How to get a short-term rental permit in San Diego, CA (2026)
San Diego requires Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License (Tiers 1-4) — the fee is $1,170, renewed biennial. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License (Tiers 1-4) |
| Permit fee | $1,170 |
| Renewal | Biennial |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. The STRO ordinance applies citywide to all dwelling units regardless of base zoning designation - there are no zone-by-zone STR prohibitions. Instead, supply is limited by license caps: Tier 3 whole-home licenses are capped at 1% of the city's total housing units (issued by lottery when oversubscribed, allocated across Community Planning Areas), and Tier 4 (Mission Beach) is capped at 30% of Mission Beach housing units (fully allocated as of 2026; waitlist closed 8/15/2025). Prohibited unit types include ADUs/granny flats (except companion units permitted before the September 2017 prohibition), income-restricted affordable units, student housing/SROs, RVs, and non-residential spaces. Note: the STRO provisions certified into the Local Coastal Program sunset in the Coastal Overlay Zone on January 1, 2030 unless amended/extended.
- 2
Apply for the Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License (Tiers 1-4)
Submit the Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License (Tiers 1-4) application to San Diego and pay the $1,170 fee. Fees effective March 1, 2025 (application + license): Tier 1 (part-time, max 20 days/yr) $33 + $193 = $226; Tier 2 (home share) $33 + $284 = $317; Tier 3 (whole home outside Mission Beach) and Tier 4 (Mission Beach whole home) $41 + $1,129 = $1,170. permit_fee_cents reflects the Tier 3/4 whole-home total. Fees are non-refundable and renewal fees equal initial fees. Hosts must also hold a free Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate and pay the flat annual Rental Unit Business Tax (base fee + per-unit fee) if renting more than 6 days per calendar year.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for San Diego. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews biennial — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment San Diego changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch San Diego for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
Keep going
Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with San Diego before applying.