By Iris Craige, Assistant Director of Policy and Advocacy
March 18, 2026
On March 24, the Los Angeles City Council’s Planning and Land Use (PLUM) Committee will vote on a proposed Vacation Rental Ordinance (VRO). From SAJE’s perspective, the reasons to oppose this proposed ordinance are clear: it would expand an industry that is already taking rental housing off the market, displacing tenants, and making Los Angeles less affordable, as we have previously documented. The Vacation Rental Ordinance would only exacerbate these existing harms.
Los Angeles already has about 9,000 short-term rentals, and even at this scale, renters are paying the price, roughly $810 more per year in rent. The VRO would allow up to 31,000 additional units to be converted into short-term rentals, putting tens of thousands of homes at risk of being removed from the long-term rental market.
Proponents of the Vacation Rental Ordinance (unsurprisingly, it’s funded by Airbnb) claim that more short-term rentals would generate $41 million in revenue for the city. However, a recent study by Better Neighbors Los Angeles shows that if the city just enforced the rules that are already in place, we’d be generating $5.2 billion in fines, and we could still potentially generate tens of millions per month through enforcement alone. That’s because more than 60% of STRs in L.A. are illegal, but enforcement is weak, and the city isn’t collecting fines. So why not focus on fixing that to raise revenue for the city, rather than expanding a system that removes residential units from the market, prioritizing tourists and corporate profit over housing stability.
This ordinance presents City Council members with a choice: protect housing for residents, or expand a system that prioritizes corporate platforms and real estate speculation. For SAJE, the answer is clear—housing should be for people, not profit.
Take Action!
We’re joining Better Neighbors LA in calling on the PLUM Committee to reject the Vacation Rental Ordinance, enforce existing laws, and protect tenants. Join us on March 24 and make your voice heard.
RSVP for the March 24 PLUM Committee Hearing and oppose the Vacation Rental Ordinance in person:
https://actionnetwork.org/events/protect-la-housing-plum/
Or, write a letter to council opposing the Vacation Rental Ordinance:
