Del Mar Vacation Rental Management That Protects Your Permit
With only 129 permits citywide, a Del Mar STR permit is worth guarding. We answer inside the City's 30-minute window and keep every stay at three nights or more.
Del Mar caps short-term rental permits at 129 citywide; new owners join a City waitlist. A permit belongs to the owner, lasts two years and ends when the home is sold. Every stay runs at least three nights. A local contact must answer complaints within 30 minutes, 24/7, and owners remit 13% TOT monthly through Rentalscape.
30-Minute Response
The City gives you 30 minutes to respond to a complaint, day or night. As your local contact, our average response runs under 5 minutes.
Permit Protection
Del Mar permits are scarce. We track the biennial renewal, insurance and signage so yours stays in good standing.
3-Night Minimum
Every reservation must run at least three consecutive nights. Your calendar and pricing are set that way from the start.
TOT Through Rentalscape
Your 13% TOT goes through the City's Rentalscape portal each month, filed by the last day of the following month.
Who Can Rent Short Term in Del Mar Today
Del Mar's STR ordinance caps permits at 129 citywide. It grandfathered in 150 Existing STRs, and new owners wait on a City list for an opening.
Existing STR permits
If you hold an Existing-STR permit, guard it. Renew on time and keep your insurance current. A single lapse ends your Existing-STR status.
Waitlist
New owners can't apply until a permit opens, so the first step is the City waitlist. When your name comes up, you have 30 days to apply or you're removed.
Primary residence requirement
When capacity opens, new STR permits go only to a primary residence, meaning you live there 6+ months a year. Existing STRs are exempt.
Keep Your Permit in Good Standing
Permits renew every two years. In between, you carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance, keep signage posted, respond within 30 minutes and remit TOT monthly. A lapse or revocation ends Existing-STR protection.
Buying in Del Mar
A Del Mar permit doesn't come with the house. When ownership transfers, the permit terminates and Existing-STR status ends. Inheritance, or a title change that keeps an original owner on, is allowed with notice to the City within 30 days.
Owner Checklist
What Del Mar asks of permit holders, in order. Rules change, so confirm with the City of Del Mar before you list.
- 1
Check whether your home is an Existing STR on the City's registry, or join the waitlist.
- 2
New STRs only: the home must be your primary residence, owned by you, a family trust, or an LLC/LP/LLP owned by individuals.
- 3
Confirm the zone allows STRs and the unit isn't an ADU, rental apartment or deed-restricted unit. Get HOA written consent if you have one.
- 4
Gather the application: deed, rental agreement, parking plan, floor plan, safety self-certification, $1,000,000 liability insurance, local contact consent.
- 5
Pay the permit fee ($815 initial for two years; $598 renewal).
- 6
Post the permit inside the entry door and the exterior notice sign.
- 7
Name a local contact who can respond within 30 minutes, 24/7.
- 8
Set a 3-night minimum, 2 guests per bedroom plus 2, guest hours 8 a.m.–10 p.m., no events.
- 9
Show your permit number on every listing.
- 10
Remit 13% TOT monthly through Rentalscape.
- 11
Renew before your permit expires, every two years.
30+ Night and Month-Long Stays
Rentals of more than 30 consecutive days, and a calendar-month rental to the same renter, count as long-term rentals. They're exempt from Del Mar's STR rules and TOT, and month-long guests can carry the calendar between short-term seasons.
How Allura Manages Your Del Mar Home
2013
Founded
< 20
Homes managed
4.9 stars
2025 rating
< 5 min
Avg response
- Under 20 homes on our roster, each treated as our own
- 24/7 local contact with average response under 5 minutes
- Owner reports delivered within 24 hours
- Monthly statements by the 10th
Learn more: Switch Property Managers San Diego
Fees and Pricing
Short-term stays:
20% of the accommodation fare.
Furnished stays of 30+ nights:
from 15%.
Supplies:
at cost, with receipts.
We evaluate every home individually.
Send us a few details on your Del Mar home and we'll show you what it could earn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a new short-term rental permit in Del Mar?
Not right now. Del Mar caps permits at 129 citywide, and new owners can only join the City's waitlist. When a permit opens, the City contacts the next person on the list, who has 30 days to apply.
Does a Del Mar STR permit transfer when I buy a home?
No. Permits can't be transferred, sold or assigned. The permit ends when ownership transfers, except for inheritance or a title change where an original owner stays on title.
What is the minimum stay in Del Mar?
Three consecutive nights for every reservation.
How fast must a Del Mar local contact respond?
Within 30 minutes, 24/7, whether the complaint comes from the City, the Sheriff's Department or a resident.
Do month-long rentals need a Del Mar STR permit?
No. Rentals of more than 30 consecutive days, and a calendar-month rental to the same renter, are long-term rentals and are exempt from the STR rules and TOT.
Get Your Free Earnings Report
Tell us about your Del Mar home and permit, and we'll run the numbers with you. Or call us at +1 (858) 244-9400