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HomeShort-Term Rental LawsCaliforniaSan DiegoSTRO License

Before you list

San Diego STRO License: Step-by-Step

Prepare the San Diego STRO License: prerequisites, documents, fees, application steps, verification, and post-approval work.

  • Property eligibility
  • Official sources
  • You control every submission

Approval path

One Property, One Ordered Path from Requirements to Renewal.

Confirm the Property

Verify the address, jurisdiction, property type, eligibility rules, and private restrictions.

Prepare 6 Readiness Checks

Bring the host, ownership, residence, tax, insurance, and supporting records into one file.

Follow 4 Ordered Stages

Work through the government sequence, then retain the submitted record and confirmation.

Verify and Maintain

Confirm the issued approval, publish required details, and track taxes, changes, and renewal.

What You Will Complete

Obtain an active San Diego STRO license in the tier that matches the dwelling and planned use. First block the workflow if the address is outside City limits, the unit is an ADU, or the desired capped tier is not accepting applications.

Organize the San Diego application by tier, then connect the tax, occupancy and contact records to the same dwelling before submission.

Before You Apply

  • Confirm jurisdiction and eligibility

    Confirm the dwelling is inside City of San Diego limits, is not an ADU, and can enter the tier required by the planned use.

    Required

  • Resolve the residency rule

    Match hosted or whole-home use, rental-day plan and Mission Beach status to the correct tier; do not apply a primary-residence rule to the wrong tier.

    Required

  • Active Rental Unit Business Tax account

    Confirm the exact rental unit is active in the City Rental Unit Business Tax account before the STRO application is submitted.

    Required

  • Business Tax Certificate when the host is not the owner

    A non-owner host must provide the applicable City Business Tax Certificate under the current STRO instructions.

    Required

  • Right-to-occupy document for a non-owner host

    Upload the lease or other right-to-occupy record that connects the non-owner host to the licensed dwelling unit.

    Required

  • Tier-specific host and local-contact information

    Use contacts who satisfy the selected tier’s response duties and keep the names and numbers identical across the application and listing.

    Required

Application Steps

Complete the process through the official City of San Diego STRO Application.

  1. Step 1: Select the correct STRO tier

    Match the planned hosted or whole-home activity and Mission Beach status to Tier 1, 2, 3, or 4. Success means the host can document Tier 1, 2, 3 or 4 eligibility for this unit. If the use or Mission Beach status points to a closed or capped tier, do not substitute another tier.

    Compare the City of San Diego STRO tiers before opening the application.

  2. Step 2: Complete tax and occupancy prerequisites

    Confirm the rental-unit tax account, business certificate, and right-to-occupy records. Success means the Rental Unit Business Tax account, any required Business Tax Certificate and right-to-occupy record all identify the same dwelling and host.

    Complete and sign the City Treasurer registration certificate form as part of the tax-account process.

  3. Step 3: Submit the tier application

    Use the official application and pay the tier-specific nonrefundable fees. Success means the application is accepted in the selected tier with a retained confirmation. A fee receipt does not authorize operation while the license remains pending.

    Select the matching STRO license type and complete the applicant information in the City application.

  4. Step 4: Maintain the license and reports

    Publish the license number, follow operating rules, and renew before the two-year term ends. Success means the active number is on every listing and tier-specific utilization or quarterly reporting is scheduled. Correct a contact or unit mismatch before the next booking.

    Post the City-issued placard with the required license and local-contact information.
    Keep the Good Neighbor Policy available and follow its operating rules.

Verify the Result

  • Confirm the government status is active

    Use the City STRO record to confirm active status, tier, dwelling and expiration; do not treat an application or payment receipt as a license.

    Required

  • Check the listing number

    Match the City-issued STRO number and approved dwelling unit across every platform listing.

    Required

  • Calendar tax and renewal work

    Calendar the two-year renewal, TOT filing, Rental Unit Business Tax work, and Tier 3 or 4 quarterly/utilization duties when applicable.

    Required

Common Causes of Delay or Denial

  • Wrong jurisdiction or property type

    An ADU, address outside the City, incorrect Mission Beach classification or unavailable capped tier blocks the requested license path.

  • Applicant and property records do not match

    Conflicting host, owner, unit or tax-account details trigger review; reconcile them before resubmitting.

  • Missing operating prerequisites

    A missing Rental Unit Business Tax account, Business Tax Certificate or right-to-occupy record can stop an otherwise complete tier application.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A valid license is required before operating; Tier 4 Mission Beach applications are currently closed.

Application and license fees vary by Tier 1 through Tier 4 and are published on the STRO page.

STRO licenses expire two years from issuance. Renew the STRO license before the two-year expiration and keep prerequisite tax accounts active.