in hotels during a bad economy.
DaveM Aug 18th 2010 5:24PM
A tourist city like San Francisco receives large amounts of revenue from the hotel bed taxes. Vacation rentals by private owners would reduces this source of income. I have heard that this is the real reason behind enforcing the ban.
Antonio Aug 18th 2010 2:46PM
SF OUTLAWS PET SHOPS, BOTTLED WATER, FAST FOOD, PLASTIC BOTTLES, NOW RENTAL VACATION APARTMENTS. WHAT'S NEXT? NO WONDER CAL. AND SF IS IN SUCH AWFUL SHAPE. ONLY GAYS, ILLEGALS, AND DEMOCRATS WOULD WANT TO LIVE THERE. NO OFFENSE TO THE GAYS, BUT I HAD TO INCLUDE THEM TO MAKE THIS LIST MEANINGFUL.
Teresa Aug 18th 2010 3:46PM
Next time you pick on a state make sure you know about the state. Yes we have gays and so does your state. Plastic bottle did you read the amount of problems that occurs from plastic bottle and the marine life. No, I do not live in SF I live in California we have the economy of many small countries. Our population is the same as many small countries.
Where are you from? AR, or Alaska and I bet you voted for Palin?
Do not make comments about anything unless you know the facts.
I am proud of California, it is beautiful or weather is nice....
Paul Aug 18th 2010 5:55PM
I do live in the state and have lived and worked in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Antonio, you are correct in that all these laws are present in SFO. We are in trouble, as most city/state governments across the USA because they can't say no to every little give away program. The laws are just an intrusion by government to control the general population and line city/state coffers. If government would just learn to live "within" their budgets like most of us regular peeps, we would not have this problem, nor these laws the infringe on our rights as property owners.
Shockman Aug 18th 2010 6:52PM
Ha ha I live in SF, you can get all the plastic bottles & fast food you want, there's McDonalds, Taco Bell/KFC, loads of Subways, etc. Look it up. They're just not on every other street, so that some local small business fast food can compete a little bit. Plus business is booming and the place is crawling with tourists and always will. Don't worry, we're not commie Europe, we're more part of America than you want to think, but whatever, we'll keep innovating so that we can still generate the Federal tax revenue that subsidizes whatever state you live in.
Linda Aug 18th 2010 8:02PM
The San Andreas might cure the San Francisco problem
XP Aug 18th 2010 7:55PM
I'm so glad I moved from there 9 years ago....they are disgusting.
ANG666 Aug 18th 2010 3:12PM
Evil Jack has it right! SCREW the government and its "laws" written on toilet paper. The reason for this "Law" is they cant collect taxes on the rent, as well as require people to get a rental "permit" which comes with a nice fee attached to it. But before you can get 1 of those, You must have the rental inspected by 1 of there inspectors. The inspector will ALWAYS find something wrong which they are supposed to do. Keeps the local economy going. PEOPLE, DO NOT ABIDE BY THIS LAW. rent your apartments and pocket the cash! Works great for me!