Council introduces ordinance to repeal rental registration and rent-stabilization chapters

The Half Moon Bay City Council introduced an ordinance on April 21 to repeal Municipal Code Chapter 6.04 (residential rental registration) and Chapter 6.06 (residential rent stabilization) and to amend the definitions section to remove related terms. Interim City Attorney Denise Fasano explained the ordinance is a simple text repeal, includes CEQA findings, and would become effective 30 days after publication.

Fasano summarized the timeline: council direction in November 2023 led to ordinance adoption in 2024, updates followed in 2025 and early 2026, and at the March 17 meeting the majority directed staff to prepare a repeal. "The proposed ordinance before you tonight...repeals chapter 6.04 in their entirety and 6.06 in their entirety," Fasano said.

Vice Mayor Penrose called the forthcoming action "a sad day" and warned of impacts to people facing housing instability. Public commenters urged deliberative process and stakeholder engagement. Councilmember (mover) introduced the ordinance by title and motioned to waive further reading; the motion passed on introduction by a roll call vote (3 yes, 2 no). No final adoption vote occurred at the meeting; the item was introduced consistent with the required procedural step to bring the ordinance back for later reading and possible adoption.

Council members debating the repeal also discussed pivoting to service-based tenant support, which staff is to explore separately. Staff said the ordinance contains standard provisions about effectiveness, publication and CEQA.

The council did not adopt the ordinance tonight; introduction means staff will return with the full ordinance and next steps for public review and final action.