El Cajon, California Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave

Last updated August 23, 2023

El Cajon Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

City Code of Ordinances

The El Cajon Municipal Code (ECMC) does not include provisions for short-term rentals. Generally speaking, it is a permissive Code, meaning that uses not discussed are not permissible. That being said, ECMC does not include regulations for a minimum length of stay except for deemed approved lodging establishments.
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  • Short Term City Rating
    5.5
  • Competition

    8.5
  • Real Estate Cost

    3.6
  • STR Regulations

    2.0
  • Seasonality

    8.3
  • Rental Rates

    5.3

El Cajon, California Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
102,708
STR License Required
No
Tourist Season
June through Aug.
County
San Diego
Airports
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Tijuana International Airport (TIJ)
Review our El Cajon California short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about El Cajon?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our El Cajon rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the El Cajon rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in El Cajon.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

El Cajon Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits El Cajon guests.

Interested in other California cities?

Check out the California Airbnb rules directory 

What makes El Cajon a great place to invest?

  1. El Cajon, California is home to the beautiful Wells Park, a 12-acre park that features a playground, picnic areas, a skatepark, and an amphitheater that hosts concerts and events throughout the year.
  2. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities at nearby Lake Jennings, which offers fishing, boating, and camping opportunities.
  3. El Cajon is also home to the Gillespie Field Airport, a popular spot for aviation enthusiasts and visitors can take a scenic flight over the city to see the beautiful landscape.
  4. The city is also home to the El Cajon Valley Museum, which offers a glimpse into the city's rich history and cultural heritage through exhibits and educational programs.
  5. For sports fans, El Cajon is home to the El Cajon Valley High School Braves, one of the most successful high school football teams in the state, and visitors can catch a game at the school's stadium during the fall season. So, El Cajon is a perfect destination for sports and history enthusiasts.

El Cajon Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in El Cajon?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in El Cajon has decreased -5% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $481, which is higher than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$821,195

-5% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$481

-1% YoY

Average Monthly Rent

$2,629

4% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for El Cajon, California

Word Cloud for El Cajon, California Short Term Rentals

Common terms for El Cajon short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in El Cajon has a description approximately 1,752 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 521 listings in El Cajon, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Pool, San Diego, Outdoor, Patio, View, Quiet, Beautiful, Place, Family, and Backyard.

What are the most popular tourist activities in El Cajon?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in El Cajon involve Hiking, the Zoo, Museums, Adventure Activities, and Casinos. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Hiking

Zoo

Museums

Adventure Activities

Casinos

Swimming

Mountain Biking

Health Spa

Outlet Shopping

Horseback Riding

Boating

Wildlife Viewing

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in El Cajon, including San Diego Zoo, Hotel Circle, Balboa Park, San Diego State University, and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Regional Landmark

Sycuan Casino

Included on 89% of listings

Well Known Attraction

San Diego State University

Included on 78% of listings

Local Landmark

Jamul Casino

Included on 63% of listings

Local Landmark

Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center

Included on 57% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Balboa Park

Included on 56% of listings

Regional Landmark

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Included on 55% of listings

Well Known Attraction

San Diego Zoo

Included on 50% of listings

Regional Landmark

Barona Casino

Included on 49% of listings

Regional Landmark

Snapdragon Stadium

Included on 45% of listings

Local Landmark

San Diego Bay

Included on 45% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Hotel Circle

Included on 40% of listings

Regional Landmark

Fashion Valley Mall

Included on 39% of listings

What’s the weather like in El Cajon, California?

The weather is about the same as the national average, with an average high temperature of around 76°, while the average low is about 52°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 11 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in El Cajon are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

43° Low 68° High

Precipitation
6.2"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
40%

Spring

March through May

51° Low 72° High

Precipitation
2.7"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
30%

Summer

June through August

62° Low 83° High

Precipitation
0.3"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
3.3 days
Cloudiness
13%

Fall

September through November

54° Low 80° High

Precipitation
1.6"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
1.7 days
Cloudiness
21%