San Diego Leaders Propose Ordinance Capping Rental 'Junk Fees' to Protect Renters

San Diego city and county leaders, including City Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera and County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe, have jointly proposed the Residential Rental Price Gouging, Fee Exploitation, and Cost Transparency Ordinance to protect renters from excessive fees that increase housing costs. The ordinance aims to cap additional rental fees at no more than 5% of monthly rent, ban fees for essential services like pest control and trash collection, eliminate pet fees, and require landlords to fully disclose all rental costs in listings and lease agreements. This initiative responds to the high housing cost burden in San Diego, where close to half the population rents and around 30% spend over half their income on housing, with rents rising more than 50% since 2018. The proposal also seeks to prevent duplicate or excessive screening and processing fees, promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability in the rental market. Elo-Rivera and Montgomery Steppe plan to introduce the ordinance at upcoming city and county committee meetings in early November. These measures are part of broader efforts to address the affordability crisis exacerbated by "junk fees" that disproportionately impact vulnerable groups such as women, immigrants, and those without disabilities.