Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,719,064	$ 2,559,743
Buildings and improvements	10,492,413	10,116,563
Total rental properties	13,211,477	12,676,306
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,418,793)	(2,311,546)
Net real estate	10,792,684	10,364,760
Real estate under development	239,685	190,505
Co-investments	1,071,258	1,161,275
Real estate held for sale, net	0	101,957
Total real estate	12,103,627	11,818,497
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	84,344	64,921
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	15,908	105,381
Marketable securities	138,977	139,189
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $10.3 million and $11.3 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	50,855	40,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	53,716	48,450
Total assets	12,447,427	12,217,408
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	3,195,129	3,246,779
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,231,145	2,191,481
Lines of credit	176,233	125,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	184,778	138,226
Construction payable	35,590	35,909
Dividends payable	120,573	110,170
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	35,534	0
Other liabilities	34,027	32,922
Total liabilities	6,013,009	5,880,487
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	45,415	44,684
Equity/Capital:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 65,569,521 and 65,527,993 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	7,035,178	7,029,679
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(741,204)	(805,409)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(29,959)	(32,098)
Total stockholders' equity	6,264,021	6,192,178
Noncontrolling interest	124,982	100,059
Total equity	6,389,003	6,292,237
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,447,427	12,217,408
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,719,064	2,559,743
Buildings and improvements	10,492,413	10,116,563
Total rental properties	13,211,477	12,676,306
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,418,793)	(2,311,546)
Net real estate	10,792,684	10,364,760
Real estate under development	239,685	190,505
Co-investments	1,071,258	1,161,275
Real estate held for sale, net	0	101,957
Total real estate	12,103,627	11,818,497
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	84,344	64,921
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	15,908	105,381
Marketable securities	138,977	139,189
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $10.3 million and $11.3 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	50,855	40,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	53,716	48,450
Total assets	12,447,427	12,217,408
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	3,195,129	3,246,779
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,231,145	2,191,481
Lines of credit	176,233	125,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	184,778	138,226
Construction payable	35,590	35,909
Dividends payable	120,573	110,170
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	35,534	0
Other liabilities	34,027	32,922
Total liabilities	6,013,009	5,880,487
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	45,415	44,684
Equity/Capital:
General Partner	6,293,980	6,224,276
Common equity (2,251,920 and 2,237,290 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	51,496	49,436
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(27,135)	(29,348)
Total partners' capital	6,318,341	6,244,364
Noncontrolling interest	70,662	47,873
Total capital	6,389,003	6,292,237
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,447,427	12,217,408
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
Equity/Capital:
General Partner	6,293,980	6,224,276
Total capital	$ 6,293,980	$ 6,224,276