California should tax empty homes and dead storefronts
California is considering a vacancy tax to address the issue of empty homes and storefronts. San Diego's Measure A, which will be voted on soon, aims to charge homeowners for vacant properties, with revenue directed to the city's general fund. This measure highlights the broader problem of valuable spaces sitting empty during a housing crisis and seeks to encourage property owners to utilize their spaces effectively.
- ▪San Diego's Measure A proposes a tax on homeowners if their properties are vacant for more than 182 days a year.
- ▪If passed, the tax could generate about $24 million annually for the city's general fund.
- ▪The measure aims to challenge the economic behavior that allows valuable spaces to remain empty during a housing crisis.
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California should tax empty homes and dead storefronts Jason Weisberger 10:36 am Fri May 29, 2026 Katherine Welles/shutterstock San Diego's vacancy tax points to a much bigger California problem A lot of California's problems are made worse when homes and storefronts become investments rather than places where people live, work, shop, and gather. San Diego's Measure A is a vacancy tax aimed at one very expensive form of killing communities for personal gain. San Diego residents will vote on Measure A next week, a controversial tax that would charge homeowners if their properties are vacant for more than 182 days a year. If passed, it would go into effect in 2027 and charge up to $8,000 the first year and $10,000 the next, with additional fees for commercial property owners.
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