San Francisco lawmakers tentatively approve measure that would legalize Airbnb rentals

San Francisco lawmakers have tentatively approved a measure that would allow city residents to rent out their homes to travelers on sites such as Airbnb.

The Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 on Tuesday in favor of short-term rentals with some restrictions, including a cap on the number of days an entire home can be rented out each year.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/1qhzjAE) that a second vote is still needed for the measure to go into effect. But that is expected to be perfunctory.

Supervisor David Chiu, who crafted the regulation, said he was trying to strike a balance between preserving affordable housing and allowing residents to earn extra income. Critics had called for more stringent restrictions.

San Francisco currently bans residential rentals of less than 30 days.