Who Pays the Vacant Homes Tax?
October 28, 2024
October 28, 2024
Generally, anyone who owns a residential property that was vacant for more than 182 days this year. Buildings with 2 or fewer units, including single family homes, are exempt. Condos in buildings with 3 or more units are not. *
So if you have a rental property that was vacant for more than 6 months, or a pied-a-terre/vacation home in SF, you might be subject to the tax.
There are various exemptions for construction projects, death of the owner, etc. and you can find those HERE on the city website.
It depends on square footage. Rates for 2024 are:
|
Square Footage of Residential Unit |
2024 Tax Rate |
|
Less than 1,000 |
$2,500 |
|
1,000 to 2,000 |
$3,500 |
|
Greater than 2,000 |
$5,000 |
In subsequent years, the amount of the tax will double. So if you pay $5,000 in 2024 and the unit is again vacant for more than 182 days in 2025, the tax for 2025 will be $10,000. *
*As always, consult your tax professional to determine whether or not you are subject to this tax, and what amount you owe.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
January 27, 2026
In the last two weeks, there have been 7 home sales in the Sunset District. Closed listings range in price from $455,000 to $2,000,000. The closed listings had a media… Read more
January 27, 2026
In the last two weeks, there has been 1 home sale in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood. The closed listing sold at $1,850,000 with a price per square foot of… Read more
January 27, 2026
In the last two weeks, 1 home sold in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood. The closed listing sold at $4,750,000 with a price per square foot of $1,818.53.
January 20, 2026
Great news for Berkeley homeowners! ADUs (accessory dwelling units) have been big news in California recently. In October we wrote about how new statewide zoning chan… Read more
January 20, 2026
Over the years, many of our clients have successfully appealed their property tax assessments, reducing their assessed values and saving thousands of dollars. If you … Read more
January 20, 2026
When a design trend is new, it always seems like we'll love it forever. But you might have noticed the stark lines and cool greys of the 2010s have started giving way … Read more
January 19, 2026
Not All Inner East Bay Markets Moved in Lockstep in Q4 One of the most interesting takeaways from the fourth quarter was how differently the Inner East Bay performed … Read more
January 15, 2026
In the last two weeks, there has been 3 home sales in San Francisco's Westside neighborhoods. The closed listings range in price from $1,856,000 to $2,650,000. The clo… Read more
January 15, 2026
In the last two weeks, there have been 3 home sales in San Francisco's Portola and Excelsior neighborhood. The closed listings range in price from $980,000 to $1,250,0… Read more
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.
