Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 233,893	$ 162,477
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	329,847	336,946
Amortization of discount on marketable securities and other investments	(10,771)	(9,012)
Amortization of (premium) discount and debt financing costs, net	(11,432)	(15,064)
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(2,876)	(598)
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investments	(13,046)	0
Earnings from co-investments	(25,886)	(15,962)
Operating distributions from co-investments	45,342	28,632
Gain on the sale of real estate and land	(20,258)	(7,112)
Equity-based compensation	4,436	5,511
Loss on early retirement of debt	211	0
Gain on remeasurement of co-investments	0	(34,014)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses, receivables and other assets	656	(1,851)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	49,739	36,480
Other liabilities	420	1,475
Net cash provided by operating activities	580,275	487,908
Additions to real estate:
Acquisitions of real estate and acquisition related capital expenditures	(124,054)	(327,799)
Redevelopment	(62,983)	(66,783)
Development acquisitions of and additions to real estate under development	(58,575)	(138,101)
Capital expenditures on rental properties	(40,503)	(42,809)
Acquisition of membership interest in co-investments	0	(115,724)
Investments in notes receivable	(4,375)	0
Proceeds from insurance for property losses	3,288	12,044
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate	48,008	74,485
Contributions to co-investments	(121,972)	(119,120)
Changes in restricted cash and refundable deposits	65,858	38,282
Purchases of marketable securities	(18,779)	(14,300)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities and other investments	14,708	7,566
Non-operating distributions from co-investments	34,564	31,938
Net cash used in investing activities	(264,815)	(660,321)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	821,097	1,068,032
Repayment of debt	(580,956)	(924,844)
Repayment of cumulative redeemable preferred stock	(73,750)	0
Additions to deferred charges	(5,300)	(4,320)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	(382)	307,835
Net proceeds from stock options exercised	17,878	22,173
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(19,844)	(15,789)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	(2,435)	(2,621)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid	(306,284)	(272,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(149,976)	178,466
Cash acquired in consolidation of co-investment	0	4,005
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	165,484	10,058
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	29,683	25,610
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	195,167	35,668
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of $9.4 million and $12.2 million capitalized in 2016 and 2015, respectively	140,183	135,736
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Transfers between real estate under development to rental properties, net	106,255	308,069
Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments	8,332	5,913
Reclassifications (from) to redeemable noncontrolling interest to or from additional paid in capital and noncontrolling interest	(1,343)	1,333
Debt assumed in connection with acquisition	48,832	114,435
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	233,893	162,477
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	329,847	336,946
Amortization of discount on marketable securities and other investments	(10,771)	(9,012)
Amortization of (premium) discount and debt financing costs, net	(11,432)	(15,064)
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(2,876)	(598)
Company's share of gain on the sales of co-investments	(13,046)	0
Earnings from co-investments	(25,886)	(15,962)
Operating distributions from co-investments	45,342	28,632
Gain on the sale of real estate and land	(20,258)	(7,112)
Equity-based compensation	4,436	5,511
Loss on early retirement of debt	211	0
Gain on remeasurement of co-investments	0	(34,014)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses, receivables and other assets	656	(1,851)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	49,739	36,480
Other liabilities	420	1,475
Net cash provided by operating activities	580,275	487,908
Additions to real estate:
Acquisitions of real estate and acquisition related capital expenditures	(124,054)	(327,799)
Redevelopment	(62,983)	(66,783)
Development acquisitions of and additions to real estate under development	(58,575)	(138,101)
Capital expenditures on rental properties	(40,503)	(42,809)
Acquisition of membership interest in co-investments	0	(115,724)
Investments in notes receivable	(4,375)	0
Proceeds from insurance for property losses	3,288	12,044
Proceeds from dispositions of real estate	48,008	74,485
Contributions to co-investments	(121,972)	(119,120)
Changes in restricted cash and refundable deposits	65,858	38,282
Purchases of marketable securities	(18,779)	(14,300)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities and other investments	14,708	7,566
Non-operating distributions from co-investments	34,564	31,938
Net cash used in investing activities	(264,815)	(660,321)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under debt agreements	821,097	1,068,032
Repayment of debt	(580,956)	(924,844)
Repayment of cumulative redeemable preferred stock	(73,750)	0
Additions to deferred charges	(5,300)	(4,320)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	(382)	307,835
Net proceeds from stock options exercised	17,878	22,173
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(5,171)	(6,455)
Redemption of noncontrolling interest	(2,435)	(2,621)
Common and preferred stock dividends paid	(320,957)	(281,334)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(149,976)	178,466
Cash acquired in consolidation of co-investment	0	4,005
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	165,484	10,058
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	29,683	25,610
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	195,167	35,668
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of $9.4 million and $12.2 million capitalized in 2016 and 2015, respectively	140,183	135,736
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Transfers between real estate under development to rental properties, net	106,255	308,069
Transfer from real estate under development to co-investments	8,332	5,913
Reclassifications (from) to redeemable noncontrolling interest to or from additional paid in capital and noncontrolling interest	(1,343)	1,333
Debt assumed in connection with acquisition	$ 48,832	$ 114,435