The city of San Luis Obispo is targeting landlords who don’t have business licenses. Property owners who rent to tenants but don’t comply with the newly enforced regulation could face up to a $500 daily penalty after a month grace period.
The city will be sending out nearly 3,900 letters on Aug. 23 to suspected violators of the city ordinance. The letter will explain ordinances require property owners to obtain a business license if they’re going to rent out property. Rental owners who want to go legit will have to fill out a business license application and pay a $68 application fee. Home owners who make more than $50,000 a year from their rentals will pay 50 cents for every $1,000 in gross receipts.
The city discovered the 3,900 potential scofflaws by trawling through county property tax records and singling out owners who didn’t take a homeowner’s deduction. Such cases may involve a vacation home or something similar, but city officials say it’s likely most are used as rentals.
Unlike other cities in the county, San Luis Obispo requires landlords to have a business license, under an ordinance that’s been on the books since 1991.
The city collected $120,000 in business license fees from rental properties last year, and city officials anticipate they could nab $80,000 or more after the coming crackdown.
Latest in News
-
A civil rights question: San Luis Obispo and advocacy organizations work to settle a lawsuit about the way the city treats its homeless population
Mar 23, 2023 -
'St. Fratty's Day' returns with bigger crowd
Mar 23, 2023 -
Governments in San Luis Obispo County and beyond worry that a tax initiative on the 2024 ballot will undermine local voter power
Mar 23, 2023 - More »
Readers also liked…
-
Path to nature: Volunteers, nonprofits, and local governments work together to make open space accessible by foot, bike, and horse
Jul 21, 2022 -
Less of a yawn: School districts in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties prepare for school days with a later start
Aug 4, 2022 -
Coast Unified teachers upset over new position's salary and qualifications
Oct 20, 2022
More by Robert A. Mcdonald
-
Pismo Beach expansion postponed
Feb 2, 2012 -
The SLO mayor race begins
Jan 25, 2012 -
Arroyo Grande council puts cop HQ to vote
Jan 25, 2012 - More »
1010 Marsh Street • San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
PHONE/805/546-8208 • FAX/805/546-8641
