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Is short-term rental allowed in San Diego?
Yes, with a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license, and whole-home licenses are capped. San Diego requires a license for every STRO of a home or part of one for less than one month. A host can hold one license at a time, in one of four tiers.
This page covers the City of San Diego only. Other cities in San Diego County and unincorporated county areas have their own rules.
The rules at a glance
| Tier 1, part-time | Rented 20 days or less a year in total. The host doesn't need to live on site. |
|---|---|
| Tier 2, home sharing | Renting a room or rooms for more than 20 days a year while the host lives on site |
| Tier 3, whole home (outside Mission Beach) | More than 20 days a year with the host not on site. Licenses capped at 1% of the city's housing units outside Mission Beach. Two-night minimum stay. |
| Tier 4, Mission Beach whole home | Licenses capped at 30% of the Mission Beach Community Planning Area. Two-night minimum stay. The application period was closed when we checked. |
| Use requirement | Tier 3 and Tier 4 licenses require at least 90 days of STRO use a year |
| Licenses issued and remaining | The city publishes live counts by tier on its STRO page |
Fees
- Tier 1: $33 application + $193 license.
- Tier 2: $33 + $284.
- Tier 3 and Tier 4: $41 + $1,129.
Renewal fees are the same. Fees are non-refundable, and licenses expire two years from issuance.
Lodging tax
Since May 1, 2025, the transient occupancy tax (TOT) depends on the property's tax zone: 11.75% (Zone 1), 12.75% (Zone 2) or 13.75% (Zone 3). Look up your zone on the city's tax zone map. A non-refundable cleaning fee is part of rent and subject to TOT. A fully refundable fee, withheld only for specific damage, is not. Hosting platforms must collect and remit TOT when they collect the rent from guests. If you rent directly, you get a TOT certificate and collect and remit it yourself.
What this means for your numbers
In San Diego the license tier and the zone tax rate both shape the short-term numbers. Our Rental Strategy Comparison shows a long-term lease and a short-term rental side by side for your address, with the city's lodging tax and rental rules looked up for each order. In a city with a minimum stay, the short-term column is based on that minimum.
Compare long-term and short-term for your home, $39
Official sources
- City Treasurer: Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO)
- City Treasurer: Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) / Tourism Marketing District
Last checked: October 17, 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm with the City of San Diego, and with any HOA or lease, before you list. General information, not legal advice.