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Berkeley holds long debate on vacancy tax; council continues item for more analysis
Summary
Vice Mayor Harrison presented a proposed vacancy tax aimed at bringing long‑term vacant units back to market. Council members and dozens of public commenters debated exemptions, enforcement, equity, and projected revenue; council continued the item to August 3 for more work.
Vice Mayor Harrison presented a draft ordinance establishing an annual vacancy tax on residential units that are not available to rent for at least 182 days in a calendar year, with exemptions for owner‑occupants, low‑income seniors, probate, units under construction and certain disaster‑damaged dwellings. Finance preliminarily estimated the measure could raise roughly $5.8 million–$8.7 million a year based on rent‑board data for units flagged as not available to rent.
Harrison framed the proposal as an incentive to put existing housing back on the market and said the tax would primarily target corporate and non‑resident owners who leave…
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