Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.
The City of San Diego strictly regulates short-term rentals through a tiered licensing system effective May 2023. Hosts must obtain a license for one of four tiers, with whole-home rentals (Tier 3) subject to a city-wide cap and lottery system.
To host an Airbnb in San Diego, you must first determine which 'Tier' your rental falls into. If you only rent your home occasionally (less than 20 days a year), you need a Tier 1 license. If you live in your home and rent out a room, you need Tier 2. If you are renting out your entire home, you'll need Tier 3 or 4, but be aware that these licenses are limited by a cap and you can only hold one license at a time. All hosts must pay a 10.5% room tax and display their license number on all listings.
Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.
Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM