An act to amend Section 50991 of the Government Code, relating to local government. An act to add Article 9.3 (commencing with Section 8606) to Chapter 7 of Division 1 of, and to add Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 13996) to Part 4.7 of Division 3 of, Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to short-term rentals.
AB 1953 would create two state-run public registration systems to expand short-term rental availability in limited circumstances. One system would be administered by the Office of Emergency Services for declared states of emergency, and the other by the Office of Tourism for designated special event periods. Once a qualifying residential dwelling is registered, the owner or controlling party could immediately offer it as a short-term rental during the applicable emergency or event window, subject to regulations adopted by the state offices.
The bill defines “eligible residential dwelling” broadly, but excludes income-restricted affordable housing, units withdrawn from rent or lease under state law, and certain nontraditional or unpermitted spaces such as retail areas, shipping containers, RVs, boats, and garage or closet conversions without permits. For special events, the bill specifically references the Olympic Games and allows the Office of Tourism to designate other events that would benefit from added lodging capacity. The office would also have to post special event periods online at least 180 days in advance.
AB 1953 would preempt local restrictions by prohibiting cities, counties, and other political subdivisions from enforcing rules that block a registered dwelling from operating as a short-term rental during a declared emergency or special event period. The bill expressly states that this is a matter of statewide concern and applies to all cities, including charter cities. At the same time, it preserves generally applicable laws such as taxes, noise rules, and nuisance regulations. The bill also makes a nonsubstantive change to the Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025’s definition section in Government Code Section 50991.
The bill’s stated purpose is strongly supportive of expanding temporary lodging supply for disaster response and major events, and the legislative findings frame the measure as promoting public safety, housing flexibility, and tourism revenue. The available context shows no recorded votes or committee debate, and the hearing was canceled at the author’s request, so there is no documented floor or committee sentiment beyond the bill’s pro-expansion framing. Overall, the measure appears designed to advance a state-level short-term rental policy rather than a local-option approach.
The main point of contention is likely local control versus state preemption. The bill would override local short-term rental bans or caps during emergencies and special events, which could concern cities and counties that regulate short-term rentals to address housing supply, neighborhood impacts, or enforcement capacity. Another likely issue is the breadth of the Office of Tourism’s discretion to designate “any other special event” that would benefit from additional lodging capacity. Supporters would emphasize emergency housing and tourism benefits, while opponents may focus on housing availability, local land-use authority, and the risk of expanding short-term rentals in ways that could affect long-term rental markets. No formal opposition or support is reflected in the provided committee record.