City of San Diego — Anti-Competitive Automated Rent Price-Fixing Prohibition Ordinance (O-21955)
San Diego, CA · San Diego Ord. O-21955, adopted May 13, 2025, eff. June 12, 2025
San Diego City Council adopted Ordinance O-21955 on May 13, 2025 (effective June 12, 2025), prohibiting landlords from using algorithmic tools that rely on nonpublic competitor data — current lease rates, occupancy levels, and vacancy strategies from competing properties — to recommend residential rent prices. Public data tools and affordable-housing compliance software are permitted. Penalties reach $1,000 per violation per month per property. Tenants can sue for damages and recover attorney's fees. Before the ban, an estimated 22 percent of San Diego County landlords reported using tools such as RealPage.
Technical detail
San Diego Ord. O-21955 (May 13, 2025, eff. June 12, 2025): prohibits the use, sale, or licensing of algorithmic devices that use nonpublic competitor data to recommend residential rental prices or occupancy levels. Applies to all residential properties; no size exemption. Exceptions: publicly available rent data tools, aggregated anonymous data, affordable housing regulatory compliance software. Penalties: civil fine of up to $1,000/violation/month/property. Private right of action: tenants may sue for actual damages and attorneys' fees. Enforcement: City Attorney and aggrieved tenants.
Who is protected: San Diego residential renters subject to algorithmically coordinated rent pricing
Who must comply: Residential landlords and rent-setting algorithm vendors operating in San Diego
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2025-06-12 |
| Enacted | 2025-05-13 |
| Citation | San Diego Ord. O-21955, adopted May 13, 2025, eff. June 12, 2025 |
| Enforced by | San Diego City Attorney; private right of action for tenants |
| Private right of action | Yes — individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Up to $1,000 per violation per month per rental property |
| Topics | housing and credit decisions · automated decision-making |
| Last verified | 2026-06-26 |
| Official source | City of San Diego — Ordinance O-21955 (Anti-Competitive Automated Rent Price-Fixing Prohibition) ↗ |
More AI rules in San Diego, CA
- San Diego Unified School District · In effect
- San Diego Surveillance Tech Ordinance · In effect
- San Diego GenAI Policy · In effect
Related housing and credit decisions rules elsewhere
- FCRA (AI in credit & background checks) · In effect
- ECOA / Regulation B (AI credit discrimination) · In effect
- DOJ-RealPage Consent Decree (algorithmic rent) · In effect
- CFPB Circ. 2023-03 (AI credit) · In effect
- HUD FHEO Tenant Screening AI · In effect
- HUD FHEO Digital Advertising AI · In effect
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction — every entry must carry a verifiable official source.