New Rules on Short Term Rentals, Including Hotel Tax, Approved by RWC

A set of regulations for rentals under 30-days was approved by Redwood City council last week.  Among them are: a requirement for homeowners to live in the residence they are listing for rent, limiting the number of days a renter can stay in the home without a host present, prohibiting rentals for special events, requiring on-site parking for renters, and collecting transient occupancy tax (hotel tax) on short term rentals.

A 12% transient occupancy tax would be applied on top of what homeowners charge for their rentals.  The tax would be collected on short term rental platforms like Airbnb, who would periodically dole it out to the city.  The city estimates that this tax would generate roughly $400,000 annually, which would be dedicated entirely to an affordable housing fund.

Though the ordinance was approved by a 4-0 vote by city council last week, won't take effect until 2019.  It will be brought back to council for a second reading in February, as three Councilmembers were absent from last week's meeting.

For more information, read this San Mateo Daily Journal release

Redwood City Approves Affordable Housing Complex, Pursuing Another

Artists Rendering of Project Planned for 707 Bradford

Late last year, Redwood City approved a 7-story 117-unit residential complex for low-income seniors at 707 Bradford Street, and now they are close to commissioning proposals for additional affordable housing at a vacant lot on 611 Heller Street.  Both the Bradford and Heller lots were purchased by the city with redevelopment funds for affordable housing before state Redevelopment Agencies were dissolved in 2012.

Mid-Pen Housing, a non-profit affordable housing developer, is taking on the project at 707 Bradford, which will include an 8,000-square-foot child care facility to accommodate up to 70 children, and a new public trail along Redwood Creek with trees, lighting and bike racks. Redwood City Council is expected to authorize staff to obtain development proposals for the Heller lot sometime late January.

To ensure there are funds for similar projects in the future, City Council is also considering dedicating hotel tax revenue generated from short term rentals (i.e. Airbnb) towards affordable housing.

The council also recently approved new rules making it easier to build small living units on properties that include single-family residences. It also approved revisions to the Downtown Specific Plan that dedicated 375 units out of a a maximum of 2,500 to affordable housing.