🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Escondido, CA
Escondido Rolls Out the STR Red Carpet—With a Rulebook in Hand
A Deep Dive into Your Area’s STR Updates — Helping You Navigate the Ever-Changing Rental Landscape.
Escondido Rolls Out the STR Red Carpet—With a Rulebook in Hand
As of July 1, 2025, short-term rentals (STRs) in Escondido are officially under new management—by the rule of law.
The City Council gave the green light to Chapter 16, Article 8 of the city’s municipal code back in January, and now, after months of anticipation, the new STR ordinance is officially live. With it comes a clear-cut framework for who can host, where they can host, and just how many STRs the city will allow.
Here’s the lowdown: if you’re thinking about listing your property for short-term stays (30 days or less), you’ll need to clear a few hurdles first. Starting this July, Escondido is opening up applications for STR permits, business licenses, and TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) registration—all at the same time. No pre-registration, no early birds—just a first-come, first-served process.
What types of homes are eligible? STRs are fair game for single-family detached homes, duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes. Multi-family housing gets a tighter leash. For example, buildings with 2 to 50 units can only host one STR; those with 100+ units cap out at 2% of total units or five STRs—whichever is fewer. On top of that, only 25 permits total will be issued citywide for STRs in multi-family buildings. If more than that apply, a waiting list kicks in.
The city is also drawing some boundaries. No STRs will be permitted within 500 feet of a school, and certain types of units are off the table—that includes ADUs, JADUs, SB9-created units, and income-restricted housing. Also, renters can’t list the property they live in. Only property owners can host an STR.
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Worth noting: even with a permit in hand, this ordinance doesn’t override any private HOA or neighborhood restrictions. So, if your property has a covenant against short-term rentals, you're still bound by that.
All told, Escondido is shooting for a balanced approach—allowing homeowners a slice of the STR pie, while preserving neighborhood integrity and limiting oversaturation. With a 2% citywide cap on STRs, it’s clear the city is trying to keep things in check.
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