San Diego County · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in Del Mar?
RestrictedDel Mar caps short-term rental permits at 129 citywide with neighborhood allocations and a waitlist, and requires a three night minimum stay. A permit ends automatically when the home sells, except for inheritance or when an original owner stays on title.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L130.96.030 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1DMMC Title 30, Chapter 30.96 (30.96.010 to 30.96.080); Ord. No. 1010, section 2, 9-23-2024. · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1DMMC Title 30, Chapter 30.96 (30.96.010 to 30.96.080); Ord. No. 1010, section 2, 9-23-2024. · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Permit capPermits are capped at 129.L130.96.050 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Caps and limitsCitywide cap of 129 STR permits, equal to 5 percent of total dwelling units per the 2020 Census. Neighborhood allocations: maximum 60 percent of STRs in North Beach, 25 percent in South Bluff, 15 percent in the Hills. One permit per owner for new STRs; one STR per single-unit lot; one per owner on a two-unit lot; maximum 10 percent of primary dwelling units in condominium developments of three or more units. Waitlist applicants get 30 days to apply when notified. Any future increase in capacity requires an ordinance approved by the City Council and the California Coastal Commission.L130.96.050 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sellsAn STR permit shall not be transferred, sold or assigned; upon transfer of ownership the permit automatically terminates and no STR may operate until a new permit issues. Exception: no new permit is needed for changes in title resulting from inheritance or where an original owner under the permit remains an owner under the new title; notice of the title change must go to the city within 30 days. With the 129 cap and waitlist, an ordinary buyer may wait for capacity.L130.96.050 · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the city's own words
30.96.030“Any person or entity operating a STR in the City of Del Mar must have a valid STR Permit issued by the City” source
30.96.050“The maximum number of STR Permits issued by the City shall be limited to 129 STRs, which is equivalent to five percent of the total number of dwelling units located in the City based on the 2020 United States Census data.” source
30.96.060“A maximum of 60 percent of the total number of STRs may be located in the North Beach neighborhood” source
30.96.050“A STR Permit shall not be transferred, sold or assigned to any other person or entity.” source
Citation: DMMC Title 30, Chapter 30.96 (30.96.010 to 30.96.080); Ord. No. 1010, section 2, 9-23-2024.
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How this page was verified
Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-13 by the CanIBnB research desk. Research is AI assisted and human reviewed; the method, the level system, and the re-check schedule are on the How we verify page. If anything here is wrong, report it and it goes in the public corrections log.