Compiled from the city's official pages — rules you must confirm before you list. Compiled July 2026; rules change, confirm each on the official site.
Compiled from the city's official pages. Links go to the official site where available — confirm each before you list.
Zoning is parcel-specific. We don't guess it on this page — check your exact address against the city's live GIS.
Check your address's live zoning →We re-check San Diego's official short-term-rental license & tax pages and email you when they change — a heads-up to re-check, never a legal verdict. Cancel anytime.
We'll email you a free list of San Diego's official pages to check, plus a heads-up when major rules change. Informational only — not a compliance checklist or legal advice.
The city lists a short-term-rental registration (Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License — four tiers (SDMC § 510.0104). Tier 1 Part-Time: home share or whole home, ≤20 DAYS aggregate per calendar year, one Tier 1 per dwelling unit per year. Tier 2 Home Sharing: >20 days, PRIMARY RESIDENCE only, host must occupy it ≥275 days of the year. Tier 3 Whole Home outside Mission Beach and Tier 4 Mission Beach Whole Home: both >20 days with a TWO-CONSECUTIVE-NIGHT minimum stay, both CAPPED and awarded by LOTTERY. ⚠️ A host may hold only ONE license and may operate only ONE dwelling unit in the city (§ 510.0104(a)(2)-(3)), and 'host' means a natural person — an entity cannot be a host. Licensing mandatory since May 1 2023.) on its official pages. Whether it applies to your specific listing depends on factors we don't verify — confirm directly with City of San Diego · Office of the City Treasurer (STRO Program) — enforcement by Development Services' Building and Land Use Enforcement (BLUE) team. Informational only, not legal advice.
Published fee guidance: FY2026 schedule (revised Dec 3 2025), application + license, all non-refundable: Tier 1 $33 + $193 · Tier 2 $33 + $284 · Tier 3 $41 + $1,129 · Tier 4 $41 + $1,129. Renewal is the same amount. Also required: a Transient Occupancy Tax Certificate (no cost) and a Rental Unit Business Tax account.. Fees change — confirm the current amount with City of San Diego · Office of the City Treasurer (STRO Program) — enforcement by Development Services' Building and Land Use Enforcement (BLUE) team before you pay.
The city lists Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) + Rental Unit Business Tax (⚠️ TOT is ZONED as of May 1 2025 under Measure C: Zone 1 11.75% · Zone 2 12.75% · Zone 3 13.75%, by proximity to the Convention Center. The old flat 10.5% applied only through Apr 30 2025 — most online tables are still wrong. Short-term rentals are explicitly covered. The 2% Tourism Marketing District assessment applies only to lodging businesses with 70+ rooms, so virtually no STR pays it — do NOT add 2% to an STR quote. Operators are responsible for collecting and remitting; platforms that collect rent must remit monthly, but the host retains ultimate responsibility. Due monthly; late penalty 1% first day then 1/3 of 1% per day, capped at 25%.), administered by City of San Diego · Office of the City Treasurer. Confirm current rates and how to register on the official tax page.
That depends on the city's zoning and primary-residence rules, which we don't verify here — confirm with City of San Diego · Office of the City Treasurer (STRO Program) — enforcement by Development Services' Building and Land Use Enforcement (BLUE) team and check your exact address's base zoning.