Come June 2, San Diego voters will be asked whether they support a measure to levy a hefty tax on second homes that remain unoccupied for most of the year.
The “non-primary home” tax, as it is being called, would impose an initial annual levy of $8,000 on more than 5,000 homes that are vacant for 183 days or more — plus a $4,000 surcharge for corporate-owned dwellings. In subsequent years, the tax would rise to $10,000, with the surcharge increasing to $5,000. The idea beind the tax is that such homes are a contributor to the city’s affordability crisis and should be made available to aspiring renters and homebuyers.
While we know how many such homes there are in the city and what neighborhoods they’re located in, we don’t know much about the people who own them and how they feel about this proposed tax.
If you do own such a home and could be affected by this ballot measure, we’d love to hear from you for an upcoming articile we’re preparing on the proposal. It appears on the ballot as Measure A.
The city uses a very specific metric for determining which homes are non-primrary residences. It’s based on those owners who have sought a second home/vacation home exemption from paying the Rental Unit Business Tax because they do not use their properties as a primary residence or as a short- or long-term rental but instead keep them uninhabited for more than 182 days out of the year.
Please contact reporter Lori Weisberg at lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com or at 619-818-4696.