ADU Rental Restrictions: Chula Vista vs San Diego
How do adu rental restrictions rules compare between Chula Vista, CA and San Diego, CA?
Chula Vista and San Diego have similar restriction levels.
Chula Vista, CA
San Diego County
Chula Vista ADUs may only be rented for terms of 30 days or more, per CVMC Title 19 and California Government Code §65852.2(a)(7). Short-term rentals under 30 days require a separate STR permit under CVMC Chapter 5.68 (Ord. 3514, 2022), and ADUs created after Jan. 1, 2020 are statutorily ineligible for STR use. Long-term rental is permitted without separate licensing.
View full Chula Vista rules →San Diego, CA
San Diego County
San Diego ADUs may be rented long-term (30+ days) without restriction. Short-term rentals are governed by SDMC § 510.0101 et seq. (the four-tier STRO program). ADUs cannot operate as Tier 3 or Tier 4 STRs in most cases because those tiers require the host's primary residence. Junior ADUs are restricted to 30-day minimum rentals by SDMC § 141.0302(c)(2).
View full San Diego rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chula Vista | San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Long-Term (30+ days) | Permitted | Permitted, no separate license |
| Short-Term (<30 days) | Prohibited for ADUs | - |
| State Law | Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(7) | - |
| STR Code | CVMC Ch. 5.68 (Ord. 3514, 2022) | - |
| STR Fines | $100 – $2,000 per violation | - |
| STR Tiers | - | 1-4 under SDMC § 510 |
| ADU as Tier 3/4 | - | Generally not eligible |
| JADU STR | - | Banned (30-day minimum) |
| STRO Code | - | SDMC § 510.0101 et seq. |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chula Vista FAQ
Can I rent my Chula Vista ADU on Airbnb?
No. California Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(7) and CVMC Title 19 require ADU rentals to be 30 days or longer. ADUs are not eligible for STR permits under CVMC Chapter 5.68, even though the primary dwelling on the lot may be.
Does my Chula Vista long-term ADU rental need a permit?
No separate permit is required for rentals of 30 days or more. Standard California landlord-tenant rules apply. The STR program in CVMC Ch. 5.68 only applies to rentals under 30 days, which are not available for ADUs.
San Diego FAQ
Can I rent my ADU on Airbnb in San Diego?
Generally no for Tiers 3 and 4 because those require the host's primary residence. An ADU can serve as a Tier 1 STR (≤20 nights/year). Long-term rental (30+ days) is always allowed without an STR license.
Can I short-term rent a junior ADU in San Diego?
No. SDMC § 141.0302(c)(2) requires JADU rentals to be 30 days or longer. JADUs cannot be short-term rented under any STRO tier.
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