San Diego’s Eviction Loophole Remains Open as Councilmember’s Term Nears End
San Diego still allows landlords to get short-term rental permits after illegally evicting tenants, and a City Council effort to close the gap has stalled. Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, who leads the effort, now plans to bring amendments to committee on Oct. 21, leaving only 59 days before she leaves office. The loophole lets owners convert long-term housing into more lucrative short-term rentals after no-fault evictions.
The gap permits owners to secure short-term rental approval after removing tenants through no-fault evictions, which state law restricts to specified reasons such as major renovations or owner/family occupancy. Since the issue surfaced, hundreds of residents have lost homes, yet San Diego cannot determine whether those removals produced short-term licenses.
Campbell now says amendments will go to committee Oct. 21, only 59 days before she leaves office. Work began in February under aide Venus Molina, slipped from July to August, and followed $22,000 in campaign support for Molina from rental and Airbnb interests. Lee and Campillo welcomed the hearing; Elo-Rivera voiced frustration.
The stalled fix may leave tenants facing greater housing insecurity, as units could continue shifting from long-term homes to short-term rentals. Neighbors and local renters may see fewer available homes and added pressure on prices. City officials could also face questions about enforcement and accountability, especially if eviction records and rental permits remain disconnected. Property owners and short-term operators may benefit from continued uncertainty, while council members and successors may inherit a harder-to-resolve policy gap.