East Palo Alto To Vote On Tax For Landlords To Fund Affordable Housing

CBS San Francisco

October 20, 2022

A ballot measure goes before East Palo Alto this November that would place a 2.5% tax on rental residential properties in an effort to fund affordable housing development and, if necessary, provide rental assistance to help residents avoid homelessness.

The Measure L tax increase would apply to residential property owners and could not legally be passed on to tenants via increased rent or a surcharge, according to city officials.

Currently, landlords and rental property owners with at least five rental units are taxed at 1.5% of their annual gross receipts. Measure L, in addition to raising the tax rate, would remove the exemption for property owners with fewer than five rental units.

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