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San Luis Obispo Landlords Question Proposed Rental Registry
City officials believe the program will lead to better maintained properties and rent stabilization, but landlords argue the costs will be passed on to tenants.
Feb. 24, 2026 at 6:07am
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San Luis Obispo city officials and local landlords are clashing over a proposed rental registry program that aims to root out bad landlords and create rent stabilization. The city believes the registry will result in properly maintained properties and controlled rent prices, but landlords argue the increased costs will simply be passed on to renters through higher rents.
Why it matters
The proposed rental registry is part of San Luis Obispo's broader goal of improving housing and neighborhood livability. However, landlords are concerned the program will negatively impact affordability in a city where 62% of housing units are rentals with an average monthly rent of $3,200.
The details
The rental registry would create a database of information about rental properties, including ownership and rent prices. The city plans to charge landlords an annual fee per housing unit to cover the software and staffing costs, similar to Berkeley's $8.7 million per year program where landlords pay $212-$344 annually per unit. While the city believes this will lead to better maintained properties and rent stabilization, landlords argue the increased costs will simply be passed on to tenants through higher rents.
- The San Luis Obispo City Council will hold a study session on the proposed rental registry on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
- Housing and neighborhood livability, including the rental registry, is listed as one of San Luis Obispo's major goals for 2025 through 2027.
The players
San Luis Obispo City Council
The local government body that is considering implementing the proposed rental registry program.
San Luis Obispo Landlords
Local property owners who are opposing the proposed rental registry, arguing the increased costs will be passed on to tenants.
What they’re saying
“In my opinion, as a landlord, it is a money grab plain and simple.”
— Steve Barasch, Landlord
What’s next
The San Luis Obispo City Council will decide whether to move forward with the proposed rental registry program after the study session on February 24, 2026.
The takeaway
The debate over the rental registry highlights the tension between San Luis Obispo's goal of improving housing affordability and livability, and landlords' concerns about increased costs being passed on to tenants. The eventual outcome will have significant implications for the city's rental market.
