Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,573,923	$ 2,522,842
Buildings and improvements	10,139,823	9,808,627
Total rental properties	12,713,746	12,331,469
Less accumulated depreciation	(2,269,834)	(1,949,892)
Net real estate	10,443,912	10,381,577
Real estate under development	170,972	242,326
Co-investments	1,122,913	1,036,047
Real estate held for sale, net	0	26,879
Total real estate	11,737,797	11,686,829
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	195,167	29,683
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	15,888	93,372
Marketable securities	153,703	137,485
Notes and other receivables	22,941	19,285
Prepaid expenses and other assets	51,700	38,437
Total assets	12,177,196	12,005,091
Liabilities
Unsecured debt, net	3,375,610	3,088,680
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,209,077	2,215,077
Lines of credit, net	0	11,707
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	185,185	131,415
Construction payable	34,918	40,953
Dividends payable	110,223	100,266
Other liabilities	34,172	34,518
Total liabilities	5,949,185	5,622,616
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	44,109	45,452
Equity:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 65,522,585 and 65,379,359 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	6	6
Cumulative redeemable 7.125% Series H preferred stock at liquidation value	0	73,750
Additional paid-in capital	7,024,827	7,003,317
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(896,120)	(797,329)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(40,095)	(42,011)
Total stockholders' equity	6,088,618	6,237,733
Noncontrolling interest	95,284	99,290
Total equity	6,183,902	6,337,023
Total liabilities and equity	12,177,196	12,005,091
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,573,923	2,522,842
Buildings and improvements	10,139,823	9,808,627
Total rental properties	12,713,746	12,331,469
Less accumulated depreciation	(2,269,834)	(1,949,892)
Net real estate	10,443,912	10,381,577
Real estate under development	170,972	242,326
Co-investments	1,122,913	1,036,047
Real estate held for sale, net	0	26,879
Total real estate	11,737,797	11,686,829
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	195,167	29,683
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	15,888	93,372
Marketable securities	153,703	137,485
Notes and other receivables	22,941	19,285
Prepaid expenses and other assets	51,700	38,437
Total assets	12,177,196	12,005,091
Liabilities
Unsecured debt, net	3,375,610	3,088,680
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,209,077	2,215,077
Lines of credit, net	0	11,707
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	185,185	131,415
Construction payable	34,918	40,953
Dividends payable	110,223	100,266
Other liabilities	34,172	34,518
Total liabilities	5,949,185	5,622,616
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	44,109	45,452
Equity:
General Partner	6,128,713	6,279,744
Common equity (2,219,268 and 2,214,545 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	45,493	47,235
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(37,617)	(39,598)
Total partners' capital	6,136,589	6,287,381
Noncontrolling interest	47,313	49,642
Total capital	6,183,902	6,337,023
Total liabilities and equity	12,177,196	12,005,091
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Capital [Member]
Equity:
General Partner	6,128,713	6,208,535
Total capital	6,128,713	6,208,535
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Preferred Capital [Member]
Equity:
General Partner	0	71,209
Total capital	$ 0	$ 71,209