Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,719,064	$ 2,559,743
Buildings and improvements	10,585,742	10,116,563
Total rental properties	13,304,806	12,676,306
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,651,542)	(2,311,546)
Net real estate	10,653,264	10,364,760
Real estate under development	313,825	190,505
Co-investments	1,124,577	1,161,275
Real estate held for sale, net	0	101,957
Total real estate	12,091,666	11,818,497
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	46,507	64,921
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	16,766	105,381
Marketable securities	184,574	139,189
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $65.6 million and $11.3 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	121,557	40,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	51,453	48,450
Total assets	12,512,523	12,217,408
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	3,501,146	3,246,779
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,111,467	2,191,481
Lines of credit	2,609	125,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	222,122	138,226
Construction payable	59,767	35,909
Dividends/Distributions payable	121,496	110,170
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	36,245	0
Other liabilities	33,733	32,922
Total liabilities	6,088,585	5,880,487
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	40,044	44,684
Equity/Capital:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 66,002,487 and 65,527,993 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	7,111,866	7,029,679
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(821,732)	(805,409)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(24,632)	(32,098)
Total stockholders' equity	6,265,508	6,192,178
Noncontrolling interest	118,386	100,059
Total equity	6,383,894	6,292,237
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,512,523	12,217,408
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member]
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,719,064	2,559,743
Buildings and improvements	10,585,742	10,116,563
Total rental properties	13,304,806	12,676,306
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,651,542)	(2,311,546)
Net real estate	10,653,264	10,364,760
Real estate under development	313,825	190,505
Co-investments	1,124,577	1,161,275
Real estate held for sale, net	0	101,957
Total real estate	12,091,666	11,818,497
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	46,507	64,921
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	16,766	105,381
Marketable securities	184,574	139,189
Notes and other receivables (includes related party receivables of $65.6 million and $11.3 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	121,557	40,970
Prepaid expenses and other assets	51,453	48,450
Total assets	12,512,523	12,217,408
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	3,501,146	3,246,779
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,111,467	2,191,481
Lines of credit	2,609	125,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	222,122	138,226
Construction payable	59,767	35,909
Dividends/Distributions payable	121,496	110,170
Distributions in excess of investments in co-investments	36,245	0
Other liabilities	33,733	32,922
Total liabilities	6,088,585	5,880,487
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	40,044	44,684
General Partner:
Common equity (66,002,487 and 65,527,993 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,290,140	6,224,276
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,251,112 and 2,237,290 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	49,498	49,436
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(21,627)	(29,348)
Total partners' capital	6,318,011	6,244,364
Noncontrolling interest	65,883	47,873
Total capital	6,383,894	6,292,237
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,512,523	12,217,408
Essex Portfolio, L.P. [Member] | General Partner [Member] | Common Equity [Member]
General Partner:
Common equity (66,002,487 and 65,527,993 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,290,140	6,224,276
Limited Partners:
Total capital	$ 6,290,140	$ 6,224,276