Oakland had a plan to regulate Airbnbs and Vrbos. Why has it taken 9 years?

In April 2023, Oakland’s building department floated a proposal to regulate short-term rentals — Airbnbs, Vrbos, and similar kinds of lodging.

At meetings with housing advocates, labor unions, and short-term rental companies, city staff presented the rough plan : short-term rentals would be legalized for the first time in Oakland’s history, but strictly limited in how they could operate. Hosts could list their own residences on a rental platform, but not other properties they owned. And they could only rent their home for up to 90 nights each year.

After the 2023 meetings, a city spokesperson said Oakland would hold a public workshop in early 2024, ahead of presenting the new regulations to the City Council that spring or summer for approval.

But none of that ended up happening.

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