VACATION RENTALS · 92075
Short-term rentals in Solana Beach
Solana Beach allows vacation rentals, but not for a weekend: the minimum stay is seven days, every rental needs a city permit, and there is a 13% tax on top. Here is how it works, whether you are booking a place or renting yours out.
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List your placeSolana Beach short-term rental rules
The city calls them Short-Term Vacation Rentals, or STVRs. The whole ordinance comes down to six numbers.
Minimum stay
7 days
Renting a home for fewer than seven consecutive days is prohibited in every residential zone. No weekend rentals.
What counts as short-term
7 to 30 days
That window needs a city permit. Rentals of more than 30 consecutive days do not.
Occupancy tax
13%
Transient Occupancy Tax on the nightly rate, for stays of 30 days or less. The rate has been 13% since January 1, 2009.
New permit
$263
$259 plus a $4 state fee, per unit, non-refundable. A change of manager on an existing permit is $43.
Permit term
Dec 31
Every permit expires December 31. Renew by January 31 or it is closed and you pay the new-application fee again.
Bookings
1 per week
One stay or booking within any seven-consecutive-day period.
Booking a vacation rental here
Plan on a week
A two-night or weekend listing for a house or condo in a residential zone is not a legal rental here. Seven consecutive days is the floor; for anything shorter, book a hotel.
Expect 13% on top
The city's Transient Occupancy Tax is 13% of the nightly rate on stays of 30 days or less. A listing that does not show it is either folding it into the price or not collecting it.
Look for the permit card
Permitted rentals must display their STVR permit card at the front entry, with a phone number and emergency contact. If there isn't one, ask the host for the permit number.
Someone has to answer the phone
Every permitted rental names a 24/7 emergency contact who can respond within an hour, and owners must respond to complaints within 24 hours.
Renting out your place in Solana Beach
01
Check whether you can rent at all
Accessory dwelling units, junior ADUs and accessory living units cannot be rented for less than 30 consecutive days. If you are in an HOA, its short-term rental rules are yours to follow too.
02
Apply for a permit — one per unit
File a separate STVR application for each unit with the Finance Department at City Hall, 635 S. Highway 101. The permit doubles as your business certificate for the rental.
03
Post the card and the phone number
Display the permit card at the front entry, post a 24-hour, seven-day complaint number where the public can see it, and give that number to the owners next door.
04
File the tax return every month
Collect 13% and file a TOT return monthly — due by the last day of the following month — even when you had no bookings and the balance is zero.
05
Renew in January
Permits run the calendar year. Renew online through the city's eTRAKiT portal by January 31; card payments carry a 2.95% fee.
06
Using a manager?
A professional listing manager needs their own active Solana Beach business certificate. Self-managing owners do not need a second one.
Penalties
| First violation in 12 months | $500 |
| Second violation in 12 months | $1,000 |
| Third violation in 12 months | Hearing; permit revoked for one year |
Permit and rules questions go to Code Compliance at CodeCompliance@cosb.org; tax and billing questions go to the Finance Department at (858) 720-2460.
Before you book
Book racetrack season early
July–September is Del Mar racing season — the whole town books out months ahead and rates jump.
Look for the permit
Short-term rentals in Solana Beach require a city permit. Legit listings will show a permit number.
You may not need a car
The Coaster station is in the middle of town — beach, Cedros, and restaurants are all walkable from most rentals.
Short-term rental FAQ
Are short-term rentals allowed in Solana Beach?
Yes, with a permit and a seven-day minimum. The city permits rentals of 7 to 30 consecutive days in residential zones through its Short-Term Vacation Rental (STVR) permit, and prohibits rentals of fewer than seven consecutive days in all residential zoning districts.
Can I rent an Airbnb in Solana Beach for a weekend?
Not a house or condo in a residential zone. Solana Beach prohibits residential rentals of fewer than seven consecutive calendar days, and permitted rentals are limited to one booking in any seven-day period. For a weekend, book a hotel.
What is the minimum stay for a vacation rental in Solana Beach?
Seven consecutive days. Stays of 7 to 30 days require the host to hold a city STVR permit; rentals longer than 30 consecutive days do not need one.
How much is the hotel and vacation rental tax in Solana Beach?
The Transient Occupancy Tax is 13% of the nightly rate and applies to rentals of 30 days or less, including homes booked through home-sharing services. It has been 13% since January 1, 2009.
How much does a Solana Beach short-term rental permit cost?
A new application is $263 per unit — $259 plus a $4 state fee — and is non-refundable. Permits expire every December 31 and must be renewed by January 31; after that the permit is closed and the new-application fee applies again.
Can I rent out my ADU on Airbnb in Solana Beach?
Not short-term. Under the city's 2026 permit disclosures, an accessory dwelling unit, junior ADU or accessory living unit cannot be rented for less than 30 consecutive days unless otherwise allowed by law.
What happens if a rental breaks the rules?
The city fines the permit holder $500 for a first violation within 12 months and $1,000 for a second. A third triggers a hearing and the permit is revoked for one year. Renting for fewer than seven days and failing to respond to two or more complaints are both listed violations.
Sources: City of Solana Beach — Short-Term Vacation Rentals & TOT · STVR Regulations Packet (SBMC 4.47 & 3.36) · 2026 STVR permit application & disclosures. Verified Oct 7, 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice — the city's ordinance governs.
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