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Short-term rental rules

Running an Airbnb in San Diego, California

San Diego operates a four-tier Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) licence system, with whole-home non-primary licences capped at roughly 1 percent of housing stock. Guests pay a city transient occupancy tax, higher in tourism marketing district zones.

11 of 13 fields confirmedLast checked 18 Jul 2026 Lodging tax in San Diego

The rules

Every field, with its source

Anything not confirmed on an official source shows as Verify with jurisdiction rather than a guess.

Licence or permit required
YesReported

An STRO licence (Tiers 1 to 4) is required.

Source
Primary residence required
NoReported

Whole-home non-primary rentals are permitted under Tier 3 and Tier 4, subject to caps.

Source
Annual night cap
About 20 nights per yearReported

Tier 1 covers non-primary rentals for fewer than 20 rental days per year; higher tiers have no night cap but are licence-capped.

Source
Zoning restricted
Yes, limited to certain zonesReported

Mission Beach whole-home rentals fall under a separate Tier 4 with its own cap.

Source
Permit number shown on listing
Verify with jurisdictionUnverified
Register or apply
https://www.sandiego.gov/treasurer/short-term-residential-occupancyReported
Source
Enforcement notes
Tier 3 whole-home licences are capped at roughly 1 percent of the city housing stock; Tier 4 Mission Beach is capped at about 30 percent of units, with a waitlist.Reported
Source

Check eligibility

Can you run each type of STR in San Diego?

A deterministic read of the cited rules for each common use type. When a governing rule is unknown, the verdict says so rather than guessing.

My primary residence (home-share)

Allowed with a permit

Short-term rentals are allowed in San Diego once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.

  • A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
  • Register or apply here: https://www.sandiego.gov/treasurer/short-term-residential-occupancy
  • There is an annual cap of about 20 nights for non-primary or unhosted rentals.
  • Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
  • Tier 3 whole-home licences are capped at roughly 1 percent of the city housing stock; Tier 4 Mission Beach is capped at about 30 percent of units, with a waitlist.

Confidence: high. You live there and rent it while away or rent a room.

A whole second home / investment property

Allowed with a permit

Short-term rentals are allowed in San Diego once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.

  • A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
  • Register or apply here: https://www.sandiego.gov/treasurer/short-term-residential-occupancy
  • There is an annual cap of about 20 nights for non-primary or unhosted rentals.
  • Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
  • Tier 3 whole-home licences are capped at roughly 1 percent of the city housing stock; Tier 4 Mission Beach is capped at about 30 percent of units, with a waitlist.

Confidence: high. A dedicated STR that is not your primary residence.

An ADU, basement or garage unit

Allowed with a permit

Short-term rentals are allowed in San Diego once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.

  • A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
  • Register or apply here: https://www.sandiego.gov/treasurer/short-term-residential-occupancy
  • There is an annual cap of about 20 nights for non-primary or unhosted rentals.
  • Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
  • Tier 3 whole-home licences are capped at roughly 1 percent of the city housing stock; Tier 4 Mission Beach is capped at about 30 percent of units, with a waitlist.

Confidence: high. An accessory dwelling on your property.

Unhosted, whole-unit, no owner on site

Allowed with a permit

Short-term rentals are allowed in San Diego once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.

  • A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.
  • Register or apply here: https://www.sandiego.gov/treasurer/short-term-residential-occupancy
  • There is an annual cap of about 20 nights for non-primary or unhosted rentals.
  • Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.
  • Tier 3 whole-home licences are capped at roughly 1 percent of the city housing stock; Tier 4 Mission Beach is capped at about 30 percent of units, with a waitlist.

Confidence: high. The strictest category in most cities.

LodgeDeck reports publicly available short-term rental rules and lodging tax rates and cites the source of each field. It is not legal or tax advice and it does not replace your own review. Ordinances and tax rates change often and automated collection can lag, so every field shows the source it came from and a confidence flag, and unconfirmed values are marked Unverified. Confirm with the jurisdiction before you rely on a rule or rate.

FAQ

Common questions about San Diego

Do I need a licence to run an Airbnb in San Diego?

Yes. San Diego requires a short-term rental licence or registration before you list. An STRO licence (Tiers 1 to 4) is required.

Does a short-term rental have to be my primary residence in San Diego?

No. San Diego does not require the property to be your primary residence for all rental types. Whole-home non-primary rentals are permitted under Tier 3 and Tier 4, subject to caps.

Is there a night cap on short-term rentals in San Diego?

Yes. San Diego has an annual cap of about 20 nights for the affected rental types. Tier 1 covers non-primary rentals for fewer than 20 rental days per year; higher tiers have no night cap but are licence-capped.

Do I have to show my permit number on the listing in San Diego?

Not confirmed on an official source for San Diego. Verify with the jurisdiction before you rely on it.

What lodging tax will my guest pay in San Diego?

A guest pays roughly 10.5 percent combined lodging tax in San Diego. See the full lodging-tax breakdown for the state and local components.

See the lodging tax a guest pays in San Diego

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