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Mayor signs home-sharing ordinance to legalize select short-term rentals; sponsors say rules protect permanent residents
Summary
San Francisco Mayor signed legislation to regulate and legalize certain short-term home sharing for permanent residents, requiring registration, liability insurance and compliance with rent-control and safety rules while establishing fines for illegal full-time vacation rentals, officials said.
Mayor Ed Lee and Board President David Chu led a signing event for new regulations on short-term rentals intended to legalize limited home-sharing by permanent residents and increase enforcement against full-time vacation rentals.
Board President David Chu said the legislation is intended to address housing-affordability pressures caused by an unregulated growth in short-term rentals, and to create a clear enforcement and registration framework. "When the mayor signs this legislation, we will have a regulatory and enforcement structure that says no to you" (referring to full-time vacation rental operators), Chu said, explaining that the ordinance allows permanent residents (defined in the legislation as someone living in the city at least nine months per year) to register, carry liability insurance, comply with rent-control and safety rules and pay required taxes.
Speakers included several hosts who described how home sharing helped them stay in the city: Rodolfo Cansino, a senior and former teacher, said home sharing helped him cover retirement costs and contributed to neighborhood businesses; Nancy Niederhauser of Potrero Hill said hosting part-time allowed her to remain in her home and support long-term tenants. The mayor and board members said the law includes penalties for multiple offenses and significant fines (transcript references "thousand dollar per day fines or potential criminal penalties for multiple offenses").
Officials said the planning department and other city agencies will handle enforcement and that the law contains provisions to protect rent-controlled housing and neighborhood quality. Supporters at the event urged residents to follow posted registration rules and report illegal full-time rentals to the city.
Next steps: Implementation and enforcement will be conducted by the planning department and related city agencies; the transcript indicates additional administrative work and outreach was expected.
