Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,929,009	$ 2,773,805
Buildings and improvements	12,132,736	11,264,337
Total rental properties	15,061,745	14,038,142
Less: accumulated depreciation	(4,133,959)	(3,689,482)
Net real estate	10,927,786	10,348,660
Real estate under development	386,047	546,075
Co-investments	1,018,010	1,335,339
Real estate held for sale	57,938	0
Total real estate	12,389,781	12,230,074
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	73,629	70,087
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	10,412	11,007
Marketable securities, net of allowance for credit losses of zero as of both December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019	147,768	144,193
Notes and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $0.8 million and zero as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively (includes related party receivables of $4.7 million and $90.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	195,104	134,365
Operating lease right-of-use assets	72,143	74,744
Prepaid expenses and other assets	47,340	40,935
Total assets	12,936,177	12,705,405
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured debt, net	5,607,985	4,763,206
Mortgage notes payable, net	643,550	990,667
Lines of credit	0	55,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	152,855	158,017
Construction payable	31,417	48,912
Dividends payable	141,917	135,384
Operating lease liabilities	74,037	76,740
Liabilities associated with real estate held for sale	29,845	0
Other liabilities	39,140	36,565
Total liabilities	6,720,746	6,264,491
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	32,239	37,410
Equity/ Capital:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 64,999,015 and 66,091,954 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	6	7
Additional paid-in capital	6,876,326	7,121,927
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(861,193)	(887,619)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(14,729)	(13,888)
Total stockholders' equity	6,000,410	6,220,427
Noncontrolling interest	182,782	183,077
Total equity	6,183,192	6,403,504
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,936,177	12,705,405
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,929,009	2,773,805
Buildings and improvements	12,132,736	11,264,337
Total rental properties	15,061,745	14,038,142
Less: accumulated depreciation	(4,133,959)	(3,689,482)
Net real estate	10,927,786	10,348,660
Real estate under development	386,047	546,075
Co-investments	1,018,010	1,335,339
Real estate held for sale	57,938	0
Total real estate	12,389,781	12,230,074
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	73,629	70,087
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	10,412	11,007
Marketable securities, net of allowance for credit losses of zero as of both December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019	147,768	144,193
Notes and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $0.8 million and zero as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively (includes related party receivables of $4.7 million and $90.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)	195,104	134,365
Operating lease right-of-use assets	72,143	74,744
Prepaid expenses and other assets	47,340	40,935
Total assets	12,936,177	12,705,405
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured debt, net	5,607,985	4,763,206
Mortgage notes payable, net	643,550	990,667
Lines of credit	0	55,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	152,855	158,017
Construction payable	31,417	48,912
Dividends payable	141,917	135,384
Operating lease liabilities	74,037	76,740
Liabilities associated with real estate held for sale	29,845	0
Other liabilities	39,140	36,565
Total liabilities	6,720,746	6,264,491
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	32,239	37,410
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(11,303)	(10,432)
Total partners' capital	6,062,020	6,281,242
Noncontrolling interest	121,172	122,262
Total capital	6,183,192	6,403,504
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,936,177	12,705,405
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | General Partner
General Partner:
Common equity (64,999,015 and 66,091,954 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,015,139	6,234,315
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | General Partner | Common Equity
General Partner:
Common equity (64,999,015 and 66,091,954 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,015,139	6,234,315
Limited Partners:
Total capital	6,015,139	6,234,315
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Limited Partner
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,294,760 and 2,301,653 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	58,184	57,359
Essex Portfolio, L.P. | Limited Partner | Common Equity
Limited Partners:
Total capital	$ 58,184	$ 57,359