Carlsbad prohibits short-term rentals (under 30 days) of any ADU permitted on or after January 1, 2020. The prohibition is recorded as a deed restriction under CMC 21.10.030 and reinforced by Carlsbad's Short-Term Vacation Rental ordinance (CMC 5.60), which limits STR permits to specific coastal zone areas only.
Under California Government Code 65852.2(a)(6) and CMC 21.10.030, any ADU permitted on or after January 1, 2020 in Carlsbad must be rented for 30 days or longer; rentals under 30 days (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) are prohibited. The applicant must execute and record a deed restriction with the San Diego County Recorder before the Certificate of Occupancy issues, binding all current and future owners. Separately, Carlsbad's Short-Term Vacation Rental ordinance (CMC 5.60), adopted in 2015 and amended in 2022, limits short-term rental permits to defined Coastal Zone areas only, requires a city STR permit, transient occupancy tax collection (10% TOT), business license, and adherence to occupancy and noise standards. ADUs are categorically excluded from the STR permit program regardless of location. The 30-day minimum rental does NOT prevent leasing the ADU as a long-term rental or to family members; it only prohibits transient lodging. Sale of the ADU separately from the primary dwelling is also prohibited under Gov. Code 65852.26 unless sold to a qualified buyer under a community land trust or to a qualified nonprofit.
Renting an ADU as a short-term rental violates the recorded deed restriction and CMC 5.60. Penalties include administrative citations starting at $1,000 per day (CMC 5.60.090), revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy, civil enforcement of the deed restriction, and reporting to STR platforms for listing removal. Carlsbad's STR ordinance carries some of the highest STR fines in San Diego County.
Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad prohibits parking any vehicle on a public street for more than 72 consecutive hours. Violations subject vehicles to citation or tow. Residential per...
Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 21.46 (Yards) regulates fence height and placement in residential zones. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit under C...
Carlsbad, CA
Chain link, barbed wire, razor ribbon specifically prohibited in residential zones. Solid masonry walls along common lot lines with residential property requ...
Carlsbad, CA
Livestock (horses, cattle, sheep, goats) are permitted only in the R-A Residential Agricultural zone under CMC Chapter 21.08. Pens, stables, and barns must b...
Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad addresses animal hoarding through keeping limits in Carlsbad Municipal Code Title 7 and San Diego Humane Society field investigations; criminal anim...
Carlsbad, CA
Recreational backyard fires in Carlsbad are regulated under the California Fire Code as adopted in Carlsbad Municipal Code Title 17. Open burning is prohibit...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Diego County.
See how other cities in San Diego County handle adu rental restrictions.
See how Carlsbad's adu rental restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.