San Diego County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in San Diego County, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Registration deadline
- Within 30 days of starting business
- Issued by
- County Tax Collector
- Certificate
- Must be posted inside the unit
- Transferable
- No: void on sale or transfer
Summary
Unincorporated San Diego County hosts must register with the Tax Collector within 30 days of starting business and post a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate.
(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. (c) The certificate shall not be transferable, and shall become void upon the change of name, sale or transfer of the hotel or its operations, or cessation of business.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
County Code Section 22.202 defines "hotel" broadly to include short-term lodging such as bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals occupied by transients. Section 22.206 requires any operator, including a short-term rental host, to register with the Tax Collector within 30 days of commencing business, obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate, and post it inside the unit. Operating past 30 days without the certificate is unlawful, and the certificate is void on any change of ownership or operator.
Violations & Fines
Operating a hotel, including a short-term rental, beyond 30 days without the registration certificate is unlawful under Section 22.206(b); the certificate does not substitute for other required County or State permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do short-term rental hosts have to register with the County?
What happens if a host skips registration?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
How San Diego County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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