Vacant home tax heads to San Diego ballot

San Diego's empty home tax just pulled off a Lazarus act.

After the City Council's Rules Committee killed Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera's proposed vacancy tax back in January, many thought the controversial measure was buried for good. Turns out San Diego voters are getting the final say after all.

The proposal — which would slap a hefty annual tax on empty second homes and vacation rentals sitting idle while locals struggle to find housing — is now headed to the ballot. The revival marks a dramatic turn in one of the city's most contentious housing battles in recent memory.

The stakes are real. San Diego has roughly 5,000-plus empty second homes and thousands more vacation rentals, many clustered in Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Mission Beach, and downtown. Meanwhile, the average San Diegan is paying through the nose for rent while those properties sit dark most of the year.

Supporters argue the tax would nudge property owners to either rent long-term or sell, easing a housing crunch that has priced out teachers, nurses, and working families from the city they call home. Critics — led by the Chamber of Commerce and tourism industry — warn it could gut the visitor economy that funds city services.

Both sides have a point, and now it'll come down to what San Diegans actually want. The measure going to voters signals that Council members recognized the public deserves a voice on a question this consequential.

With housing costs showing no signs of cooling, San Diego voters may be ready to take a swing — even if it's an imperfect one.

Sources: San Diego Union-Tribune | KPBS | CBS 8 | Times of San Diego