San Francisco measure to curtail Airbnb, short-term home shares qualifies for November ballot

A proposal to strictly curtail short-term home rentals in San Francisco has qualified for the Nov. 3 ballot.

The ballot measure limits home-shares to 75 nights a year and requires hosting platforms, such as Airbnb, to list only units that are registered with the city.

Airbnb is the biggest player in San Francisco, with nearly 5,000 active listings at the end of April.

Ballot proponents say unregulated home-shares take units off the market, adding to the city's tight housing stock. Opponents of the measure say people who rent to tourists often need the extra money for bills.

Current law, implemented in February, caps entire-home rentals at 90 days a year. Hosted rentals are unlimited. The law also requires that hosts register with the city.

About 700 people have applied to register.