Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,719,064	$ 2,559,743
Buildings and improvements	10,536,639	10,116,563
Total rental properties	13,255,703	12,676,306
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,534,646)	(2,311,546)
Net real estate	10,721,057	10,364,760
Real estate under development	263,284	190,505
Co-investments	1,081,084	1,161,275
Real estate held for sale, net	3,015	101,957
Total real estate	12,068,440	11,818,497
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	183,885	64,921
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	15,991	105,381
Marketable securities	151,995	139,189
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $11.0 million and $11.3 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	54,660	40,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	49,980	48,450
Total assets	12,524,951	12,217,408
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	3,540,802	3,246,779
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,122,593	2,191,481
Lines of credit	0	125,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	139,042	138,226
Construction payable	47,942	35,909
Dividends payable	121,451	110,170
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	36,025	0
Other liabilities	33,988	32,922
Total liabilities	6,041,843	5,880,487
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	45,081	44,684
Equity/Capital:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 65,988,761 and 65,527,993 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	7,131,047	7,029,679
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(785,939)	(805,409)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(28,341)	(32,098)
Total stockholders' equity	6,316,773	6,192,178
Noncontrolling interest	121,254	100,059
Total equity	6,438,027	6,292,237
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,524,951	12,217,408
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,719,064	2,559,743
Buildings and improvements	10,536,639	10,116,563
Total rental properties	13,255,703	12,676,306
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,534,646)	(2,311,546)
Net real estate	10,721,057	10,364,760
Real estate under development	263,284	190,505
Co-investments	1,081,084	1,161,275
Real estate held for sale, net	3,015	101,957
Total real estate	12,068,440	11,818,497
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	183,885	64,921
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	15,991	105,381
Marketable securities	151,995	139,189
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $11.0 million and $11.3 million as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	54,660	40,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	49,980	48,450
Total assets	12,524,951	12,217,408
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	3,540,802	3,246,779
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,122,593	2,191,481
Lines of credit	0	125,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	139,042	138,226
Construction payable	47,942	35,909
Dividends payable	121,451	110,170
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	36,025	0
Other liabilities	33,988	32,922
Total liabilities	6,041,843	5,880,487
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	45,081	44,684
General Partner:
Common equity (65,988,761 and 65,527,993 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,345,114	6,224,276
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,251,112 and 2,237,290 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	50,233	49,436
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(25,462)	(29,348)
Total partners' capital	6,369,885	6,244,364
Noncontrolling interest	68,142	47,873
Total capital	6,438,027	6,292,237
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,524,951	12,217,408
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
General Partner:
Common equity (65,988,761 and 65,527,993 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,345,114	6,224,276
Limited Partners:
Total capital	$ 6,345,114	$ 6,224,276