North County Coastal STR Resources

Five Cities, Five Sets of Rules

This is the part that trips up most North County Coastal vacation rental owners. There's no single NCC permit portal. Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside each run their own city government, their own permit program, and their own TOT system. You work directly with your specific city for everything.

We've organized every resource by city below. City websites change their URLs occasionally — if a link breaks, head to the main city site and search "short-term rental" or "STVR."

Del Mar

Del Mar manages STR permits through the Rentalscape platform, with an annual application window (March 2 – May 1). The city's 129-unit hard cap means availability is competitive — especially in North Beach and South Beach zones.

• Permit cap: 129 total (North Beach 77 / South Beach 32 / Hills 19)
• Application window: March 2 – May 1 annually
• Fees: $815 initial / $598 two-year renewal
• TOT rate: 13%, filed quarterly
• Minimum stay: 3 nights

Solana Beach

Solana Beach has no cap on STVR permits, but does require annual renewal and monthly TOT filing. Rentals must be between 7 and 30 days in duration.

• No permit cap
• Rental duration: 7–30 days only
• Fees: $113 new permit / $66 renewal (due December 31)
• TOT rate: 13%, filed monthly

Encinitas

Encinitas passed its STR ordinance in 2024, with Coastal Commission LCP approval granted in February 2026. The city operates a cap system with separate limits for the citywide and coastal zones.

• Citywide cap: 2.5% of residential units (approx. 654 non-hosted permits)
• Coastal zone cap: 4% (approx. 376 permits); approaching limit as of early 2026
• Eligible properties: Single-family homes and duplexes only; 200ft spacing requirement
• Minimum stay: 2 nights (non-hosted)
• TOT rate: 10%, filed quarterly

Carlsbad

Carlsbad has no permit cap and a relatively streamlined permitting process, but requires both an STVR permit and a separate business license. Operators must also submit a nuisance response plan and provide 24/7 contact information.

• No permit cap
• STVR permit fee: $225/year
• Business license required: Yes (separate application)
• Requirements: 24/7 contact number + nuisance response plan
• TOT rate: 12% (10% base + 2% CTBID), filed quarterly

Oceanside

Oceanside requires an annual STR permit plus a third-year safety inspection. Non-hosted coastal zone properties are subject to a cap of 480 units. The city's STR ordinance includes specific noise, parking, and occupancy rules.

• Coastal zone non-hosted cap: 480 units
• Annual permit fee: $250
• Inspection fee: $207 every 3 years
• TOT rate: 10%, filed quarterly

County & Regional Resources

Some compliance and tax obligations extend beyond individual cities to county or state-level agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions