Renting a Solana Beach home or condo by the week? The City calls it a short-term vacation rental (STVR): more than seven, and no more than 30, consecutive days in a residential zone. It takes a City permit, a 13% tax filed every month, and a few rules that are easy to miss. Everything below is from the City's own rules and forms.
The rules in one place
| Rule | What the City says |
|---|---|
| What counts | Renting a dwelling for more than seven but no more than 30 consecutive days, in single-family homes, condos, duplexes and multi-family buildings. |
| One booking a week | "Stays or bookings are limited to one (1) occurring within a seven (7) consecutive calendar day period." |
| The permit | New application $259 plus a $4 state fee; a manager change on an existing permit $43. You may not list the rental until the permit card is issued. |
| Renew every year | On or before January 31. Permits not renewed by then are closed, and a new application fee applies. |
| Post the card | The permit card goes at the front entry door or in a front-facing window, with the phone number and emergency contact visible. |
| The 13% tax (TOT) | Transient Occupancy Tax of 13% of the nightly rate; a monthly return is due even if the balance is zero, by the last day of the month after the month it covers. Late payments add a 10% penalty. |
| ADUs | Not allowed in an accessory or junior accessory dwelling unit, unless otherwise allowed by law. |
| Complaints | The owner or agent must respond to notice of a violation within 24 hours. |
| Fines | $500 for a first violation in 12 months, $1,000 for a second; a third goes to a hearing. |
| HOAs | If the home is in an HOA, its own short-term rental restrictions apply too. |
| Managers | Professional STVR listing managers need a valid City Business Certificate. |
City of Solana Beach: STVR & TOT page · STVR regulations (SBMC 4.47) · 2026 application and disclosures · TOT return form. Read October 13, 2026.
On Airbnb, Vrbo and the other platforms
- Permit first, listing second: the City says you may not list the rental until your permit card is issued, whichever site you list on.
- Airbnb and the 13% tax: Airbnb collects and pays occupancy tax for hosts only in places on its own list. Its California list (read October 13, 2026) includes Carlsbad, Oceanside and the City of San Diego, but not Solana Beach, so on a Solana Beach listing the 13% is yours to collect and file on the City's monthly return. See Airbnb's California tax list and where Airbnb collects.
- Vrbo: Vrbo explains what it collects and how to add a permit number in its help center's Taxes and Government Requirements sections. Its help pages weren't loading when we checked on October 13, so we haven't confirmed whether Vrbo collects Solana Beach's tax; until it says so for your listing, plan to file it yourself.
- Listing on more than one site doesn't change the City's limit: one booking in any seven-day period.
Stuck with Airbnb or Vrbo support? The real phone numbers, the fake-number scam, and the refund and damage-claim deadlines.
Filing online now
The City moved monthly STVR and TOT filings and payments online, through its Resident Access portal; your Business ID and owner name have to match the City's records exactly to link the account. Permit renewals are paid through eTrakit (search Business Certificates for your STVR number), with a 2.95% fee for card payments. Questions about the rules: Code Compliance, 858-720-2403. Billing: Finance, 858-720-2460.
Where PJ helps
PJ, a local in Solana Beach, doesn't manage rentals (in California, managing rentals for others takes a real estate license). For an owner who'd rather not fight the portals, he sits down with you to set up the Resident Access and eTrakit accounts, file the first monthly return together, and put the January 31 renewal on your calendar. Text PJ · tech help at home · Solana Beach today.
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Questions people ask
Are short-term rentals allowed in Solana Beach?
Yes, with a City permit, for stays of more than seven and no more than 30 consecutive days, limited to one booking in any seven-day period.
How much is a Solana Beach short-term rental permit?
The 2026 new application is $259 plus a $4 state fee; a manager change on an existing permit is $43. Permits renew every year on or before January 31.
What is the transient occupancy tax in Solana Beach?
13% of the nightly rate, filed with a monthly return even when nothing was rented, due by the last day of the following month. Filing and payment are now online through the City's Resident Access portal.
What are the fines for an illegal short-term rental in Solana Beach?
$500 for a first violation within 12 months and $1,000 for a second; a third goes to a hearing.
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