San Diego Residents Track Short-Term Rental Conversions

Local activists are filing thousands of reports to help curb the displacement of long-term tenants by vacation rentals.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Apartments

Bold vector editorial illustration of a miniature wooden house rotating on a pedestal, representing San Diego residential housing transitions. — San Diego watchdog groups are identifying homes converted into vacation rentals to address a regional shortage of over 134,000 affordable long-term housing units. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should cities restrict property owners from converting long-term rental units into short-term vacation rentals?

Watchdog groups in San Diego are using software and property records to identify homes being converted from long-term housing into short-term vacation rentals. This effort follows a regional shortage of 134,500 affordable homes for low-income renters.

Why it matters

The conversion of long-term rentals into vacation units removes inventory from a market already struggling with extreme affordability gaps. Activists argue that current regulations have not sufficiently prevented owners from prioritizing short-term gains over housing stability.

One local activist has filed 2,500 reports regarding suspected violations, while watchdog groups have submitted 2,000 more. To date, these efforts have resulted in at least 12 hosts losing their short-term rental operating licenses.

The players

Jay Goldberg

A software engineer who has filed 2,500 reports with city officials regarding short-term rental violations.

San Diego Housing Federation

A local advocacy organization that provides data on the region's 134,500-home affordable housing shortage.

Nice Neighbors

A watchdog group that uses software to map and report suspected short-term rental violations in San Diego.

Michael Flore

A former tenant whose rental experience in Pacific Beach highlights the impact of ownership changes on housing stability.

The details

Local groups identify units by cross-referencing short-term rental licenses with property tax and Airbnb data. The software scans for potential violations, allowing for targeted audits by city officials. This is critical in San Diego, where existing ordinances allow property owners to obtain short-term licenses following no-fault evictions or tenant buyouts, such as the case in a Pacific Beach complex where a 2009 lease of $625 was disrupted by a 2023 ownership change.

Michael Flore signed a lease for a rental unit in 2009.
The San Diego short-term rental ordinance took effect in May 2023.
New owners purchased the Pacific Beach apartment complex in 2023.
The article was published on September 23, 2026.

Money Landscape

Since the May 2023 enactment of the San Diego short-term rental ordinance, local housing stock remains under intense pressure. This activity marks a departure from standard market dynamics as residents take active roles in enforcing municipal compliance to protect remaining affordable units.

If you are currently a renter, ensure you are familiar with the 60-day notice requirements for lease non-renewals common in the area. Consult with a housing advocate or qualified legal professional to understand how your local rental ordinances affect your rights when building ownership changes.

The takeaway

Local activism is playing an increasing role in property oversight as housing supply remains constrained. Residents concerned about neighborhood shifts should track property disclosures and stay informed on city council meetings regarding vacation rental enforcement.