San Diego STR Owner Resource Hub

San Diego uses a four-tier Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license system. Tier 1 is home-sharing with the host present. Tier 2 is home-sharing with the host absent but the property must be your primary residence. Tier 3 is whole-home rental on a non-primary residence, subject to a citywide cap by community plan area. Tier 4 is specific to Mission Beach with its own separate cap. The tier you need depends entirely on how you plan to use the property.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 home-sharing permits are generally available citywide. Tier 3 whole-home permits are capped by community plan area, so availability varies by neighborhood. Some zones have permits available while others have hit their cap and maintain a waitlist. Mission Beach operates under a separate Tier 4 system with approximately 1,100 whole-home permits. Check current cap status with the city before purchasing a property for STR use.

San Diego charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of approximately 10.5% on the nightly listing price. Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit TOT automatically for most bookings, but you still need to register for a TOT certificate with the City Treasurer. Some zones also carry a Tourism Marketing District assessment on top of the base rate.

We focus on coastal and urban San Diego neighborhoods where short-term rental demand is strongest. That includes Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, downtown, and North Park. We also work with owners in North County coastal areas like Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. If your property is in a neighborhood with strong STR fundamentals, we want to talk.