Night Caps: Bostonia vs Chula Vista
How do night caps rules compare between Bostonia, CA and Chula Vista, CA?
Bostonia has fewer restrictions than Chula Vista.
Bostonia, CA
San Diego County
Unincorporated San Diego County imposes no annual night cap on short-term rentals. Unlike the City of San Diego's tiered STRO program, the County does not require a short-term rental license or limit rental nights per year. Operators must register for a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate (effective July 1, 2024) and remit 8% TOT for stays of 30 days or less.
View full Bostonia rules →Chula Vista, CA
San Diego County
Chula Vista limits whole-home short-term rental of a primary residence to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year under CVMC 5.68. Non-primary residence STRs do not have a night cap but are limited to one per resident. A maximum of 2 STR permits are allowed per Chula Vista resident.
View full Chula Vista rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bostonia | Chula Vista |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Night Cap | None (unincorporated County) | - |
| STR License Required | No | - |
| TOT Rate | 8% of rent | - |
| TOT Threshold | Stays of 30 days or less | - |
| TOT Registration Opened | June 11, 2024 | - |
| Reporting Began | July 1, 2024 | - |
| Authority | Treasurer-Tax Collector / Sheriff / Code Enforcement | - |
| Cities Excluded | San Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Encinitas, etc. | - |
| Primary Whole-Home | - | Max 90 days/year |
| Primary Hosted | - | No night cap |
| Non-Primary STR | - | 1 per resident (no night cap) |
| Max Permits Per Resident | - | 2 total |
| Code Reference | - | CVMC Chapter 5.68 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bostonia FAQ
Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent my property in unincorporated San Diego County?
No. The County has not adopted a short-term rental ordinance with an annual night cap. Unlike the City of San Diego, which restricts most non-primary-residence whole-home rentals through its tiered STRO licensing program, the unincorporated County does not impose night limits. You must, however, register for a TOT certificate and remit 8% Transient Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 days or less.
Do I need a permit or license from the County to short-term rent in an unincorporated area?
No business license is required, but you must register through the County of San Diego TOT portal (tot.sdttc.com) and obtain a TOT certificate. The TOT certificate is explicitly not a permit to operate and does not excuse you from complying with zoning, building, fire, and health rules. Coastal-zone properties may also be subject to California Coastal Commission jurisdiction.
Does this apply if my property is inside a city like Chula Vista or Encinitas?
No. The County Zoning Ordinance and the County TOT apply only in the unincorporated area. Each incorporated city in San Diego County (San Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Oceanside, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, Vista) administers its own STR ordinance, license, and TOT rate.
Chula Vista FAQ
How many nights can I rent my Chula Vista home?
Whole-home rental of your primary residence is limited to 90 days per calendar year. Hosted rentals (renting a room while you are present) have no night cap.
Can I have more than one short-term rental in Chula Vista?
You may hold up to 2 STR permits: one for your primary residence and one for a non-primary residence. You cannot hold permits for more than one non-primary STR.
Is there a night limit for my non-primary residence STR?
Non-primary residence STRs do not have a specific night cap, but you may only operate one non-primary STR at a time.
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