Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in San Diego, CA (2026)
Short-term rental rules, registration requirements, and penalties for San Diego, CA. Source-cited from official municipal code.
Short-term rental rules in San Diego, CA are not confirmed — see the official source before hosting.
Whether San Diego, CA permits short-term rentals (Airbnb/VRBO) has not been confirmed from an official source. Contact the local planning department at (619) 235-5200 to verify current STR rules — including whether hosting is permitted at all, registration requirements, and any local restrictions — before listing your property on Airbnb, VRBO, or a similar platform.
Statewide Preemption
Short-Term Rental Preemption
We could not confirm a statewide STR preemption statute for California.
View California preemption detailsRegistration Requirements
Whether short-term rental registration is required in San Diego has not been confirmed from official sources. Contact the local planning department or local building department to verify current registration requirements before hosting on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms.
Operational Rules
No specific operational rules listed for short-term rentals in San Diego beyond standard property codes.
- All short-term rentals (less than 1 month) require STRO license from City Treasurer
- Tier 1 (Home-Sharing): host-adjacent rentals; host must be primary resident; maximum 1 license per person
- Tier 2 (Mission Beach): special rules for Mission Beach community; 30% Mission Beach property cap
- Tier 3 (Whole-Home, Primary Residence): host rents entire home while away; primary residence required
- Tier 4 (Whole-Home, Non-Primary): investor properties — requires annual license via lottery; limited citywide
- Platform must display license number on all listings
- Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) at 10.5% applies to all short-term rentals
- Host must notify neighbors within 100 ft of rental activity
- 24/7 local contact required for neighbor complaints
Penalties for Violations
Specific penalty amounts for STR violations in San Diego are not listed. Contact the local planning department for enforcement information.
- $1,000 fine per day for operating without STRO license
- License revocation for 3 or more violations within 12 months
- Platforms may be fined for listing unlicensed properties
- City may seek injunctive relief for chronic violations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do Airbnb in San Diego?
Yes, short-term rentals are allowed in San Diego, CA with registration required.
Do I need to register to host on Airbnb in San Diego?
Yes, San Diego requires Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License for short-term rental hosts.
Source: San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 5, Article 4, Division 6 — Short-Term Residential Occupancy. Last verified April 5, 2026. View source