San Diego, CA — June 4, 2026 — The San Diego Association of REALTORS® (SDAR) today applauded the defeat of Measure A, the City of San Diego’s proposed residential vacancy tax, calling the outcome a victory for homeowners, property rights, and sound housing policy. Based on unofficial election returns, San Diego voters rejected Measure A by a significant margin.
Throughout the campaign, SDAR and a broad coalition of housing advocates, homeowners, taxpayers, small businesses, and housing providers raised serious concerns about Measure A’s potential consequences, including:
No guaranteed housing outcome: Measure A did not guarantee lower rents, new affordable housing, or a dedicated housing fund.
New costs on property owners: Measure A would have imposed a significant annual tax on qualifying homes.
Privacy and enforcement concerns: The measure would have required the City to determine whether homes were occupied and whether property owners qualified for exemptions.
Administrative uncertainty: Many implementation details, forms, rules, and enforcement procedures would have been developed after voter approval.
Legal risk: Similar vacancy-tax proposals in other jurisdictions have faced litigation and uncertainty.
“San Diego voters sent a clear message that punitive taxes are not the answer to our region’s housing challenges,” said Karen Van Ness, 2026 President of the San Diego Association of REALTORS®. “Measure A would have imposed significant new costs on property owners while creating uncertainty and administrative burdens without addressing the root causes of our housing shortage. We are grateful that voters recognized the importance of protecting property rights and supporting policies that encourage housing production rather than punitive taxation.”
SDAR opposed Measure A because it would have created a new bureaucracy while failing to guarantee lower rents, new affordable housing, or meaningful progress on San Diego’s housing supply shortage.
“The defeat of Measure A gives San Diego an opportunity to refocus on policies that actually address housing affordability,” Van Ness added. “Community leaders, housing stakeholders, and policymakers should work together on meaningful solutions that increase housing supply, reduce barriers to development, expand homeownership opportunities, and improve affordability for all San Diegans.”
SDAR thanked its members, coalition partners, and voters who participated in the public discussion and helped educate the community about Measure A’s potential consequences.
With the defeat of Measure A, SDAR reaffirmed its commitment to address housing access and affordability, advancing policies that:
Expand housing opportunities;
Support homeownership;
Protect private property rights;
Reduce barriers to housing production; and
Strengthen neighborhoods throughout San Diego County.
About the San Diego Association of REALTORS®
The San Diego Association of REALTORS® (SDAR) is one of the largest REALTOR® associations in California, representing thousands of real estate professionals dedicated to promoting private property rights, homeownership, and a strong real estate market throughout the San Diego region.
Media Contact
Janelle Morrow
858-715-8000
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