San Diego Short-Term Rental Guide
San Diego, California · United States
Perfect weather and world-class beaches make San Diego a top STR market — now run through a license lottery. Here's how to host it.
San Diego pairs near-perfect year-round weather with beaches, a famous zoo, and a laid-back vibe that keeps demand steady. The city runs short-term rentals through a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license program with tiers and caps, including a lottery for whole-home coastal licenses. This guide covers the host rules plus the neighborhoods and recommendations guests ask for.
For hosts: the rules
San Diego requires a Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) license, with tiers based on rental frequency and a capped, lottery-allocated tier for whole-home stays (with extra caps in Mission Beach).
- Apply for the appropriate STRO license tier for your rental type and frequency.
- Whole-home 'Tier 4' licenses are capped citywide and allocated by lottery; Mission Beach has its own cap.
- Collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax and the applicable rental fees.
- Follow good-neighbor rules on noise, parking, and trash.
Always verify locally: STRO license availability is capped and competitive, especially at the coast. Confirm license availability for your address and tier before counting on STR income. This is general information, not legal advice.
For hosts: demand & seasonality
Steady year-round with a strong summer peak. Beach and bay proximity, plus Comic-Con week, drive the biggest premiums.
Peak: Summer (June–August), plus Comic-Con (July)
Demand-spiking events
Where to stay: neighborhoods
Pacific Beach / Mission Beach
Boardwalk, surf, party-friendly
Best for: Beach lovers, groups
La Jolla
Upscale coves, sea lions, dining
Best for: Couples, families, scenery
Gaslamp / Downtown
Nightlife, restaurants, ballpark
Best for: Nightlife, event-goers
North Park
Craft beer, hip eats, walkable
Best for: Foodies, longer stays
For guests: local recommendations
Do this once
- Sunset at Sunset Cliffs
- See the La Jolla Cove sea lions
- Balboa Park museums and the Zoo
Tacos & beer
- A great fish taco
- North Park brewery crawl
- Little Italy for dinner
Beaches
- La Jolla Shores (family-friendly)
- Coronado Beach
- Pacific Beach boardwalk
Questions guests always ask
Which beach should we go to?
La Jolla Shores for calm, family-friendly water; Pacific Beach for the boardwalk scene; Coronado for that wide, iconic sand. The guide lists your closest.
Is the weather really that consistent?
Mostly — expect mild, sunny days most of the year, with 'May Gray' and 'June Gloom' morning marine layer near the coast that usually burns off by midday.
Do we need a car?
For beaches and Balboa Park, a car or rideshare helps. Neighborhoods like Pacific Beach and North Park are walkable on their own.
Answer every one of these San Diego questions for guests — automatically, 24/7, in any language.
Try Hostbnb freeMore city guides
Los Angeles
LA's Home-Sharing Ordinance limits short-term rentals to your primary residence — but demand is huge. Here's how to host within the rules.
ReadScottsdale
Sun, golf, and spring training make Scottsdale a top winter STR market — and Arizona's state law keeps it relatively host-friendly. Here's the playbook.
ReadMiami
Beaches, nightlife, and year-round warmth keep Miami demand high — but local rules vary block by block. Here's how to host it right.
ReadGive every guest a local expert in their pocket
Hostbnb turns your local knowledge into instant, multilingual answers guests reach by link or QR code — so you host smarter, not harder.
Get started free