Short-Term Rentals in San Diego County, CA (2026)

5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in San Diego County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of San Diego County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Unincorporated San Diego County hosts must register with the Tax Collector within 30 days of starting business and post a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate.

San Diego County STR Registration

Some Restrictions

San Diego County Code § 22.206

(a) Within 30 days after commencing business an operator of a hotel renting occupancy to transients shall register the hotel with the Tax Collector and obtain a transient occupancy registration certificate from the County... (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a hotel after being in business for more than 30 days, without the registration certificate required by this section....

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Short-term rental hosts in unincorporated San Diego County collect an 8% transient occupancy tax on every stay of 30 days or less. Operators must register within 30 days of starting business, remit quarterly, and face 5% delinquency penalties plus 1% monthly interest for late payments.

San Diego County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Tax

Some Restrictions

San Diego County Code §§ 22.203, 22.204, 22.206, 22.207, 22.208

For the privilege of providing lodging in any hotel located in the unincorporated area of the County, an operator is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of eight percent of the rent charged by the operator. The tax constitutes a debt owed by the operator to the County which is extinguished only by payment to the County. ... Penalty for Delinquency. An operator who fails to remit any ta...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

A Host Home short-term rental in unincorporated San Diego County must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom rented, on top of the parking already required for the single-family home itself, under Zoning Ordinance Section 6156.bb(1)(c) of the county's accessory-use rules for the two-bedroom lodging permit.

San Diego County Host Home Parking Rule

Some Restrictions

San Diego County Zoning Ordinance § 6156.bb(1)(c)

1. Criteria. An application for a host home permit shall meet all of the following criteria: a) A maximum of two bedrooms may be made available for rent. b) The owner or lessee of the property shall operate the facility and reside in the home or other legal residence on the property. If the owner or lessee resides in a residence separate from the facility, instructions on how to contact t...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Unincorporated San Diego County has no short-term-rental-specific occupancy cap, because the County never adopted an STR licensing ordinance. Maximum occupancy is governed by general Building, Fire, and Zoning Code limits for the dwelling rather than a per-rental guest formula.

San Diego County Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

California Health and Safety Code § 17920.3 (Substandard buildings — conditions deemed substandard, including overcrowding and habitability)

29] ( Chapter 2 added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 1844. ) 17920.3. Any building or portion thereof, regardless of zoning designation or approved uses of the building, including any dwelling unit, guestroom or suite of rooms, or the premises on which the same is located, in which there exists any of the following listed conditions to an extent that endangers the life, limb, health, property, safety, or ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

In unincorporated San Diego County, a Host Home permit that rents up to two bedrooms on a nightly basis requires the owner or lessee to actually operate the business and reside in the home, or in another legal residence on the same property, before the Planning & Development Services Director will issue the Administrative Permit.

San Diego County Host Home Presence Rule

Significant Restrictions

San Diego County Zoning Ordinance § 6156.bb(1)(b)

bb. Host Home. A host home is a permitted accessory use upon issuance of an Administrative Permit. 1. Criteria. An application for a host home permit shall meet all of the following criteria: a) A maximum of two bedrooms may be made available for rent. b) The owner or lessee of the property shall operate the facility and reside in the home or other legal residence on the property. If th...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗