Furnished and Seasonal Rentals in Coronado: How They Work

In Coronado's residential zones, a furnished or seasonal rental has to run at least 26 consecutive days, because the city prohibits renting a home or a room for 25 consecutive days or less (Coronado Municipal Code Chapter 86.78). Above that minimum, a furnished lease works like any other California residential lease: the same one-month security deposit cap applies, the landlord must meet the same habitability rules, and the main practical difference is the furniture inventory you agree to at move-in and return at move-out.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm the details for your situation with a California attorney or tax professional. Legal points are stated as of October 2026.

Key takeaways

• Coronado prohibits transient rentals, meaning stays of 25 consecutive calendar days or less, in every residential zone. The rule covers whole homes and single rooms.
• A homeowners association may ban rentals of 30 days or less, so in some condo buildings the effective minimum is longer than the city's.
• California's security deposit cap is one month's rent whether or not the home is furnished, and cleaning fees, key deposits and pet deposits all count toward it.
• On a lease of six months or longer, a landlord may accept an advance payment of at least six months' rent, which is separate from the deposit cap.
• A written, signed inventory and dated photos of the furnishings are the best protection for your deposit on a furnished lease.

The minimum stay in Coronado

Coronado Municipal Code § 86.78.020 defines "transient occupancy" as the use or possession of a dwelling unit or habitable unit "for a period of 25 consecutive calendar days or less." Section 86.78.060(A) then says no dwelling or habitable unit in any residential zone may be used as a transient rental. In practice, the shortest stay a home in a residential zone can be rented for is 26 consecutive days. You can read the chapter on the Coronado Municipal Code site (opens in a new tab).

Three details matter when you search:

• Rooms count. The ban covers a "habitable unit" as well as a full dwelling, so renting a single room for a week in a residential zone is covered by the same rule.
• The exceptions are narrow. The code allows transient rentals only in R-4 zone motels and in lodging houses within the "P" overlay zone. The rule does not reach non-residential zones, such as the Hotel-Motel zone, which is where hotels operate.
• Enforcement reaches agents. Under CMC § 86.54.330, anyone who violates the zoning code or causes a violation, "whether as principal, agent, employee, employer or otherwise," commits an infraction, and each day is a separate offense. A listing that offers a one-week stay in a Coronado house in a residential zone is offering something the code does not allow.

For a stay under 26 days, plan on a hotel or other lodging in a zone where short stays are permitted. The Coronado short-term rental rules guide has the owner-side detail.

When an HOA sets a longer minimum

Civil Code § 4741(c) lets a homeowners association prohibit rentals of 30 days or less. Where it has, a 26-day stay the city would allow is still barred, so ask for the association's leasing rules before you commit to a short furnished term.

Accessory dwelling units

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have their own rules, and an accessory building that is not a permitted ADU cannot be rented separately from the main home (CMC § 86.56.100(H)). State law requires that a rented ADU or JADU be rented for a term longer than 30 days. Coronado's code has historically required six consecutive months; the state told the city in December 2025 that this exceeds what state law allows, and the city adopted an ADU amendment (Ord. 2026-08) that takes effect November 5, 2026. If a furnished listing is an ADU, ask what term the owner is offering and check current city rules before you lease.

How a furnished lease differs from an unfurnished one

The legal framework is the same. What changes is the paperwork and the condition questions at the end.

The inventory. A furnished lease should come with a written list of everything the owner is leaving: furniture, linens, kitchenware, electronics, outdoor furniture and anything else of value. Check it room by room, note anything missing or damaged, and keep a signed copy.

Deductions for the furnishings. Under Civil Code § 1950.5(b) and (e), a landlord may deduct from the deposit to restore or replace personal property only if the lease authorizes it, and never for ordinary wear and tear or damage that was there before you moved in. That makes the move-in inventory and photos more important on a furnished lease than on an unfurnished one.

Photos. For tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025, the landlord must photograph the unit at the start of the tenancy (Civ. Code § 1950.5(g)). Take your own dated photos and video of the furnishings on day one too.

Insurance. A landlord policy covers the owner's possessions left for tenants, not yours. Renters insurance covers what you bring, and some landlords require it.

Deposits and paying up front

California's cap on security is one month's rent, in addition to the first month's rent, for security collected on or after July 1, 2024 (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1)). The statute draws no line between furnished and unfurnished homes, and it defines security as any payment, fee, deposit or charge imposed at the start of the tenancy, however it is labeled. That means a furnished home cannot add a separate "furniture deposit," "cleaning fee" or "linen fee" on top of a full month's deposit. A lease also may not call any part of the security "nonrefundable" (§ 1950.5(n)).

Two exceptions to know:

• Small landlords. A landlord who is a natural person (or an LLC made up only of natural persons) and owns no more than two residential rental properties with no more than four units in total may collect up to two months' rent as security. That exception does not apply when the prospective tenant is a service member, and a landlord may not refuse to rent to a service member because of it.
• Advance rent on longer leases. On a lease of six months or longer, a landlord may accept an advance payment of not less than six months' rent (§ 1950.5(c)(2)). A seasonal lease that is paid up front is one place you may see this.

The landlord must return the balance with an itemized statement within 21 calendar days after you move out, electronically if you paid rent or the deposit that way, unless you agree otherwise in writing.

The cost of renting in Coronado guide covers rent levels and the rest of the move-in budget.

A furnished-rental checklist

Use this before you sign and again on move-in day.

Ending a furnished or seasonal lease

A fixed-term lease ends on the date it states unless you and the landlord agree to extend. If a furnished rental continues month to month, a landlord ending it must give 30 days' written notice if you have lived there less than a year, and 60 days if you have lived there a year or more (Civ. Code § 1946.1). After 12 months of continuous occupancy, California's just cause rules (Civ. Code § 1946.2) may also apply, unless the home is exempt.

Servicemembers who receive permanent change of station orders or deployment orders of 90 days or more can end a residential lease under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, furnished or not. The guide to moving to Coronado on military orders explains the notice process, the renting in Coronado guide describes the areas and commutes, and the Coronado Rental Guide has the full series.

Before you return the keys, request the pre-move-out inspection, which California lets you ask for no earlier than two weeks before the tenancy ends, so you can fix listed items first. Bring your move-in inventory.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent a furnished home in Coronado for two weeks?

Not in a residential zone. Coronado Municipal Code Chapter 86.78 prohibits renting a home or a room for 25 consecutive calendar days or less in any residential zone, so the shortest lawful stay is 26 consecutive days. Stays shorter than that belong in hotels and other lodging in zones where transient rentals are allowed.

Is the security deposit higher for a furnished rental in California?

No. Civil Code § 1950.5 caps security at one month's rent in addition to the first month's rent, furnished or unfurnished, and counts cleaning fees, key deposits and pet deposits toward that cap. The only higher limit is two months for certain small landlords, and it does not apply when the tenant is a service member.

Can an HOA require a longer minimum stay than the city?

Yes, up to a point. Civil Code § 4741(c) allows an association to prohibit rentals of 30 days or less. Where it does, that rule applies on top of Coronado's 25-day ban, so in that building the shortest permitted rental would be 31 days.

Who pays if furniture is damaged during my lease?

The landlord can deduct from your deposit to repair damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and to restore or replace the owner's personal property only if the lease authorizes it. Damage that existed before you moved in cannot be charged to you, which is why a signed inventory and move-in photos matter.

Can I pay several months of rent in advance for a seasonal lease?

On a lease of six months or longer, California allows a landlord to accept an advance payment of not less than six months' rent, separate from the security deposit cap. For shorter leases, any payment collected at the start beyond the first month's rent is treated as security and counts toward the one-month cap.

Find a furnished home

McKee Properties has managed rentals from its Coronado office since 1989. Its current rentals are listed on the Properties for Rent page, where you can schedule a showing and apply online.