Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in San Diego?

**Yes**, you need a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license to rent your property. You need to determine which of the four tiers your rental falls into and apply for the appropriate license. The application fee is $25. Operating without this license can result in penalties.

What is the TOT tax rate in San Diego?

**10.5%** is the current Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate for short-term rentals in San Diego. You need to collect this tax from your guests and remit it to the city. Some platforms may collect this tax automatically, so verify your settings. Failure to remit this tax can result in penalties.

Are short-term rentals allowed in San Diego?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in San Diego, but they are strictly regulated. You need to obtain the correct tier license for your rental type. Whole-home rentals (Tier 3) are subject to a city-wide cap and lottery system, so availability may be limited. Check regulations to ensure compliance.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in San Diego?

**Yes**, San Diego requires that short-term rentals be the host's primary residence. This means you must live in the property for more than six months out of the year to be eligible to rent it out on a short-term basis. This requirement is part of the STRO licensing system.

Can renters host on Airbnb in San Diego?

**Yes**, tenants can host on Airbnb in San Diego, but they must still obtain the required STRO license. You need to ensure that your lease agreement allows for short-term rentals and comply with all city regulations. As a tenant, you are responsible for all licensing and tax requirements.

San Diego

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Apr 18, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

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.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Severe night cap: 20 nights/year
Limited to 1 property per owner
Permit required
Reporting required
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

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.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit20/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$25

Processing timeInstant to 30 days depending on tier lottery

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You can only hold ONE STRO license at a time in the city.
2Tier 3 (Whole Home) licenses are capped at 1% of housing stock and distributed via lottery.
3A license is tied to a specific person and a specific property; they are not transferable.
4Stays of 30 consecutive days or more are not subject to STRO regulations.
5Mission Beach has its own special tier (Tier 4) with a higher cap of 30%.
6ADUs (Granny flats) built after 2021 are generally prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.
7You must provide a 'Good Neighbor' notice to all neighbors within 100 feet of your property.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility11 rules

San Diego: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
San Diego allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Lessees may apply as hosts if the lease explicitly allows short-term subleasing.
San Diego allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family residence, Condo, Duplex, Apartment.

Requirements16 rules

San Diego STR warning: Whole-home rentals (Tier 3) are capped at 1% of the city's housing stock (excluding Mission Beach).
San Diego requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License". Apply through Office of the City Treasurer. Processing time: Varies; Tiers 3 and 4 were issued via lottery.. Renewal is required.

Application process8 rules

San Diego STR permit - Step 4: Apply for STRO License. Select the appropriate Tier and submit the application via the Accela portal. Required documents: TOT Certificate #, RUBT #, Proof of Residency. Time: Varies. Cost: 25.

Fees & costs1 rule

San Diego charges a registration fee of $25 (biennial). Extended/additional fee: $1000 (Application fee is $25; License fee varies by tier: Tier 1 ($100), Tier 2 ($225), Tier 3/4 ($1,000). Fees are biennial.).

Taxes2 rules

San Diego: TOT rate increases to 11.75%–13.75% on May 1, 2025, based on your location zone.
San Diego charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 10.5%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit 10.5% TOT for San Diego listings, but hosts must still register for a TOT certificate.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

San Diego occupancy calculation: 2 adults per bedroom + 1 additional adult; max total 10 adults.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
San Diego enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
San Diego limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

San Diego requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Good Neighbor Policy disclosure, Signage visible from the sidewalk, Human Trafficking awareness training.

Penalties3 rules

San Diego: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
San Diego enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $1,000. Second offense: $2,500. Third offense: $5,000. Daily fine: Up to $1,000. Maximum fine: Varies by violation type. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions4 rules

San Diego: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
San Diego exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
San Diego: Quarterly reports are mandatory for Tier 3 and 4 hosts; Tier 1 and 2 are exempt from reporting.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for San Diego

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Obtain Business Tax Certificate

1-3 days

Official resource

Step 2

Determine Tier

Choose between Tier 1 (Part-time), Tier 2 (Home Share), Tier 3 (Whole Home), or Tier 4 (Mission Beach).

1 day

Official resource

Step 3

Apply for STRO License

Submit application through the City's online portal during open enrollment or as available.

1-30 days$25

Documents needed

TOT Certificate
Proof of Residency

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

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

San Diego

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Apr 18, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 5 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 5

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Severe night cap: 20 nights/year
Limited to 1 property per owner
Permit required
Reporting required
Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit20/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$25

Processing timeInstant to 30 days depending on tier lottery

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You can only hold ONE STRO license at a time in the city.
2Tier 3 (Whole Home) licenses are capped at 1% of housing stock and distributed via lottery.
3A license is tied to a specific person and a specific property; they are not transferable.
4Stays of 30 consecutive days or more are not subject to STRO regulations.
5Mission Beach has its own special tier (Tier 4) with a higher cap of 30%.
6ADUs (Granny flats) built after 2021 are generally prohibited from being used as short-term rentals.
7You must provide a 'Good Neighbor' notice to all neighbors within 100 feet of your property.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility11 rules

San Diego: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
San Diego allows tenants to host STRs. Requirements: Lessees may apply as hosts if the lease explicitly allows short-term subleasing.
San Diego allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family residence, Condo, Duplex, Apartment.

Requirements16 rules

San Diego STR warning: Whole-home rentals (Tier 3) are capped at 1% of the city's housing stock (excluding Mission Beach).
San Diego requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License". Apply through Office of the City Treasurer. Processing time: Varies; Tiers 3 and 4 were issued via lottery.. Renewal is required.

Application process8 rules

San Diego STR permit - Step 4: Apply for STRO License. Select the appropriate Tier and submit the application via the Accela portal. Required documents: TOT Certificate #, RUBT #, Proof of Residency. Time: Varies. Cost: 25.

Fees & costs1 rule

San Diego charges a registration fee of $25 (biennial). Extended/additional fee: $1000 (Application fee is $25; License fee varies by tier: Tier 1 ($100), Tier 2 ($225), Tier 3/4 ($1,000). Fees are biennial.).

Taxes2 rules

San Diego: TOT rate increases to 11.75%–13.75% on May 1, 2025, based on your location zone.
San Diego charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 10.5%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit 10.5% TOT for San Diego listings, but hosts must still register for a TOT certificate.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

San Diego occupancy calculation: 2 adults per bedroom + 1 additional adult; max total 10 adults.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
San Diego enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
San Diego limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

San Diego requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Good Neighbor Policy disclosure, Signage visible from the sidewalk, Human Trafficking awareness training.

Penalties3 rules

San Diego: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
San Diego enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $1,000. Second offense: $2,500. Third offense: $5,000. Daily fine: Up to $1,000. Maximum fine: Varies by violation type. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions4 rules

San Diego: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
San Diego exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
San Diego: Quarterly reports are mandatory for Tier 3 and 4 hosts; Tier 1 and 2 are exempt from reporting.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for San Diego

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Obtain Business Tax Certificate

1-3 days

Official resource

Step 2

Determine Tier

Choose between Tier 1 (Part-time), Tier 2 (Home Share), Tier 3 (Whole Home), or Tier 4 (Mission Beach).

1 day

Official resource

Step 3

Apply for STRO License

Submit application through the City's online portal during open enrollment or as available.

1-30 days$25

Documents needed

TOT Certificate
Proof of Residency

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Obtain Business Tax Certificate

Determine Tier

Apply for STRO License

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in San Diego?

2What is the TOT tax rate in San Diego?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in San Diego?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in San Diego?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in San Diego?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Obtain Business Tax Certificate

Determine Tier

Apply for STRO License

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in San Diego?

2What is the TOT tax rate in San Diego?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in San Diego?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in San Diego?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in San Diego?

Disclaimer