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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. California
  6. ·
  7. San Diego County

San Diego County

Moderate
CaliforniaUpdated Mar 28, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in unincorporated San Diego County require an annual STRO license ($100) and a TOT certificate. Regulations limit occupancy to 2 per bedroom + 2 (max 10) and prohibit rentals in ADUs built after 2020.

Restriction level

Severity 25
Classification
Moderate
25
Severity

Why this classification

  • Limited to 1 property per owner
  • Tenants cannot host
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

If you're planning to rent out your San Diego property for less than 30 days at a time, you'll need a STRO license from the city. There are different types of licenses depending on whether you're renting out a whole home or just a room, and how often you plan to rent it out. Some licenses have limited availability and are subject to a lottery system, and there are caps on the number of whole-home rentals allowed in certain areas like Mission Beach. Make sure to collect and remit Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT).

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$100
Processing time2-4 weeks

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility7 rules
  • San Diego County does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • San Diego County allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwelling, Duplex.
  • San Diego County prohibits STRs in the following property types: ADUs (built after Jan 2020), Mobile homes, Travel trailers, Apartments, Multifamily (3+ units).
Requirements3 rules
  • San Diego County: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
  • San Diego County requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License". Apply through Planning & Development Services (PDS).
Application process1 rule
  • STR regulations overview for San Diego County: Short-term rentals in unincorporated San Diego County require an annual STRO license ($100) and a TOT certificate. Regulations limit occupancy to 2 per bedroom + 2 (max 10) and prohibit rentals in ADUs built after 2020.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • San Diego County charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).
Taxes1 rule
  • San Diego County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.08%.
Limits & restrictions1 rule
  • San Diego County: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • San Diego County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.
Penalties1 rule
  • San Diego County enforces penalties: First offense: $100. Maximum fine: $1,000.
Exemptions2 rules
  • San Diego County: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • San Diego County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).

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

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